IPL 2020 – Best Team of the Season, as per Aakash Chopra
After 53 action packed days we watched the Mumbai Indians successfully defend their title and thus solidify their legacy of being one of the best T20 teams of all time if not the best. In a tournament where the spinners were expected to dominate the season, it was the extremely speedy bowlers who dominated the column of wickets. In the hitting department the usual suspects took first place followed by some surprising innings. When choosing the tournament team we kept the four foreign player rule in mind and as a result we had to make some tough decisions. As expected the XI is dominated by IM players with four players while CSK and KKR are unrepresented.
KL Rahul – Kings XI Punjab – Run 670 Average 55.83 SR 129.34
After falling behind David Warner on the scoring chart last time out KL Rahul was one step ahead this season and achieved the Orange Cap. He’s been building a reputation for being the best Indian hitter in the IPL over the years and the captaincy didn’t affect that in the slightest in the 2020 edition. Rahul had a great season opening partnership with Mayank Agarwal and consistently gave KXIP a great start. The best innings of this campaign for Rahul were against the Royal Challengers Bangalore where he died by 132 not out.
Shikhar Dhawan – Delhi Capitals – Run 618 Average 44.14 SR 144.73
It was difficult to get Warner out of the XI but it became non inclusive due to the ban on foreign stars. But including Dhawan as Rahul’s hitting partner it certainly wasn’t difficult for the left handed hitter to score more than 600 runs in his first IPL season. Interestingly Dhawan didn’t get off to a great start to the campaign but the shift in focus helped him and his team tremendously. In the process he became the first hitter to score consecutive centuries in tournament history leading to the retirement of the T20I team.
Suryakumar Yadav – Mumbai Indians – Run 480 Average 40 SR 145.01
Suryakumar Yadav a revelation since becoming a top hitter for the Mumbai Indians was at his best this season in another title winning campaign. Always a busy player on the fold Suryakumar reached four half centuries in the season two of which were long. Against the Rajasthan Royals he played one of the tournament’s shots after scoring, an undefeated 79 on the helmet on the road knocking Joffra Archer by six over the keeper. At the end of the league stage he was back at his best innovative moment. Another undefeated 79 in the race chase against RCB where the second best score was 25 races
Ishan Kishan – Mumbai Indians – Run 514 Average 57 .33 SR 145.76
Many people would not have expected Ishaan Kishan to make the team for the tournament. When the Mumbai Indians began their campaign on September 19. MI had preferred Saurabh Tiwari to start the tournament over Kishan and was young for a game before due to illness. An opportunity, He took it to the super playing a slew of 99 innings against RCB which he was sure of when he lost. Subsequently Kishan not only strengthened his position but also played various roles in the batting order.
No one has hit six this season in more than 22 years.
AB de Villiers WK – Royal Challengers Bangalore – Run 457 Average 45.40 SR 158.74
AB de Villiers was once again a key member for RCB where he performed best since 2017 to end the Lean patch
De Villiers received the added responsibility of being a wicketkeeper at the age of 36. Finisher, De Villiers won a few games on his own including an undefeated 73 of 33 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders. An undefeated 55 balls of 22 against Rajasthan Royals in which he succumbed to the death overs of Jofra Archer. Hardik Pandya Mumbai Indians Execution 281 Average 35 12 SR 178 98 Hardik Pandya did not play the entire tournament. But he still contributed significantly to IM’s campaign to win the title. Despite returning due to a long injury Hardik showed vigorously throughout the season with Kieron Pollard being executed for joining forces. An undefeated 60 run 21 against the Royals 7 sixes and 14 balls in 37 that outscored DC in the first qualifier.
Rahul Tewatia – Rajasthan Royals – Run 255 SR 139 34 Wicket 10
Tewatia’s impact at IPL 2020 will go down as one of the biggest success stories of the season. For the Royals he consistently scored runs and took 10 wickets. Also Tewatiya became a household name after his courage on that famous night of 7 20 in Sharjah. Eager to get the opposing team out of the house with half a century to guide his team. He did something similar against SSR a few weeks later showing that he is there to stay at this level.
Rashid Khan – Hyderabad Sunrises – Wicket 20 ER 5 .37
SRH’s trump card in the bowling department was again an excellent season for Rashid Khan to take 20 wickets this season. The most striking feature of Rashid’s IPL was the economic rate. No other bowler in the top 10 or even the top 20 for that matter had an economy rating of less than 6. But the long legged one from Afghanistan finished with 5 .37
His best performance came in one of SRH’s biggest games of the season a win win against DC where he posted 37 in 4 overs.
Jofra Archer – Rajasthan Royals – Wicket 20 ER 6.55
For the first time in IPL history a player from the last team won the MVP of the season. Joffra Archer was literally breathing fire. He was too hot to bother with the new ball even the best of many. It was just as effective in death overs 25 threw 175 point balls at the tournament.
Archer also showed the Royals that he could be an easy hitter to go ahead with 10 sixes total.
Kagiso Rabada – Capitals of Delhi – Wickets 30 Economy Rate 8.34
The South African fast missed perhaps a wicket to Imran Tahir last year but made room for him in 2020. Despite having quick turns they are proving to be one of the most consistent bowlers in the IPL. Mid season Rabada extended his streak of taking at least one spot in every game for a long time and captured the Purple Cap. In the process he became the second bowler after Dwayne Bravo to break the 30 wicket mark in a single edition.
He led his team to the final by taking four wickets in the second qualifier against SRH including crucial Warner with a lethal delivery at the Powerplay defending one of the best in the business.
Jasprit Bumrah – Mumbai Indians – Wickets 27 Economy Rate 6 .73
In terms of terrain it was Bumrah’s best season so far in the IPL. He usually finds teams playing but Rohit Sharma used him wisely with the new ball and allowed him to finish with 27 limits. Even though he landed a wicket in the final against DC. He proved to be a thorn in the flesh for the runners up a week before the title game. Along with Trent Bault Bumrah saved DC’s top spot in Qualifier 1 as well as a few days before the league stage clash. In those two games combined Pacer took 7 wickets.
His performance ensured that MI would never miss Lasith Malinga in defense of his successful title.