The 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was being tipped to be a bigger and a grander affair than the previous editions. Now, the tournament is one week old this season and it has certainly lived up to all the expectations. The first week of the season provided some serious entertaining cricket action. From the very first game of the season, the matches have gone down to the wire.

Very rarely have the fans seen one sided encounters in the IPL 2018 thus far. The entertainment quotient has been high and the fans have been thrilled to bits. There have been last over finishes, last ball finishes, some spectacular fielding efforts, magnificent striking, and sparkling bowling spells.

This IPL seems to have covered all ingredients of a big hit already. With one week down in the premier tournament, here we try to pick some of the best efforts of the season in the first week. There were some old stars living up to the name, and the news ones who sprung up on the screen this season. There will certainly be more coming in the list and making a name for themselves.

Here is the Best XI of the first week of IPL 2018:

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/KL-Rahul-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-238173" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/KL-Rahul-1.jpg" alt="KL Rahul" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-238173" class="wp-caption-text">KL Rahul. (Photo Source: IANS)</figcaption>

KL Rahul looks like a man on a mission. The new recruit of Kings XI Punjab had fetched a huge sum at the IPL auctions this year. And he is certainly proving his worth big time in the season already. KL Rahul arrived in grand fashion in the very first game for his side. He <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/kl-rahul-credits-the-legendary-player-for-helping-him-to-score-the-fastest-ipl-half-century/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>slammed the fastest fifty in the history of the IPL</strong></a> &#8211; taking only 14 deliveries to reach the milestone against the Delhi Daredevils.

He continued his sensational run of form in the next game as well and played yet another gem of a cameo to give a brisk start to his side against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. He is certainly one player in top contention for the Orange Cap this year.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Shikhar-Dhawan-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-239600" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Shikhar-Dhawan-1.jpg" alt="Shikhar Dhawan" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-239600" class="wp-caption-text">Shikhar Dhawan of Sunrisers Hyderabad plays a shot. (Photo: IANS)</figcaption>

Veteran Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan has come real good this season for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. He has always been a mainstay for the franchise over the last couple of years. But this season, he is expected to play a larger role in the team owing to the fact that David Warner is not a part of the roster.

Much to the delight of the fans of the Orange Army, Dhawan has made a thundering start to his campaign this season. In the game against the Rajasthan Royals, all batsmen struggled at the track in Hyderabad. On the very same wicket, Dhawan scored a match winning 78 to take SRH home by 9 wickets.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Deepak-Hooda.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-239607" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Deepak-Hooda.jpg" alt="Deepak Hooda" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-239607" class="wp-caption-text">Deepak Hooda of SRH plays a shot. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Deepak Hooda has always been tagged as a talented young prospect. He has been fetching heavy bids at the IPL auctions in the recent times. However, he has largely failed to live up to the promise and expectation that has been there around him. But this season, he has already given solid performance for his side to be proud of. Playing against the Mumbai Indians, the Sunrisers Hyderabad had lost the plot big time.

They were 9 down and needed some calm head to take them through in the tricky run chase of 147. Hooda hit a six on the very first ball of the final over to ease out the pressure. He remained unbeaten on 32 off 25 deliveries as <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2018-top-5-fastest-balls-bowled-in-the-first-week-of-the-season/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Billy Stanlake</strong></a> hit the winning runs from the other end to see SRH home by one wicket.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Sanju-Samson-Rahul-Tripathi.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-240556" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sanju-Samson-Rahul-Tripathi.jpg" alt="Sanju Samson &amp; Rahul Tripathi" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-240556" class="wp-caption-text">Sanju Samson &amp; Rahul Tripathi. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Sanju Samson has been around for quite some time now. And for the ones who have been following him, it is a known fact that he has been improving with every edition of the IPL. Samson has been in a tremendous form in the tournament this year.

