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As the round-robin stage of the IPL 2018 draws to a close, audiences have been witness to yet more amazing displays of skill and technical ability, enthralled by brute hitting and shots of finesse, searing yorkers and slow knuckleballs.
There have been spectacular catches and some silly misses. The league stage was played in a round-robin format with each franchise playing all the other 7 teams twice - home and away. After 56 matches, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals made it to the play-offs.
The league stage saw the highest batting score of 128* as Rishabh Pant laid claim to the Orange Cap with 684 runs, while Andrew Tye finished as the best bowler with 24 wickets.
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The league stage allowed fans to experience some wonderful cricket from all eight franchises, from the world's top players. While stalwarts like Dhoni, Gayle and de Villiers showcased all of their experience and skill, it was the younger players like Markande, Mujeeb, Pant and Shaw who took the IPL by storm.
All eight franchises have given everything in qualifying for the play-offs, but only four could make it through. Here, we take a look at the best XI, capable of beating any side in the world.
Openers
Sunil Narine
The mystery spinner, who has opened the batting once more, has enjoyed a terrific season with ball and bat, scoring 327 runs at a mammoth strike rate of 182.82, and picking up 16 wickets with the ball. The swashbuckling opener is the perfect option to get a fast and furious start, with his spin coming in handy against any opposition, on any pitch.
KL Rahul
The Karnataka batsman has had a sensational 2018 season, with his batting heroics earning him a place in India's squad to tour England. The classy and technically sound player has fired on all cylinders, racking up 659 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 160.98. He has hit 66 fours thus far, the most by any batsman.
Top Order
Kane Williamson
The hugely under-rated Kiwi has not just batted beautifully, but his captaincy has been brilliant as well, helping his team defend low totals with smart bowling changes and impeccable field placement.
Without any of the brute force or cheeky hits so many batsmen use nowadays, Williamson has 661 runs to his name, having played sparkling drives and flicks. He really is a joy to watch!
Rishabh Pant
The southpaw has taken the IPL by storm, playing knocks of aggression, combined with great maturity, despite his young age.
He has been an anchor in the Delhi batting order, and it's a real shame DD are out of the play-offs. With the highest score of 128*, Pant is third on the list of highest run-getters, having smashed 68 fours and 37 sixes.
MS Dhoni
The two-time IPL winning captain is like wine, he just gets better with every game he plays. Back in the familiar yellow jersey of the Super Kings, 'Thala', as he is popularly called, has enjoyed his most prolific season with the bat thus far.
With 430 runs scored, he is one player every fan would want in their Dream 11. 'Captain Cool' has worked his usual magic behind the stumps, and seems to be enjoying every moment of this tournament. To be fair, so are we!
Middle Order
Hardik Pandya
The backbone of any T20 team has to be the specialist all-rounder, a cricketer who can hit huge sixes and take important wickets.
With Pandya, one gets both and then some more, as his excellent game awareness and fielding helps him take brilliant catches and effect run-outs. India's star all-rounder has had another excellent campaign, picking up 260 runs with the bat and 18 wickets with the ball.
Although Mumbai failed to qualify for the play-offs, many of the games they won can be put down to the all-round brilliance of Pandya.
Andrew Tye
Perhaps the most surprising performer of this year's IPL has been Australian quick Andrew Tye. He is the Purple Cap holder with 24 wickets, at a more than a decent economy rate of 7.71.
Tye's variations, particularly the knuckleball, has constantly deceived batsman, allowing him to get break-throughs at crucial moments in the innings. He can hit the ball a fair distance, thereby providing some more firepower to a side full of super-strikers.
Lower Order
Umesh Yadav
Yadav has been really consistent with the ball, bowling at pace and with great accuracy. Umesh has picked up 20 wickets in the season thus far, and has also bowled the most number of dot balls, which is a phenomenal stat for a quick bowling. Be it bowling right up top or at the back-end, Yadav, with his pace and bounce, can trouble the world's best batsmen.
Rashid Khan
The Afghan leggie has the best economy rate (6.89) of the tournament and for good reason.
The young spinner is extremely accurate with his line and length, and has several variations to outfox the batsman. A street-smart cricketer, he is not afraid to be hit for runs, as he often picks the wickets of the most dangerous opposition batsmen.
Capable of bowling at the death, he is an option every captain would like to have.
Mayank Markande
Don't be surprised if the "Emerging Player of the Tournament" award ends up with this man. The Mumbai Indians' finger spinner has been excellent throughout, picking up 15 wickets. Not bad, considering this his first season, that too against some of the world's biggest hitters. Although his form in the latter part of the tournament wasn't great, the youngster is enormously talented, and has a bright future.
Mujeeb ur Rahman
Another spinner who has far exceeded expectations is Afghan teenager Mujeeb ur Rahman.
The spinner has picked up 14 wickets thus far with a fabulous economy of 6.99. He has constantly troubled batsmen with his quick-through-the-air deliveries, and his unerring line has made it difficult to take easy runs off him.
Although his fielding has been below par, his ability with the ball more than makes up for it.
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