IPL 2018: Top 5 foreign players of the season

Chennai Super Kings won their third IPL title, defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final. Overseas players played a huge role in the success of both the finalists. While the likes of Watson, Bravo and Ngidi performed brilliantly for CSK, Rashid Khan, Williamson and Shakib Al Hasan did the job for SRH.

Meanwhile, the likes of Delhi Daredevils and Mumbai Indians, who struggled to find the right combination of foreign players throughout the tournament, failed to put up a good show. This testifies to the importance of overseas players in the IPL.

Here are five of the best overseas players in IPL 2018:

#5 Shane Watson

Watson scored two centuries this season

Shane Watson showed his brilliance and class by playing a match-winning innings for Chennai in the all-important final. The Australian all-rounder was in terrific form throughout the season as he scored 555 runs at an outstanding average of 39.64 and a high strike-rate of 154.59.

Watson struck two centuries in total and gave CSK good starts throughout the tournament. He also took 6 wickets with the ball and played a crucial role in CSK's title victory.

#4 Andrew Tye

Tye used the knuckleball to good effect

Andrew Tye was the most successful overseas fast bowler in the IPL this season. Tye, who played for Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2018, took 24 wickets in 14 matches at an acceptable economy of 8 runs per over.

He deceived batsmen with his variations in pace and took a lot of wickets with the slower deliveries and knuckleballs. Tye, who bowled in difficult phases of the innings, was Ashwin's go-to bowler throughout the tournament. He ended the tournament with the Purple Cap.

#3 Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan bowled with an economy of 6.73 runs per over

Rashid Khan kept his fabulous IPL record intact after yet another successful campaign. The 19-year-old Afghan took 21 wickets in 17 matches and finished as the second highest wicket-taker of the tournament.

He troubled almost every batsman with his variations and played a crucial role in the Sunrisers' run to the final. Rashid was a major reason for SRH defending small totals on many occasions. He also showed his prowess as a batsman, playing a match-changing innings against KKR in the eliminator.

#2 Kane Williamson

Williamson won the Orange Cap

Sunrisers Hyderabad suffered a huge blow before the start of the tournament when David Warner was ruled out. Kane Williamson replaced him not only as the captain but also as their premier batsman. He played some classy innings and ended the season as the highest run-getter of the tournament.

The Kiwi skipper scored 735 runs at an outstanding average of 52.50 and a decent strike-rate of 142.44.

#1 Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine won the Most Valuable Player of the tournament award

Sunil Narine the bowler has been wreaking havoc in the opposition camps for years, but this year, Sunil Narine the all-rounder tormented the other teams. Narine's superb performance as a bowler didn't come as a surprise but his dazzling batting at the top of the order surely did.

He scored 357 runs at a mind-blowing strike-rate of 189.89. Narine provided quick starts to KKR throughout the tournament. He also took 17 wickets with the ball, establishing himself as the top all-rounder of IPL 2018.