He has reunited with the Rajasthan Royals and is proving to be a value addition to the team already. He scored 49 in the first game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad this season and then backed it up with a 22-ball 37 against the Delhi Daredevils. Albeit not in the first week, his best came recently in the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2018-match-11-rcb-vs-rr-review/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sunday encounter against RCB</strong></a>.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Sam-Billings-CSK.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-238927" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sam-Billings-CSK.jpg" alt="Sam Billings and Eoin Morgan" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-238927" class="wp-caption-text">Sam Billings celebrates his fifty. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

English cricketer Sam Billings is a very talented and gifted hitter of the ball. However, he has not been a direct inclusion in the sides that he has played for. He has got his limited opportunities only when the other players have not been around. This season, he got his first opportunity to play in the second game of the Chennai Super Kings. And the stage was set for a tough finish.

CSK were chasing a huge total of 202 against the Kolkata Knight Riders. He arrived at the crease in the 12th over and <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/twitter-reactions-sam-billings-leads-csks-herculean-run-chase-in-chepauk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>turned the game on its head</strong></a> in no time. He smacked 56 off 23 balls with a couple of fours and five maximums to take CSK in the winning range. CSK eventually won the game on the penultimate ball of the match.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Dwayne-Bravo-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-237867" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Dwayne-Bravo-1.jpg" alt="Dwayne Bravo of Chennai Super Kings" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-237867" class="wp-caption-text">Dwayne Bravo of Chennai Super Kings. (Photo Source: IANS)</figcaption>

Dwayne Bravo arrived in to the tournament with a relatively poor outing in the PSL 2018. Many believed that playing Bravo in the first game was not a smart move by the Chennai Super Kings. But the veteran Windies all-rounder proved all the critics wrong. CSK were nowhere in contention to chase the total of 165 set by the Mumbai Indians in the season opener.

In walked Bravo to bat at number 7 in the 13th over of the game with CSK reeling on 75/5. Bravo played a lone ranger thundering knock of 68 in just 30 deliveries with 3 fours and 7 mighty sixes to pull CSK back in the game. His efforts saw the returning franchise <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/twitter-reactions-chennai-super-kings-register-thrilling-win-riding-on-bravo-special-kedars-grit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>register a thrilling one wicket win</strong></a> in the game.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Andre-Russell-2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-238888" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Andre-Russell-2.jpg" alt="Andre Russell" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-238888" class="wp-caption-text">Andre Russell plays a shot. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Andre Russell is one of the top overseas players in the competition. Despite the fact that he had been out of the game for quite some time before the commencement of the IPL, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/andre-russell-smacks-one-park-srk-reacts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Russell has shown no rusty signs</strong></a>. He got going in the game against the Chennai Super Kings. At 89/5, things looked grim for the KKR camp.

But Russell had some other plans. The big burly Windies cricketer hammered an unbeaten 88 off just 36 deliveries with a four and 11 sixes to take the KKR total past the 200-run mark. Russell was unfortunate to have ended on the losing side in the game though. But he certainly was one of the best in the first week of the IPL.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Narine.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-238258" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Narine.jpg" alt="Sunil Narine" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-238258" class="wp-caption-text">Sunil Narine plays a shot. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Sunil Narine is an absolute superstar in the IPL. The Kolkata Knight Riders have made him a specialist opener and he delivered in the same role in the very first game of the season for the Knight Riders. The KKR camp was chasing a decent total of 176 against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

In walked Narine to smash a quick 16-ball 50 to push RCB right out of the game. In the next game against the Mumbai Indians, he had again teed off with a couple of maximums but failed to get going. Also, he has been bowling tight lines with the ball and has proven to be a key player for the Knight Riders thus far in the season.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Mayank-Markande-2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-239817" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mayank-Markande-2.jpg" alt="Mayank Markande of Mumbai Indians" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-239817" class="wp-caption-text">Mayank Markande of Mumbai Indians. (Photo by BCCI/IANS)</figcaption>

Young Mumbai Indians spinner Mayank Markande has been the find of the season in the IPL thus far. Markande was a surprise inclusion in the MI lineup for the season opener. The<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2018-emotional-markande-thanks-mumbai-indians-franchise-for-the-opportunity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> youngster stunned the Chennai Super Kings</strong> </a>with figures of 3/23 in his four overs.

This included the wickets of Ambati Rayudu, Deepak Chahar, and the big fish MS Dhoni. In the next game against the Sunrisers Hyderbad, he fared up even better as he scalped 4/23 in his four overs. Again, he took the wickets of big players like Shikhar Dhawan, Shaib Al Hasan, Manish Pandey, and Wriddhiman Saha.

