This is fifth straight IPL and the fireworks have been plenty already with more than half of the carnival being wrapped up. The nine teams have been good in patches and some stars have shone better than others. This post prunes down the best and the ultimate eleven men who could have made to the hypothetical superIPL5 squad.
Reputations won't score here. All that matters is performance. Let me cut it short to name the ultimate eleven this season and the rationale behind it!!
Openers
Slot: 2
Contenders: Sehwag, Rahane, Gayle, Plessis, Gambhir, Dravid, Uthappa and Dhawan.
Debate: This is not an easy choice at all. It has been openers' IPL. All these men have been firing on all cylinders. Sehwag walks into the choice1 just because of his consistency at threatening strike rate. As far as the second opener is concerned, it is a game of equals. Dhawan loses out due to relatively slow game. Plessis has a particularly bad average of 35, little when compared. Dravid misses out due to same rationale. Uthappa looks a weak nominee clearly on all aspects. The fight boils down to Gambhir, Gayle and Rahane. Just because of bludgeoning capability and ability to bowl offies, Gayle manages to edge out cunning Gambhir and flairy Rahane.
Verdict : Sehwag and Gayle.
Middle order
Slot: 4
Contenders: Ab DeVilliers, Kevin Pietersen, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Cameron White, Owais Shah, Mandeep, steve smith, bravo and Marsh.
view: Ab DeVilliers and Pietersen have been red hot with the bat and grab two spots undisputably. Cameron White hit purple patch late but with flying colours. His all-round skill gives him the third spot. Among the rest, Raina, Shah and Mandeep have been faintly good but have had some big moments. The fourth spot is more or less a contest between Rohit Sharma and Dwayne Bravo. With both men being in sublime form but erred consistency, the spot belongs to bravo for his bowling and fielding agility.
verdict: deVilliers, Pietersen, White and Bravo.
Keeper
Slot: 1
Contenders: Uthappa, sangakkara, abdeVilliers
View: deVilliers has been not as good as Uthappa with the Gloves but he saves one spot, so wins the spot.
verdict: deVilliers
Spin
Slot : 2
Contenders: Narine, Chawla, Hogg, Jadeja, murali,vettori
View: West indies' loss has been Ipl's gain. Narine has been distinctly good with the wickets and economy rate. Murali has played few games to be judged. Jadeja grabs the second spot due to his batting capabilities.
Verdict : narine, jadeja
Pace
Slot: 3
Contenders: malinga, morkel, munaf, pollard, cooper, steyn.
View: this is easiest of choices. Morkel, malinga and Steyn outweigh the naive contenders by a margin.
Team
Sehwag ( captain), Gayle, Pietersen, AbdeVillers (wk), Cameron White , Bravo, Jadeja, Steyn, Narine, Morkel, Malinga,
Bench:
Pollard, Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Cooper,
Reputations won't score here. All that matters is performance. Let me cut it short to name the ultimate eleven this season and the rationale behind it!!
Openers
Slot: 2
Contenders: Sehwag, Rahane, Gayle, Plessis, Gambhir, Dravid, Uthappa and Dhawan.
Debate: This is not an easy choice at all. It has been openers' IPL. All these men have been firing on all cylinders. Sehwag walks into the choice1 just because of his consistency at threatening strike rate. As far as the second opener is concerned, it is a game of equals. Dhawan loses out due to relatively slow game. Plessis has a particularly bad average of 35, little when compared. Dravid misses out due to same rationale. Uthappa looks a weak nominee clearly on all aspects. The fight boils down to Gambhir, Gayle and Rahane. Just because of bludgeoning capability and ability to bowl offies, Gayle manages to edge out cunning Gambhir and flairy Rahane.
Verdict : Sehwag and Gayle.
Middle order
Slot: 4
Contenders: Ab DeVilliers, Kevin Pietersen, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Cameron White, Owais Shah, Mandeep, steve smith, bravo and Marsh.
view: Ab DeVilliers and Pietersen have been red hot with the bat and grab two spots undisputably. Cameron White hit purple patch late but with flying colours. His all-round skill gives him the third spot. Among the rest, Raina, Shah and Mandeep have been faintly good but have had some big moments. The fourth spot is more or less a contest between Rohit Sharma and Dwayne Bravo. With both men being in sublime form but erred consistency, the spot belongs to bravo for his bowling and fielding agility.
verdict: deVilliers, Pietersen, White and Bravo.
Keeper
Slot: 1
Contenders: Uthappa, sangakkara, abdeVilliers
View: deVilliers has been not as good as Uthappa with the Gloves but he saves one spot, so wins the spot.
verdict: deVilliers
Spin
Slot : 2
Contenders: Narine, Chawla, Hogg, Jadeja, murali,vettori
View: West indies' loss has been Ipl's gain. Narine has been distinctly good with the wickets and economy rate. Murali has played few games to be judged. Jadeja grabs the second spot due to his batting capabilities.
Verdict : narine, jadeja
Pace
Slot: 3
Contenders: malinga, morkel, munaf, pollard, cooper, steyn.
View: this is easiest of choices. Morkel, malinga and Steyn outweigh the naive contenders by a margin.
Team
Sehwag ( captain), Gayle, Pietersen, AbdeVillers (wk), Cameron White , Bravo, Jadeja, Steyn, Narine, Morkel, Malinga,
Bench:
Pollard, Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Cooper,
