IPL 2015: Team of the tournament

Mumbai Indians (MI) joined Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as the only teams to have won the IPL twice after beating CSK in the final on Sunday. After a slow start, Ricky Ponting’s side finished the tournament strongly to take the title. In a tournament that saw over 1500 fours and almost 700 sixes, there were plenty of breathtaking performances. But who was consistent enough throughout the tournament to make it into the team of the tournament? Do the two finalists make a large proportion of the team?

Before we go into the team, here are some honorable mentions, who just missed the cut because of the four foreign player rule that has been applied while selecting this XI. Lendl Simmons, JP Duminy, Andre Russell, Lasith Malinga all had fantastic tournaments but don’t make it into the side. So if you want to know who does make it into the IPL 2015 team of the tournament, simply read on.

1. David Warner - SRH

David Warner

Despite having arguably the weakest middle order of any side in the tournament, SRH were just a win away from making it to the playoffs. The main reason for that was David Warner. Having been made captain at the start of the tournament, the Australian opener led from the front, making up for the lack of support from other batsmen.

Aside from Moises Henriques towards the end of the tournament, there was no one to support Warner, but that didn't stop him from making over 550 runs and finishing as arguably the most destructive batsmen of the tournament. While the Orange Cap might be scant consolation for not making the playoffs, it is one that he deserves for the tournament he had.

2. Ajinkya Rahane - RR

Despite guiding Mumbai to the finals and finishing second in the top run-getters list, Lendl Simmons doesn't make the cut and it is the player who finished joint-second along with him that joins Warner as the opener in the side. While the Rajasthan Royals yet again failed to make it to the final, Ajinkya Rahane proved once and for all that he has what it takes to be a successful T20 batsman.

His aggregate total of 540 runs at an average of almost 50 and strike rate of over 130 is a testament to how successful Rahane was in the tournament. His ability to find the gaps and score quickly using orthodox shots showed just how useful technique and timing is, irrespective of what format.

3. Virat Kohli - RCB

Virat Kohli was one of five batsmen to cross 500 runs this IPL

Although he played a majority of the tournament for his side as the opener, Virat Kohli takes his place as the No.3 batsman in this side. Despite being sandwiched between Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers, two of the most destructive batsmen in T20s, Kohli was able to make an impression in the tournament, both as a captain and as a batsman.

Kohli scored 505 runs at an average of over 45 and a strike rate of 130 to finish as one of only five players to have scored over 500 runs in the tournament. Although he was nowhere near as destructive as either Gayle or de Villiers, he provided the perfect foil for both to succeed while not compromising his game at the same time, which is no mean feat in itself.

4. Rohit Sharma - MI

Rohit Sharma’s captaincy was particularly impressive

Even with the odd failure or two, Rohit Sharma's ability as a batsman was never really in doubt. But in this tournament, it was his captaincy that came to the forefront. Whether it was attacking early in the game with both Lasith Malinga and Mitchell McClenaghan, making the most of the uncapped players at his disposal or managing his position in the batting order according to the situation, it was a tournament that saw Rohit the captain in his finest hour yet.

But that is not to say that his batting wasn't good. Almost 500 runs including a fifty in the final to guide his side to their second IPL title showed that he had a good IPL with the bat as well. But it is primarily due to his captaincy that Rohit makes it into this side.

5. AB de Villiers - RCB

When a batsman leaves the bowlers, even the very best in the business, scratching their heads as to where to bowl, you know you are watching someone special ply their trade. On the back of a fantastic World Cup, AB de Villiers simply continued from where he left off as he made the most of his promotion to No.3 in the lineup.

Although the South African has always been destructive, his move up the order gave him more of a chance to get his eye in, which he made the most of by finishing as the tournament's fourth-highest run-scorer with an average of 46 and a strike rate of almost 180.

6. Robin Uthappa - KKR

While there have been plenty of batsmen and bowlers who have shone, this hasn't been the tournament for wicketkeeper-batsmen. Although Dinesh Karthik has the most dismissals, he did little of note with the bat and MS Dhoni, who is an automatic pick on most occasions, didn't score freely enough to warrant a place and that is why KKR's Robin Uthappa gets the nod.

Although he got only one fifty and often got out after getting set, all of his innings came at a quick pace and set the platform for the likes of Yusuf Pathan and Andre Russell to shine. The fact that he had to play half of his innings at the Eden Gardens, which was a spinner’s paradise, is another bonus and gets him into the side as the wicketkeeper.

7. Dwayne Bravo - CSK

Dwayne Bravo won the Purple Cap award

Even though Dwayne Bravo finished with the Purple cap and deserves to be on this list for his bowling, even without his wickets, the West Indian would probably have made it in. And that isn't because of his batting, which was underused by MS Dhoni, but because of his fielding, which in a tournament that was filled with dropped catches was simply sublime.

Whether it was picking up breathtaking catches in the deep, making stunning running run-outs when fielding inside the circle, Bravo's fielding alone helped turn games in CSK's favour and would have been enough to get him into the side. That fielding coupled with the 26 wickets he took, which got him the Purple cap for the second time in three seasons, means that Bravo gets into the side as the all-rounder.

8. Mitchell Starc - RCB

Mitchell Starc was the leader of the RCB bowling attack

Cricket is a team game; no one player is bigger than the team. Or so the cliché goes. But the impact that Mitchell Starc has had since his return to the RCB lineup from injury goes to show how important key players are in the side. Although Lasith Malinga finished with more wickets than the Australian, he had better support from McClenaghan and Harbhajan Singh.

The way in which the left-armer transformed the fortunes of RCB since his arrival exemplifies the need for a quality fast bowler in T20s. For all the firepower in the batting department, Kohli's side looked lacking in the bowling yet again, but that was until the World Cup's most prolific bowler came to the party.

9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar - SRH

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the pick of the SRH bowlers

In a side that had the likes of Dale Steyn and Trent Boult, it is hard to imagine an Indian being the best bowler. But that was exactly what transpired in SRH's case as two of the best bowlers in the world at the moment were outshone by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who finished as the side's leading wicket-taker in the tournament.

Whether it was swinging the ball and picking up early wickets or keeping things quiet at the death overs, thanks to his mix of accurate yorkers and slower balls, Bhuvi made a substantial impact in the tournament and strengthened the case for him being India's premier death bowler.

10. Yuzvendra Chahal - RCB

There are some players who dominate the game whether with the bat or ball and leave an indelible mark on the game. And then there are others who are arguably as good but sneak under the radar, without anyone really noticing. Yuzvendra Chahal’s season was the perfect example of the latter as the 24-year-old leg-spinner finished the season as not only RCB's leading wicket-taker but also just three shy of finishing with the Purple Cap.

Ever since he was given a consistent run last season, Chahal has been an unsung hero for his side, picking up wickets at regular intervals and making the life of others so much easier. Although he was overshadowed by Starc this season, there is no doubting the quality of his performances and that is why he makes it into the side as the main spinner.

11. Ashish Nehra - CSK

Ashish Nehra

Before the tournament, many predicted that CSK's bowling was going to be the reason they might fail to make the playoffs. But instead, led by Ashish Nehra, it was the only aspect of their game that didn't flounder throughout the tournament. The 36-year-old left-armer finished as the fourth-highest wicket-taker with 22 wickets, just four behind teammate Bravo.

While the number of wickets is no doubt impressive, what made Nehra such a potent leader of the attack was his economy rate. Considering the fact that he almost exclusively bowled in the powerplay and at the death overs, the fact that only Starc has a better economy rate among the top 15 wicket-takers in the tournament is a testament to how accurate he was and it is that accuracy that lands him a place in this XI.