Umesh Yadav (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Umesh-Yadav.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-239883" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Umesh-Yadav.jpg" alt="Umesh Yadav" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-239883" class="wp-caption-text">Umesh Yadav of RCB celebrates a wicket. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Veteran Indian speedster Umesh Yadav turned up for a new franchise this season. The fiery pacer came up with one of the best fast bowling spells in the history of the tournament. Yadav changed the course of the game in the first home fixture of the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The opposition, Kings XI Punjab, seemed to be cruising on the day.

It was Umesh who came in to bowl the fourth over of the innings and took three wickets in the same over to put RCB right on top in the match. Umesh got rid of Mayank Agarwal before sending Aaron Finch back for a golden duck. A couple of deliveries later, a fiery pace delivery saw him rattle the stumps of Yuvraj Singh. He is among the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2018-top-5-fastest-balls-bowled-in-the-first-week-of-the-season/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bowlers who have bowled the fastest balls</strong></a> this season.

<a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Siddarth-Kaul-wicket-celebration.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-238554" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Siddarth-Kaul-wicket-celebration.jpg" alt="Siddarth Kaul" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-238554" class="wp-caption-text">Siddarth Kaul celebrates a wicket. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

The SRH pacer Siddarth Kaul has largely been bowling in the shadows of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. But this season, he has managed to take some limelight of his own. Kaul has been bowling with some serious pace this season. In fact, it will not be wrong to state that Kaul has managed to overshadow his fellow bowlers in the SRH camp till now.

In the game against the Mumbai Indians, it was Kaul&#8217;s over in the 6th over of the innings that brought the game back in to the SRH favor. He scalped the wickets of Evin Lewis and Ishan Kishan in the space of five deliveries. Earlier, in the first game against the Rajasthan Royals, he had returned with figures of 2/17 in four overs.

