Best XI of the IPL 2018 so far

Opener - KL Rahul (KXIP)

KL Rahul is the most gifted Indian batsman around, after Kohli

He is a throwback to olden days; in the age of big hitters and some of his strokes have been exquisite to watch this season and he maintains an extraordinary strike rate of 160+ for someone who doesn't play the big shots too often. Of all the players RCB let go, KL Rahul has come back to haunt them the most. He was not given enough opportunities when playing for RCB and is one of the most gifted stroke makers around and he has displayed his abilities this season with KXIP

His 84 not out against Rajasthan yesterday where he anchored the innings and rotated the strike superbly initially and mounted a calculated assault at the end to take his team over the line showed his increased sense of responsibility and composure under pressure.

He has answered his critics who doubted the suitability of his game to the shortest format in style and it is still baffling that he is not a regular for India across all formats.