IPL 2024: Best India XI of fifth week

After losing six games on the trot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pocketed a 35-run win against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. With this game, the tournament’s fifth week also came to an end. Rajasthan Royals (RR) maintained their top position on the points table with their emphatic nine-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium.

Following this marquee tournament, the T20 World Cup 2024 will be held in the West Indies. Team India supporters will keenly keep an eye on the performances of their players in the ongoing T20 league. With the conclusion of week five of the 2024 IPL, let’s talk about the best India XI of the fifth week.

Here is the best India XI of the fifth week -

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal

In RR’s one-sided victory against Mumbai in Jaipur, Yashasvi Jaiswal made a vital contribution with his bat. Pursuing a score of 180, the southpaw took the visitors’ bowling attack to the cleaners and hit his second IPL ton. Riding on his unbeaten 104 off 60, Rajasthan pulled off the target in just 18.4 overs.

2. Ruturaj Gaikwad

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad looked brilliant with his bat against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Batting first, Chennai posted a massive total of 210 runs on the board and Gaikwad’s contribution was an unbeaten 108 that came in just 60 deliveries.

3. Sai Sudharsan

While chasing a massive target of 225 against Delhi Capitals (DC), Gujarat Tiitans (GT) fell four runs short. Sai Sudharsan, who came to bat at number three, displayed spunk and racked up 65 off just 39 with nine boundaries (seven fours and two maximums). 

4. Rajat Patidar

Rajat Patidar looked fierce with his bat in the competition’s fifth week. Against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic Eden Gardens, RCB couldn’t chase down 223 runs successfully but their middle-order batter Rajat Patidar exuded confidence with his bat. Batting at number four, the right-handed batter played a ferocious knock of 52 off 23 with three fours and five maximums.

Against the Sunrisers at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Bengaluru won their second game of the tournament. Patidar became the Player of the Match for steering his team to a 35-run triumph with a solid 50-run innings off just 20 balls.

5. Shreyas Iyer (C) 

KKR captain Shreyas Iyer displayed his batting brilliance against RCB at the Eden Gardens. Leading the side from the front, Shreyas notched up 50 off just 36 to help his side put up a heavy total of 222 runs on the board. During his superb knock, the right-hander smashed eight boundaries (seven fours and a maximum).

6. Rishabh Pant (WK)

DC handed a four-run defeat to GT at the Arun Jaitley Stadium and won their fourth game in the tournament. Batting first, the Capitals racked up 224 runs on the board, and captain Rishabh Pant did an excellent job as a batter. Going out into the middle at number five, the wicketkeeper-batter scored an unbeaten 88 off just 43 and reinforced his side’s position in the game. 

7. Axar Patel

On Delhi’s batting-friendly track, when DC and SRH squared off with each other, the latter crossed the 200-run mark for the fourth time in the competition. In this game, Delhi lost to the Sunrisers by 67 runs but their finger spinner Axar Patel looked decent with the ball. Bowling a four-over spell, he gave away only 29 runs and got rid of dangerous Heinrich Klaasen.

After failing the Hyderabad challenge, Delhi clinched a four-run win over GT at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. This time, Axar stepped up and produced an impactful knock of 66 off just 43 with five fours and four maximums. After performing superbly with his bat, Axar got the prized scalp of Azmatullah Omarzai in the second innings of the game.

8. Harshal Patel

Harshal Patel exuded confidence with the ball against the Titans in Mohali. In the losing cause, the pacer bowled a magnificent three-over spell and displayed courage while defending a low score of 142 runs. During his spell, he got the better of Azmatullah Omarzai, Shahrukh Khan, and Rashid Khan and ended his spell with 3/15 figures.

9. T Natarajan

SRH won their fifth match of the tournament with their comprehensive 67-run triumph against DC in Delhi. Travis Head became the Player of the Match for his stunning 89-run innings off just 32 balls. Along with the star opener, speedster T. Natarajan also played an instrumental role in the Orange Army’s triumph. Bowling four overs, Natarajan splurged only 19 runs and took four wickets.

10. Sandeep Sharma

RR senior paceman Sandeep Sharma chipped in with a fifer in his team’s convincing nine-wicket win against Mumbai in Jaipur. His belligerent spell wrecked MI as he got the prized scalps of Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Tllak Varma, and Tim David to restrict the visitors on 179.

11. Kuldeep Yadav

Against the Sunrisers, DC looked completely out of rhythm as their bowling unit lacked discipline. On Delhi’s tough bowling track, Kuldeep Yadav also got punished but the leggie got four wickets during his spell. At the same venue, Kuldeep looked amazing in Delhi’s contest against GT. This time, his frugal spell of (2/29 in four overs) steered Delhi to an intriguing four-run win.