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<p>The 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was being tipped to be a bigger and a grander affair than the previous editions. Now, the tournament is one week old this season and it has certainly lived up to all the expectations. The first week of the season provided some serious entertaining cricket action. From the very first game of the season, the matches have gone down to the wire.</p>
<p>Very rarely have the fans seen one sided encounters in the IPL 2018 thus far. The entertainment quotient has been high and the fans have been thrilled to bits. There have been last over finishes, last ball finishes, some spectacular fielding efforts, magnificent striking, and sparkling bowling spells.</p>
<p>This IPL seems to have covered all ingredients of a big hit already. With one week down in the premier tournament, here we try to pick some of the best efforts of the season in the first week. There were some old stars living up to the name, and the news ones who sprung up on the screen this season. There will certainly be more coming in the list and making a name for themselves.</p>
<h3>Here is the Best XI of the first week of IPL 2018:</h3>
<h4>KL Rahul (Kings XI Punjab)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_238173" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-238173" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/KL-Rahul-1.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-238173" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/KL-Rahul-1.jpg" alt="KL Rahul" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-238173" class="wp-caption-text">KL Rahul. (Photo Source: IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>KL Rahul looks like a man on a mission. The new recruit of Kings XI Punjab had fetched a huge sum at the IPL auctions this year. And he is certainly proving his worth big time in the season already. KL Rahul arrived in grand fashion in the very first game for his side. He <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/kl-rahul-credits-the-legendary-player-for-helping-him-to-score-the-fastest-ipl-half-century/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>slammed the fastest fifty in the history of the IPL</strong></a> – taking only 14 deliveries to reach the milestone against the Delhi Daredevils.</p>
<p>He continued his sensational run of form in the next game as well and played yet another gem of a cameo to give a brisk start to his side against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. He is certainly one player in top contention for the Orange Cap this year.</p>
<h4>Shikhar Dhawan (C) (Sunrisers Hyderabad)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_239600" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-239600" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Shikhar-Dhawan-1.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-239600" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Shikhar-Dhawan-1.jpg" alt="Shikhar Dhawan" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-239600" class="wp-caption-text">Shikhar Dhawan of Sunrisers Hyderabad plays a shot. (Photo: IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Veteran Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan has come real good this season for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. He has always been a mainstay for the franchise over the last couple of years. But this season, he is expected to play a larger role in the team owing to the fact that David Warner is not a part of the roster.</p>
<p>Much to the delight of the fans of the Orange Army, Dhawan has made a thundering start to his campaign this season. In the game against the Rajasthan Royals, all batsmen struggled at the track in Hyderabad. On the very same wicket, Dhawan scored a match winning 78 to take SRH home by 9 wickets.</p>
<h4>Deepak Hooda (Sunrisers Hyderabad)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_239607" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-239607" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Deepak-Hooda.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-239607" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Deepak-Hooda.jpg" alt="Deepak Hooda" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-239607" class="wp-caption-text">Deepak Hooda of SRH plays a shot. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Deepak Hooda has always been tagged as a talented young prospect. He has been fetching heavy bids at the IPL auctions in the recent times. However, he has largely failed to live up to the promise and expectation that has been there around him. But this season, he has already given solid performance for his side to be proud of. Playing against the Mumbai Indians, the Sunrisers Hyderabad had lost the plot big time.</p>
<p>They were 9 down and needed some calm head to take them through in the tricky run chase of 147. Hooda hit a six on the very first ball of the final over to ease out the pressure. He remained unbeaten on 32 off 25 deliveries as <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2018-top-5-fastest-balls-bowled-in-the-first-week-of-the-season/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Billy Stanlake</strong></a> hit the winning runs from the other end to see SRH home by one wicket.</p>
<h4>Sanju Samson (WK) (Rajasthan Royals)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_240556" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-240556" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Sanju-Samson-Rahul-Tripathi.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-240556" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sanju-Samson-Rahul-Tripathi.jpg" alt="Sanju Samson &amp; Rahul Tripathi" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-240556" class="wp-caption-text">Sanju Samson &amp; Rahul Tripathi. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Sanju Samson has been around for quite some time now. And for the ones who have been following him, it is a known fact that he has been improving with every edition of the IPL. Samson has been in a tremendous form in the tournament this year.</p>
<p>He has reunited with the Rajasthan Royals and is proving to be a value addition to the team already. He scored 49 in the first game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad this season and then backed it up with a 22-ball 37 against the Delhi Daredevils. Albeit not in the first week, his best came recently in the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2018-match-11-rcb-vs-rr-review/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sunday encounter against RCB</strong></a>.</p>
