IPL 2015: Team of the tournament

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.