IPL 2022: Best combined XI from the final four qualified teams

IPL 2022 is on the verge of getting over and this year’s tournament is now on the climax scene as Gujarat Lions, Rajasthan Royals, Lucknow Super Giants, and Royal Challengers Bangalore have qualified for the playoffs. Two new teams, GT and LSG have surprised many fans with their performance, courtesy of some stellar performances. Meanwhile, Rajasthan and Bangalore have fought their ways into the playoffs by gathering some crucial points throughout the tournament. Some uncapped players along with established ones have managed to lift their performances to help their team in qualifying for the play-offs. Both GT and LSG have managed to seal the playoffs spots in their maiden appearance in this tournament. Rajasthan has shown some character in the last few games as they pushed back LSG to the third spot by securing the second one in the table. RCB have qualified as Virat Kohli played a crucial knock in the must-win game for them. Meanwhile, several players from these teams have contributed heavily to this competition. Here, we come up with the best possible combined XI from these teams. 1. Jos Buttler (RR) Jos Buttler. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) This opening batter from RR has provided solid starts to the team as he has smashed bowlers for fun. Jos Buttler has been a revelation in this year’s tournament as he has scored over 700 runs in 15 matches so far with his average being over 50 and strikes just under 150. Although the second half of the tournament has not gone as per his plans, he still has managed to keep a hold on the Orange Cap with a healthy margin. He has managed to score three tons along with four 50+ scores. Jos Buttler’s highest score came against Delhi Capitals when he smashed 116 runs in 65 balls only. Rajasthan has often fumbled when Buttler has failed to deliver a decent start to their innings. As RR has found a place in the top four, Buttler would be raring to take his side to glory. 2. Quinton De Kock (LSG) Quinton de Kock. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) This 29-year-old South African batter failed to show his impact at the start of the tournament but he came up big when it matters. Questions were asked to the LSG team management over De Kock’s place in the line-up. However, their belief paid off when he smashed an unbeaten 140 of 70 balls only during their last group match against KKR. In all league-stage 14 matches, he scored 502 runs with a strike rate of 149.4. Along with a ton, he has scored three 50+ scores this year. Quinton De Kock has always been known for his explosive batting upfront from his Mumbai Indians days along with good wicketkeeping skills. This protea firepower has scored runs at an average of 38.62. QDK will be crucial once again during the playoffs as his explosive start can help LSG to gain momentum. 3. KL Rahul (LSG) KL Rahul. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) KL Rahul continues to show his excellent form in IPL, like in previous years as again, he has managed to score 537 runs in the group stage matches. He has looked to lead from the front by playing the role of second fiddle in most of the matches. He holds the second spot in the Orange Cap race, behind Jos Buttler. He has scored two hundred along with three fifties. Now, he has become the one and only player to score a minimum of 500 runs in the last 5 seasons of IPL. His highest score of 103* runs came against Mumbai. Rahul has always looked to deliver a steady start to his team with Quinton De Kock in these matches. Although he has bagged three ducks, Rahul has still managed to score these runs at an average of 48.82 along with a strike rate of 135.26. 4. Deepak Hooda (LSG) Deepak Hooda. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) For the last few seasons of IPL, Deepak Hooda was always in the eyes as he managed to score a lot of runs in the domestic circuit. Limited opportunities had prevented him to showcase his capabilities so far in IPL. Nevertheless, Hooda finally managed to showcase his full potential as LSG gave him the platform. He has grabbed that opportunity with both hands, scoring 406 runs at an average of 31.23. He also chipped in with his part-time off-spin bowling in some matches but that did not work well as he has managed one wicket. Four 50+ scores have been the main reason behind this successful season for Deepak Hooda. Six-hitting abilities of Deepak make him a special power from others along with his all-around abilities. LSG will hope that Deepak Hooda continues to perform like this in their inexperienced middle-order section. 5. Hardik Pandya (GT) (Captain) Hardik Pandya vs RR. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) All eyes were on Hardik Pandya as he was making a comeback after a long gap for injury. As the T20 World Cup is scheduled in the coming months, the fitness of the all-rounder is the main concern for Team India. In 14 matches, he has scored 453 runs along with five wickets at an economy of 7.73. His captaincy skill has been praised by the cricket fraternity as his team has managed to get results from crunchy situations. He has also scored four 50+ scores so far while batting in the top order. He has scored these runs at an average of 45.3 with a strike rate of 132.84. This year he took the responsibility of anchoring the innings rather than just playing the finisher’s role. He will look to deliver more improved performance in the coming matches of playoffs. 7. Dinesh Karthik (RCB) Dinesh Karthik. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Eyebrows were raised when RCB took Dinesh Karthik in this year’s IPL auction, especially for the finisher role. However, he has managed to prove his critics wrong by delivering match-winning knocks when it matters. Karthik has been a major success for RCB as he has shown his match-finishing abilities in style. Batting down the order, he has scored 287 runs at an average of 57.4. Even, he has managed to maintain a strike rate of 191.33 despite batting in crunch situations in most of the matches. He has mastered the technique of hitting sixes from the outset and thus, he has managed to score runs in the 20th overs at a strike rate of over 300. Moreover, his performance earned him a recall to the Indian team for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa in the coming month. 7. Wanindu Hasaranga (RCB) Wanindu Hasaranga. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) RCB fans were in shock when their team decided to part ways with Yuzvendra Chahal and went for this Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga. However, the all-rounder has justified his price tag by delivering some crucial spells for RCB. Hasaranga has scalped 24 wickets in 14 league-stage matches with a best of 5/18 runs and an average of 15.08. Captain Faf has always brought him in tricky situations for a wicket and he has delivered most times. He is now in the 2nd position in the Purple Cap race, behind Yuzvendra Chahal. His bowling strike rate has been 12.25 while he has managed to maintain an average of 7.38 throughout the tournament. RCB has always shown faith in him and that has helped him to perform like this. Even, his wicket-taking abilities have made him different from others in the tournament. 8. Ravichandran Ashwin (RR) Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Ravichandran Ashwin has always expressed his desire to play for India in the white-ball formats and for that, he has again provided some fantastic performances. The off-spinner has enjoyed a good season so far with 11 wickets and some crucial cameos with the bat as well. RR has used him as a floater in certain situations and the veteran hasn’t disappointed the team. His blistering knock of 40* against CSK in RR’s last group stage match helped Sanju Samson’s men to grab the second spot in the points table. Ashwin has managed to score runs at a strike rate of 146.82 while he has cost only 7.33 runs for each over while bowling in the middle overs, most of the time. Ashwin has explored his all-around abilities this year by contributing with both the bat and ball. His experience has worked like wonders for the Royals when it mattered most. 9. Mohammed Shami (GT) Mohammed Shami. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Mohammed Shami has been instrumental to GT’s stellar run this year as he has always found ways to take early wickets. His sheer pace and swing have been the talk of the town since the first day. Shami has impressed with his opening spells in powerplay overs as he has bagged 19 wickets in 15 matches. His best performance came against LSG as he recorded figures of 3/25. Notably, he has picked up these wickets at an average of 23.94 with an economy of 7.98. Captain Hardik Pandya has used his experience in every crunchy situation whenever he required wickets. Fitness has played a key role for Shami in continuing the good form throughout the tournament. In-form Shami will be crucial for GT in the playoffs as he aims for a place in the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup also. 10. Yuzvendra Chahal (RR) Yuzvendra Chahal. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Despite providing consistent performance over the years for RCB, Chahal was left out by them and then, RR bagged the services of this experienced player. Yuzvendra Chahal has been instrumental for RR this year as he is leading the race for the Purple Cap with 26 wickets. He has bagged these wickets at an average of 17.76 and a strike rate of 13.84. His spinning tricks worked wonders again in IPL as batters have found difficulties while facing him. His best bowling figure came 5/40 came against KKR in a high-scoring match. Chahal will look to add more wickets to his tally during the playoffs as he can become the highest wicket-taker in a single edition of IPL. This will also boost his confidence as he is going to play for Team India in the upcoming T20 series against South Africa, starting on 9th June. 11. Mohsin Khan (LSG) Mohsin Khan. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Moshin Khan impressed one and all with his brilliant performances in the domestic arena. This year LSG brought him in the mega auction and provide him opportunities to shine. The left-arm pacer has touched the 145-150 kph mark constantly and that has been the major talking point. This uncapped Indian speedster has been the most surprising package in this year’s IPL as he has managed to scalp 13 wickets in eight matches. He has bowled with an economy of 5.93 along with an impressive average of 13.23. His firey spells have impressed many and the same may help him to earn his maiden call-up to the national team. His best performance came against Delhi Capitals as he bagged a four-fer for of 16 runs only in his four-over quota. Mohsin Khan’s inclusion has provided diversity in the LSG bowling lineup and that has worked wonders so far for the KL Rahul-led team.

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IPL 2022: Best combined XI from the final four qualified teams

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