<h4>Sam Billings (Chennai Super Kings)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_238927" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-238927" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Sam-Billings-CSK.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-238927" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sam-Billings-CSK.jpg" alt="Sam Billings and Eoin Morgan" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-238927" class="wp-caption-text">Sam Billings celebrates his fifty. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>English cricketer Sam Billings is a very talented and gifted hitter of the ball. However, he has not been a direct inclusion in the sides that he has played for. He has got his limited opportunities only when the other players have not been around. This season, he got his first opportunity to play in the second game of the Chennai Super Kings. And the stage was set for a tough finish.</p>
<p>CSK were chasing a huge total of 202 against the Kolkata Knight Riders. He arrived at the crease in the 12th over and <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/twitter-reactions-sam-billings-leads-csks-herculean-run-chase-in-chepauk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>turned the game on its head</strong></a> in no time. He smacked 56 off 23 balls with a couple of fours and five maximums to take CSK in the winning range. CSK eventually won the game on the penultimate ball of the match.</p>
<h4>Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_237867" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-237867" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Dwayne-Bravo-1.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-237867" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Dwayne-Bravo-1.jpg" alt="Dwayne Bravo of Chennai Super Kings" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-237867" class="wp-caption-text">Dwayne Bravo of Chennai Super Kings. (Photo Source: IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Dwayne Bravo arrived in to the tournament with a relatively poor outing in the PSL 2018. Many believed that playing Bravo in the first game was not a smart move by the Chennai Super Kings. But the veteran Windies all-rounder proved all the critics wrong. CSK were nowhere in contention to chase the total of 165 set by the Mumbai Indians in the season opener.</p>
<p>In walked Bravo to bat at number 7 in the 13th over of the game with CSK reeling on 75/5. Bravo played a lone ranger thundering knock of 68 in just 30 deliveries with 3 fours and 7 mighty sixes to pull CSK back in the game. His efforts saw the returning franchise <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/twitter-reactions-chennai-super-kings-register-thrilling-win-riding-on-bravo-special-kedars-grit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>register a thrilling one wicket win</strong></a> in the game.</p>
<h4>Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_238888" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-238888" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Andre-Russell-2.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-238888" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Andre-Russell-2.jpg" alt="Andre Russell" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-238888" class="wp-caption-text">Andre Russell plays a shot. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Andre Russell is one of the top overseas players in the competition. Despite the fact that he had been out of the game for quite some time before the commencement of the IPL, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/andre-russell-smacks-one-park-srk-reacts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Russell has shown no rusty signs</strong></a>. He got going in the game against the Chennai Super Kings. At 89/5, things looked grim for the KKR camp.</p>
<p>But Russell had some other plans. The big burly Windies cricketer hammered an unbeaten 88 off just 36 deliveries with a four and 11 sixes to take the KKR total past the 200-run mark. Russell was unfortunate to have ended on the losing side in the game though. But he certainly was one of the best in the first week of the IPL.</p>
<h4>Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_238258" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-238258" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Narine.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-238258" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Narine.jpg" alt="Sunil Narine" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-238258" class="wp-caption-text">Sunil Narine plays a shot. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Sunil Narine is an absolute superstar in the IPL. The Kolkata Knight Riders have made him a specialist opener and he delivered in the same role in the very first game of the season for the Knight Riders. The KKR camp was chasing a decent total of 176 against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.</p>
<p>In walked Narine to smash a quick 16-ball 50 to push RCB right out of the game. In the next game against the Mumbai Indians, he had again teed off with a couple of maximums but failed to get going. Also, he has been bowling tight lines with the ball and has proven to be a key player for the Knight Riders thus far in the season.</p>
<h4>Mayank Markande (Mumbai Indians)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_239817" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-239817" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Mayank-Markande-2.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-239817" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mayank-Markande-2.jpg" alt="Mayank Markande of Mumbai Indians" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-239817" class="wp-caption-text">Mayank Markande of Mumbai Indians. (Photo by BCCI/IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Young Mumbai Indians spinner Mayank Markande has been the find of the season in the IPL thus far. Markande was a surprise inclusion in the MI lineup for the season opener. The<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2018-emotional-markande-thanks-mumbai-indians-franchise-for-the-opportunity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> youngster stunned the Chennai Super Kings</strong> </a>with figures of 3/23 in his four overs.</p>
