IPL 2022: Best combined XI of CSK and RCB for the season

The IPL 2022 is underway and fans can’t keep their calm. After more than a decade, the tournament is witnessing the participation of 10 teams. In the mega auction ahead of the tournament in February 2022, about 204 players were sold to the franchises. However, amidst all this, heavyweights like the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have built dynamic squads. Not only do they still have their modern-day legends but also have added a plenitude of all-rounders. Barring this, these two giants also enjoy a loyal fan following in enormous numbers. Meanwhile, there’s a significant change in the leadership department in both the camps. While Faf du Plessis replaced Virat Kohli as RCB skipper, MS Dhoni handed over the reins to Ravindra Jadeja. Meanwhile, let’s try making a combined XI of CSK and RCB for the season. 1. Faf du Plessis (C) Faf du Plessis. (Photo Source: Twitter/Indian Premier League) Well, beginning this enterprising XI with Faf du Plessis will be a no-brainer. In the last two IPL seasons, Faf has been a prolific run-scorer for CSK. Even in IPL 2020, the SA batter was their biggest lifeline. In fact, in the last three IPL seasons, Faf has amassed runs at a staggering average of 40.67. Perhaps for the yellow army, the cricketer is currently their third-highest run-scorer. The veteran, by featuring in a total of 100 games, has scored 2932 runs at an average of almost 35 runs per innings. Interestingly, even his strike rate is now touching the 140-run mark. The Proteas star is expected to begin from where he had left in IPL 2021, but for the Red Army this time. With both Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni stepping down from the leadership role, Faf should be the captain of this unique line-up. 2. Ruturaj Gaikwad Ruturaj Gaikwad celebrates after scoring a hundred. (Photo Source: Twitter/Indian Premier League) Ruturaj Gaikwad was a revelation in IPL 2021. In his 16 appearances, the youngster topped all scoring charts and won the Orange Cap. It won’t be wrong to say that Gaikwad was one of the side’s biggest match-winners last season. Performance-wise, the cricketer almost exhibited a similar role to what King Kohli offers to RCB. That is why in just two IPL seasons, the 25-year old has piled up more than 800 runs at an average of 46.61. As a complete T20 batter, Gaikwad has all the gears to combat any match situation. Overall, CSK’s winning formula in IPL 2021 was also highly dependent on the opening pair of Du Plessis and Gaikwad. Hence, even in this team, both will be the vital cogs at the top. 3. Virat Kohli Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Having King Kohli at number three will be a no-brainer. The IPL’s most successful batter will play at his favourite position. Despite the cricketer’s current form, hardly anyone would prefer to leave him out. Even in the last IPL, the former RCB skipper had scored more than 400 runs. To further highlight Kohli’s consistency, the batter last had a bleak IPL season way back in 2014. The cricketer had just scored 359 runs at an average of under 28. However, in the last five IPL seasons, the 33-year old has been averaging 36.68. Overall, with a tally of more than 6,200 IPL runs, King Kohli would even find a place for himself in any all-time IPL XI. Perhaps in this team, the batter will be the lifeblood amongst all cricketers. 4. Glenn Maxwell Glenn Maxwell. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) At number four, Glenn Maxwell looks like a tailor-made choice. Last year, for RCB, the Aussie was also their biggest match-winner. Despite ABD and Virat Kohli not being at their absolute best, Maxwell instilled a new vitality in the batting order. The 33-year-old in IPL 2021 also scored the joint-most number of the fifties (six). In terms of his overall stats, the all-rounder in his 15 IPL games scored a total of 513 runs in the 2021 season. Even strike rate wise the batter was smacking the ball at 144.10. Interestingly, Maxwell also hit the fourth-most number of sixes (21) in the 2021 season. Comprehensively, because of Maxwell’s heroics, RCB also experienced one of the best run-rates against spin. Certainly, the last IPL has allowed the Aussie to find a franchise for a long duration. 5. Moeen Ali Moeen Ali. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) Just like Glenn Maxwell, even Moeen Ali had a brilliant IPL 2021. As a floater, the all-rounder was given full license to exhibit his natural game. From his 15 appearances, Moeen smashed 19 sixes at a strike rate of 137.30. In general, the cricketer gave a new dimension to CSK’s ageing batting order. Perhaps by scoring a total of 357 runs, the southpaw also produced his best ever IPL season. Rewarding his performances, the yellow army has also retained him for INR 8 Crore. Even in this playing XI, Moeen will perform a similar role and roll his arms. Overall, the Englishman has also finally found a perennial home in the competition. CSK fans would hope that in IPL 2022, Moeen Ali will continue from where he had left. 6. Ravindra Jadeja Ravindra Jadeja Celebration. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) In the current times, Ravindra Jadeja is emerging as a robust all-rounder. For CSK, the cricketer has been a vital cog for many years. Even in IPL 2022, Jadeja is the second most expensive player. Barring all this, the southpaw had a magnificent IPL 2021. Owing to the same, MS Dhoni decided to hand him CSK captaincy ahead of the 2022 season. In terms of his batting, the 33-year old scored 227 runs from 16 games at a whopping average of 75.66 last season. A big spike in average was because of the nine not-out scores under his name. Perhaps more importantly, the batter whacked the ball at a strike rate of 145.51. Even with the ball, Jadeja had outstanding outings. A total of 13 wickets were scalped at an economy of 7.06. All in all, this individual nowadays can dwell in any of the playing XIs. 7. MS Dhoni (WK) MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: Twitter/CSK) While picking CSK players, MSD will undoubtedly be the first to get penned down. Our beloved ‘captain cool’ is a legendary name when it comes to the IPL. Even with regards to numbers, the cricketer is the eighth highest run-getter in the competition. Though MSD now is at the fag end of his IPL career, he’s still the centerstage of the franchise. As a captain of the yellow army, Dhoni also has the best winning percentage. From his record captaincy in 204 games, MSD has won 121 battles. Comprehensively under his leadership, CSK tops the charts with regards to winning most IPL matches (117). All in all, in any of the combined IPL XI’s, MSD would have been the most preferred name to helm the team. However, as he stepped down as CSK skipper, the 40-year-old wicketkeeper-batter will play under his former teammate Faf du Plessis in this unique line-up. 8. Deepak Chahar Deepak Chahar. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) In recent times, Deepak Chahar has been one of the well-lauded Indian pacers. Because of his improved batting skills, the cricketer can conclusively bat at number eight. Even with regards to his bowling, the spearhead has been the primary Indian pacer of CSK since 2018. In terms of his wickets tally, the 29-year old is already the sixth-highest wicket-taker for the yellow army. From his 63 appearances, Chahar has pouched 58 wickets at an economy of 7.80. More importantly in the mega auction of IPL 2022, Chahar was bought at a staggering price of INR 14 crore. Perhaps surely even in this playing XI, the all-rounder will bring a lot of value with his dual skills. However, due to his fitness issues, Chahar would miss the first few matches of CSK. 9. Harshal Patel Harshal Patel. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) To resolve the death bowling issues, Harshal Patel now seems to be the appropriate answer. The pacer was a big revelation for RCB in the 2021 season. His superfluity of variations had outfoxed even the elite of names. That’s why by end of IPL 2021, Harshal seized the purple cap. In terms of his numbers, the 31-year old had total scalped 32 wickets from his 15 games last season. In fact, in his first IPL 2021 game, Harshal scalped a five-wicket haul against MI. Besides his bowling skills, the cricketer can become handy with the blade. All in all, in this team one can expect the fast-bowler to play a vital role under Faf du Plessis. 10. Dwayne Bravo Dwayne Bravo. (Photo Source: Twitter) Just like MSD, even Dwayne Bravo will be a pioneer name to be penned during CSK’s selection. As a T20 legend, this WI cricketer has bagged oodles of wickets. For the yellow army, Bravo is their iconic highest wicket-taker with 170 scalps. However, before IPL 2021, Bravo had experienced two reasonable seasons. Also because of his injury issues, the all-rounder had missed half of IPL 2020. But in the last season, the pacer’s normal services were resumed. From his 11 outings, Bravo picked 14 wickets at an economy of 7.81. Overall, to restore their core for future endeavors, CSK has again bought back the champion’s services. Conclusively, in IPL 2022, Bravo is also all set to surpass the highest-wicket tally of Lasith Malinga, who retired after taking 171 wickets in the competition. 11. Mohammed Siraj Mohammed Siraj. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) To strengthen the team with some adequate pace, Mohammed Siraj seems to be the supreme choice. The pacer turned out to be a reliable entity for RCB in IPL 2021. By overcoming his death bowling woes, Siraj conceded runs at a splendid economy of 6.78. Even performance-wise, the 27-year old scalped a total of 11 wickets. More importantly, in the company Harshal Patel, Siraj bowled the essential difficult overs. Additionally, with the new ball, the spearhead gave crucial breakthroughs to his fearless captain Virat Kohli. All in all, this work-in-progress horse can become one of the mainstays of both RCB and this team’s bowling unit.

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IPL 2022: Best combined XI of CSK and RCB for the season

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