Jos Buttler (RR): Having all but sealed the Orange Cup by the midway point of the season, Buttler went off the boil for a few games before returning to his dazzling best in the playoffs, guiding his team to the final with his record-tying fourth century of the IPL. With a staggering 818 runs to his name, the Rajasthan Royals opener has been the standout batter of IPL 2022, reflected in his three selections (out of a possible eight) in our team of the week. Often taking his time to get the measure of the pitch and the bowlers, Buttler’s best knocks in this year’s IPL have been masterclasses in how to accelerate at crucial junctures of the game and manipulate the field, all the while playing as conventionally as possible
Photos courtesy: BCCI
K.L. Rahul (LSG): It may not have been the most consistent season of Rahul’s IPL career, but it has certainly been another prolific one. In tandem with Quinton de Kock at the top, Rahul set the tone for a fantastic debut tournament for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), coming up trumps under pressure. His centuries against the Mumbai Indians (MI), both of which earned him a place in the team of the week, will go down as the highlights of his campaign. And yet, for someone who has scored 616 runs this season, it is his willingness to play second fiddle in the collective interest (like he did to de Kock against the Kolkata Knight Riders) that has been the most impressive feature of his batting
Rahul Tripathi (SRH): In a largely disappointing season for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Tripathi put his hand up and delivered time and again, notching up 413 runs with a commendable average of 37.55 and an even better strike rate of 158.23. His rock-solid batting lent the sort of stability to the SRH middle order that was once provided by skipper Kane Williamson and led to him featuring in our team of the week twice in the latter half of the season. Additionally, for someone who is not known for his big hitting, Tripathi smashed 20 sixes this term, proving how he can adapt his game to the demands of the situation
Hardik Pandya (GT): In one of the great redemption stories of this season’s IPL, Hardik has embraced the responsibility of leading a new franchise, guiding GT to the final without breaking too much of a sweat. His decision to bat higher up in the order has paid dividends for GT, with his 453 runs so far coming at a stellar strike rate of 132.84. While his contributions with the ball have not been as prominent as before, he has once again been electrifying in the field. All that remains now for the junior Pandya is to step up on the biggest day of them all and lift the coveted IPL trophy in GT’s backyard
David Miller (GT): When the Gujarat Titans opted for Miller to be their go-to finisher in the IPL, question marks were raised over how much was left in the 32-year-old’s tank. Suffice to say that Miller has done enough to keep the engine running and more. With 449 runs at a strike rate of 141.19, Miller has been one of the best finishers in the competition this season, as if turning the clock back to his prime half a decade ago. His unbeaten 94 against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will go down as one of the outstanding innings of the season, but far more consequential was his 68 not out at the Eden Gardens against RR that helped seal GT’s spot in their home final
Rahul Tewatia (GT): Three team of the week selections, a strike rate approaching 150 and some of the finest death-overs hitting we have seen in IPL. Tewatia has lived up to his billing for GT, coming together with Miller, Hardik and Rashid Khan to form a formidable quartet that can turn any game on its head. While his fireworks against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the last over remain the high point of his season, Tewatia’s role in chases where he has not gone all guns blazing has been just as important for GT, giving them the composure they needed to hunt down big targets
Wanindu Hasaranga (RCB): The mystery man for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) proved unplayable on his day, with a phenomenal strike rate of a wicket every two overs this season. Not only did Faf du Plessis use his trump card to devastating effect as an attacking option, but also as a defensive option as Hasaranga put the lid on opposition batters almost at will. His 26 wickets so far are joint-best on the Purple Cap list, an incredible achievement for a leg spinner who has had to convince a lot of sceptics this season about his ability to perform on the grandest T20 stage of them all
Umran Malik (SRH): A breath of fresh and furious air this year, Malik has shown that raw pace still has a place in the shortest format of the game. Often erratic in the early stages of the season, Malik matured rapidly as the campaign unfolded, realising how best to manage his line and length to optimise his express speed. While he may have leaked runs at more than nine per over, his 22 wickets, including a five-wicket haul, make for a considerable return on the faith the SRH management have shown in him. Beyond the numbers, however, it is the sheer thrill of watching Malik run in and bowl at full tilt in the midst of the scorching Indian summer that has booked his place in our team of the season
Kagiso Rabada (PBKS): Moving from Delhi to Punjab may not have proved immediately rewarding for Rabada from a collective standpoint, but his individual excellence has once again shone through with 23 wickets, the best tally for a fast bowler in the IPL this season. Although his economy rate of 8.45 is much higher than what we are accustomed to, it is also an indication of the burden he has been under as the spearhead of a misfiring PBKS attack. In the absence of a genuine wicket-taker at the other end, Rabada has often been reduced to a one-man bowling army for Punjab, a tall order that has taken a toll on the South African, but not enough to significantly damage his world-class numbers
Umesh Yadav (KKR): A revitalised Umesh produced some of the most remarkable new-ball bowling we have witnessed in this IPL. While his performances took a nosedive towards the latter part of the season, he still finished with 16 wickets at an outstanding economy rate of just over seven runs per over. With experts writing obituaries for his career for some time, this season was a reminder that at 34, Umesh still has what it takes to lead the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) attack and perhaps even keep the hopes of a return to the Indian team alive
Yuzvendra Chahal (RR): No matter the pitch, the situation or the opposition, nobody has been better at picking up wickets than Chahal this season. Having taken to his new franchise RR like a duck to water, Chahal has enjoyed his most decisive IPL till date, jointly leading the Purple Cap standings, thanks to a number of match-winning performances that got him into our team of the week thrice. His best came against KKR, when Chahal took a hat-trick to alter the complexion of the game, demonstrating why his courage and desire to seize the vital moments make him the most prized bowler in the IPL today