<p>This included the wickets of Ambati Rayudu, Deepak Chahar, and the big fish MS Dhoni. In the next game against the Sunrisers Hyderbad, he fared up even better as he scalped 4/23 in his four overs. Again, he took the wickets of big players like Shikhar Dhawan, Shaib Al Hasan, Manish Pandey, and Wriddhiman Saha.</p>
<h4>Umesh Yadav (Royal Challengers Bangalore)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_239883" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-239883" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Umesh-Yadav.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-239883" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Umesh-Yadav.jpg" alt="Umesh Yadav" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-239883" class="wp-caption-text">Umesh Yadav of RCB celebrates a wicket. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Veteran Indian speedster Umesh Yadav turned up for a new franchise this season. The fiery pacer came up with one of the best fast bowling spells in the history of the tournament. Yadav changed the course of the game in the first home fixture of the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The opposition, Kings XI Punjab, seemed to be cruising on the day.</p>
<p>It was Umesh who came in to bowl the fourth over of the innings and took three wickets in the same over to put RCB right on top in the match. Umesh got rid of Mayank Agarwal before sending Aaron Finch back for a golden duck. A couple of deliveries later, a fiery pace delivery saw him rattle the stumps of Yuvraj Singh. He is among the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2018-top-5-fastest-balls-bowled-in-the-first-week-of-the-season/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bowlers who have bowled the fastest balls</strong></a> this season.</p>
<h4>Siddarth Kaul (Sunrisers Hyderabad)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_238554" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-238554" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Siddarth-Kaul-wicket-celebration.jpg"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-238554" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Siddarth-Kaul-wicket-celebration.jpg" alt="Siddarth Kaul" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-238554" class="wp-caption-text">Siddarth Kaul celebrates a wicket. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The SRH pacer Siddarth Kaul has largely been bowling in the shadows of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. But this season, he has managed to take some limelight of his own. Kaul has been bowling with some serious pace this season. In fact, it will not be wrong to state that Kaul has managed to overshadow his fellow bowlers in the SRH camp till now.</p>
<p>In the game against the Mumbai Indians, it was Kaul’s over in the 6th over of the innings that brought the game back in to the SRH favor. He scalped the wickets of Evin Lewis and Ishan Kishan in the space of five deliveries. Earlier, in the first game against the Rajasthan Royals, he had returned with figures of 2/17 in four overs.</p>
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<p>The 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was being tipped to be a bigger and a grander affair than the previous editions. Now, the tournament is one week old this season and it has certainly lived up to all the expectations. The first week of the season provided some serious entertaining cricket action. From the very first game of the season, the matches have gone down to the wire.</p>
<p>Very rarely have the fans seen one sided encounters in the IPL 2018 thus far. The entertainment quotient has been high and the fans have been thrilled to bits. There have been last over finishes, last ball finishes, some spectacular fielding efforts, magnificent striking, and sparkling bowling spells.</p>
<p>This IPL seems to have covered all ingredients of a big hit already. With one week down in the premier tournament, here we try to pick some of the best efforts of the season in the first week. There were some old stars living up to the name, and the news ones who sprung up on the screen this season. There will certainly be more coming in the list and making a name for themselves.</p>
<h3>Here is the Best XI of the first week of IPL 2018:</h3>
<h4>KL Rahul (Kings XI Punjab)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_238173" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-238173" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/KL-Rahul-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-238173" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/KL-Rahul-1.jpg" alt="KL Rahul" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-238173" class="wp-caption-text">KL Rahul. (Photo Source: IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>KL Rahul looks like a man on a mission. The new recruit of Kings XI Punjab had fetched a huge sum at the IPL auctions this year. And he is certainly proving his worth big time in the season already. KL Rahul arrived in grand fashion in the very first game for his side. He <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/kl-rahul-credits-the-legendary-player-for-helping-him-to-score-the-fastest-ipl-half-century/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>slammed the fastest fifty in the history of the IPL</strong></a> &#8211; taking only 14 deliveries to reach the milestone against the Delhi Daredevils.</p>
<p>He continued his sensational run of form in the next game as well and played yet another gem of a cameo to give a brisk start to his side against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. He is certainly one player in top contention for the Orange Cap this year.</p>
<h4>Shikhar Dhawan (C) (Sunrisers Hyderabad)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_239600" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-239600" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Shikhar-Dhawan-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-239600" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Shikhar-Dhawan-1.jpg" alt="Shikhar Dhawan" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-239600" class="wp-caption-text">Shikhar Dhawan of Sunrisers Hyderabad plays a shot. (Photo: IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Veteran Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan has come real good this season for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. He has always been a mainstay for the franchise over the last couple of years. But this season, he is expected to play a larger role in the team owing to the fact that David Warner is not a part of the roster.</p>
<p>Much to the delight of the fans of the Orange Army, Dhawan has made a thundering start to his campaign this season. In the game against the Rajasthan Royals, all batsmen struggled at the track in Hyderabad. On the very same wicket, Dhawan scored a match winning 78 to take SRH home by 9 wickets.</p>
<h4>Deepak Hooda (Sunrisers Hyderabad)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_239607" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-239607" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Deepak-Hooda.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-239607" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Deepak-Hooda.jpg" alt="Deepak Hooda" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-239607" class="wp-caption-text">Deepak Hooda of SRH plays a shot. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Deepak Hooda has always been tagged as a talented young prospect. He has been fetching heavy bids at the IPL auctions in the recent times. However, he has largely failed to live up to the promise and expectation that has been there around him. But this season, he has already given solid performance for his side to be proud of. Playing against the Mumbai Indians, the Sunrisers Hyderabad had lost the plot big time.</p>
<p>They were 9 down and needed some calm head to take them through in the tricky run chase of 147. Hooda hit a six on the very first ball of the final over to ease out the pressure. He remained unbeaten on 32 off 25 deliveries as <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2018-top-5-fastest-balls-bowled-in-the-first-week-of-the-season/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Billy Stanlake</strong></a> hit the winning runs from the other end to see SRH home by one wicket.</p>
<h4>Sanju Samson (WK) (Rajasthan Royals)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_240556" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-240556" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Sanju-Samson-Rahul-Tripathi.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-240556" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sanju-Samson-Rahul-Tripathi.jpg" alt="Sanju Samson &amp; Rahul Tripathi" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-240556" class="wp-caption-text">Sanju Samson &amp; Rahul Tripathi. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Sanju Samson has been around for quite some time now. And for the ones who have been following him, it is a known fact that he has been improving with every edition of the IPL. Samson has been in a tremendous form in the tournament this year.</p>
<p>He has reunited with the Rajasthan Royals and is proving to be a value addition to the team already. He scored 49 in the first game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad this season and then backed it up with a 22-ball 37 against the Delhi Daredevils. Albeit not in the first week, his best came recently in the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2018-match-11-rcb-vs-rr-review/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sunday encounter against RCB</strong></a>.</p>
<h4>Sam Billings (Chennai Super Kings)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_238927" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-238927" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Sam-Billings-CSK.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-238927" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Sam-Billings-CSK.jpg" alt="Sam Billings and Eoin Morgan" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-238927" class="wp-caption-text">Sam Billings celebrates his fifty. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>English cricketer Sam Billings is a very talented and gifted hitter of the ball. However, he has not been a direct inclusion in the sides that he has played for. He has got his limited opportunities only when the other players have not been around. This season, he got his first opportunity to play in the second game of the Chennai Super Kings. And the stage was set for a tough finish.</p>
<p>CSK were chasing a huge total of 202 against the Kolkata Knight Riders. He arrived at the crease in the 12th over and <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/twitter-reactions-sam-billings-leads-csks-herculean-run-chase-in-chepauk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>turned the game on its head</strong></a> in no time. He smacked 56 off 23 balls with a couple of fours and five maximums to take CSK in the winning range. CSK eventually won the game on the penultimate ball of the match.</p>
<h4>Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_237867" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-237867" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Dwayne-Bravo-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-237867" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Dwayne-Bravo-1.jpg" alt="Dwayne Bravo of Chennai Super Kings" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-237867" class="wp-caption-text">Dwayne Bravo of Chennai Super Kings. (Photo Source: IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Dwayne Bravo arrived in to the tournament with a relatively poor outing in the PSL 2018. Many believed that playing Bravo in the first game was not a smart move by the Chennai Super Kings. But the veteran Windies all-rounder proved all the critics wrong. CSK were nowhere in contention to chase the total of 165 set by the Mumbai Indians in the season opener.</p>
<p>In walked Bravo to bat at number 7 in the 13th over of the game with CSK reeling on 75/5. Bravo played a lone ranger thundering knock of 68 in just 30 deliveries with 3 fours and 7 mighty sixes to pull CSK back in the game. His efforts saw the returning franchise <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/twitter-reactions-chennai-super-kings-register-thrilling-win-riding-on-bravo-special-kedars-grit/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>register a thrilling one wicket win</strong></a> in the game.</p>
<h4>Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_238888" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-238888" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Andre-Russell-2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-238888" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Andre-Russell-2.jpg" alt="Andre Russell" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-238888" class="wp-caption-text">Andre Russell plays a shot. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Andre Russell is one of the top overseas players in the competition. Despite the fact that he had been out of the game for quite some time before the commencement of the IPL, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/andre-russell-smacks-one-park-srk-reacts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Russell has shown no rusty signs</strong></a>. He got going in the game against the Chennai Super Kings. At 89/5, things looked grim for the KKR camp.</p>
<p>But Russell had some other plans. The big burly Windies cricketer hammered an unbeaten 88 off just 36 deliveries with a four and 11 sixes to take the KKR total past the 200-run mark. Russell was unfortunate to have ended on the losing side in the game though. But he certainly was one of the best in the first week of the IPL.</p>
<h4>Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_238258" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-238258" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Narine.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-238258" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Narine.jpg" alt="Sunil Narine" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-238258" class="wp-caption-text">Sunil Narine plays a shot. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Sunil Narine is an absolute superstar in the IPL. The Kolkata Knight Riders have made him a specialist opener and he delivered in the same role in the very first game of the season for the Knight Riders. The KKR camp was chasing a decent total of 176 against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.</p>
<p>In walked Narine to smash a quick 16-ball 50 to push RCB right out of the game. In the next game against the Mumbai Indians, he had again teed off with a couple of maximums but failed to get going. Also, he has been bowling tight lines with the ball and has proven to be a key player for the Knight Riders thus far in the season.</p>
<h4>Mayank Markande (Mumbai Indians)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_239817" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-239817" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Mayank-Markande-2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-239817" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Mayank-Markande-2.jpg" alt="Mayank Markande of Mumbai Indians" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-239817" class="wp-caption-text">Mayank Markande of Mumbai Indians. (Photo by BCCI/IANS)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Young Mumbai Indians spinner Mayank Markande has been the find of the season in the IPL thus far. Markande was a surprise inclusion in the MI lineup for the season opener. The<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2018-emotional-markande-thanks-mumbai-indians-franchise-for-the-opportunity/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> youngster stunned the Chennai Super Kings</strong> </a>with figures of 3/23 in his four overs.</p>
<p>This included the wickets of Ambati Rayudu, Deepak Chahar, and the big fish MS Dhoni. In the next game against the Sunrisers Hyderbad, he fared up even better as he scalped 4/23 in his four overs. Again, he took the wickets of big players like Shikhar Dhawan, Shaib Al Hasan, Manish Pandey, and Wriddhiman Saha.</p>
<h4>Umesh Yadav (Royal Challengers Bangalore)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_239883" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-239883" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Umesh-Yadav.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-239883" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Umesh-Yadav.jpg" alt="Umesh Yadav" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-239883" class="wp-caption-text">Umesh Yadav of RCB celebrates a wicket. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Veteran Indian speedster Umesh Yadav turned up for a new franchise this season. The fiery pacer came up with one of the best fast bowling spells in the history of the tournament. Yadav changed the course of the game in the first home fixture of the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The opposition, Kings XI Punjab, seemed to be cruising on the day.</p>
<p>It was Umesh who came in to bowl the fourth over of the innings and took three wickets in the same over to put RCB right on top in the match. Umesh got rid of Mayank Agarwal before sending Aaron Finch back for a golden duck. A couple of deliveries later, a fiery pace delivery saw him rattle the stumps of Yuvraj Singh. He is among the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2018-top-5-fastest-balls-bowled-in-the-first-week-of-the-season/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bowlers who have bowled the fastest balls</strong></a> this season.</p>
<h4>Siddarth Kaul (Sunrisers Hyderabad)</h4>
<figure id="attachment_238554" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-238554" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/2018/04/Siddarth-Kaul-wicket-celebration.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-238554" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Siddarth-Kaul-wicket-celebration.jpg" alt="Siddarth Kaul" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-238554" class="wp-caption-text">Siddarth Kaul celebrates a wicket. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The SRH pacer Siddarth Kaul has largely been bowling in the shadows of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. But this season, he has managed to take some limelight of his own. Kaul has been bowling with some serious pace this season. In fact, it will not be wrong to state that Kaul has managed to overshadow his fellow bowlers in the SRH camp till now.</p>
<p>In the game against the Mumbai Indians, it was Kaul&#8217;s over in the 6th over of the innings that brought the game back in to the SRH favor. He scalped the wickets of Evin Lewis and Ishan Kishan in the space of five deliveries. Earlier, in the first game against the Rajasthan Royals, he had returned with figures of 2/17 in four overs.</p>
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Here are the top performers from the first week (April 7 to April 13) of the IPL 2018.

IPL 2018, 1st Week - Best XI of the week

The 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was being tipped to be a bigger and a grander affair than the previous editions. Now, the tournament