IPL 2019: Dream Team of the Tournament by Cricalytics

MS Dhoni (CSK) to captain the IPL 2019 Team of the Tournament. 

After a stunning IPL 2019 finale as Mumbai Indians finally take the reign back with their fourth IPL title, it is time to calculate the team of the Tournament. 

The IPL 2019 edition has been a mix of great batting and superb balling. Not only have been some brilliant batting performances, but also some outstanding bowling contributions. So, looking at the performances, it is our turn to find out the team of the tournament for IPL 2019.

Like always, we would be calculating the team of the tournament based on performance rating rather than pure perception to avoid any biases and perceptions. 

Also, please note, the team combination has been decided based on the following criteria

• 2 Openers, 3 Middle-order players, 2 all-rounders, 2 spinners, and 2 pacers.
• A player must have played a minimum of 10 matches. 
• A maximum of 4 overseas players are selected based on IPL’s criteria. 

So, who makes it to our IPL 2019 team of the tournament? Let’s find out. 

Openers:

This has been the season of the openers. There have been so many vital contributions from the openers, and as many as seven names are shortlisted based on their performance rating.

Shortlist: Chris Gayle, David Warner, Faf du Plessis, Jonny Bairstow, KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, and Shikhar Dhawan.

If I were given an option, I would have selected at least 4 players from these. However, the restriction of selecting only two openers let us select the orange cap holder, David Warner, and the Delhi Capitals’ southpaw, Shikhar Dhawan.

#1: David Warner

Mr. Consistent of the IPL, David Warner has been fantabulous this season. ending as the tournament’s leading runs scorer. Overall, he has scored a total of 692 runs from just 12 innings at a healthy average of 69.2 and a superb strike rate of 143.86.

David Warner is our first opener with a performance rating of 8.58.   

#2: Shikhar Dhawan

Partnering David Warner is the southpaw from the Delhi Capitals, Shikhar Dhawan. Originally, Jonny Bairstow or KL Rahul was our preferred partner for David Warner, but considering the 4 overseas players rule, and different combinations issues, Shikhar Dhawan gets a nod.

Dhawan has had a good IPL too scoring 521 runs from 16 innings at an average of 34.72 and a strike rate of 135.67.

Shikhar Dhawan is our second opener with a performance rating of 4.87.  

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Middle-Order:

Probably the most difficult category to pick the players as unlike the openers, there are not many outstanding contributions from the middle-order batsmen; be it Indian or overseas.

Shortlist: AB de Villiers, Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni, Nitish Rana, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Steve Smith, and Virat Kohli

Looking at the list, one would say that that there are so many players to choose from, and basis the performance rating it should be easy to pick the top 3 middle-order players. Well, technically, yes. According to this list, MS Dhoni, AB de Villiers, and Rishabh Pant are supposed to make the middle-order.

However, that would mean, KL Rahul would have to sit out even after being the second-highest runs scorer in IPL 2019. So, we made an exception, and selected KL Rahul at number 3 followed by Rishabh Pant and MS Dhoni.

#3: KL Rahul

The original choice for the opener, KL Rahul would be a perfect fit for the number 3 as the format does not differentiate much between the openers and the number 3 batsman.

Statistically, KL Rahul has had yet another fantastic year as he finished the tournament being the second-highest runs scorer.

Even though he wasn’t his aggressive self, he still managed a total of 593 runs from 14 innings at an average of 53.9 and a decent strike rate of 135.38.

KL Rahul is our number 3 with a performance rating of 6.33.   

#4: Rishabh Pant (WK)

Rishabh Pant didn’t have as good a year as last time, but still played some brilliant match-winning knocks.  Overall, he managed a total of 488 runs from 16 innings at an average of 37.53 and a brilliant strike rate of 162.66, and has 3 stunning match-winning knocks to his name. 

He also has 24 dismissals to his name; the most by any wicket-keeper in any IPL, hence he is our wicket-keeper for the team.

Rishabh Pant is our number 4 wicket-keeper batsman with a performance rating of 5.16.            

#5: MS Dhoni (C)

The captain cool is our captain, and our final middle-order batsman of the team. MS Dhoni was exceptional in the initial part of the tournament fighting a lone battle for CSK as he single-handedly won many matches for them.

However, he hasn’t been as effective as he has been in the first half. Overall, he managed a total of 416 runs from 15 innings at a mammoth average of 83.2 and a strike rate of 134.62.

MS Dhoni is our number 5 with a performance rating of 5.87.

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ALSO READ: IPL 2019: Batting Performance Report Card for First Half

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All-rounders:

This category is probably the easiest of the lot to select. There have been two outstanding performances in his category from Andre Russell and Hardik Pandya, and no one else could come closer to challenge them for these two spots.

#6: Andre Russell

The monstrous, Andre Russell will bat at number 6 for us. He got a perfect rating of 10 in the first half, for his batting, but somehow didn’t replicate his form in the second half.

Overall, his numbers are still impressive with 510 runs from 14 innings at an average of 56.66 and an unbelievable strike rate of 204.81. He also managed to scalp 11 wickets from 12 innings at an economy rate of 9.51.

Andre Russell is our first all-rounder with a performance rating of 7.54.

#7: Hardik Pandya

If Andre Russell’s power isn’t enough, we have Hardik Pandya at number 7 to create nightmares for the bowlers. Hardik Pandya has been exceptional with both; bat as well as the ball.

Overall, he managed to score a total of 402 runs from 15 innings at an exceptional strike rate of 191.42. In the bowling department, he has taken a total of 14 scalps from 16 innings at an economy rate of 9.17.

Hardik Pandya is our second all-rounder with a performance rating of 5.01.

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Spinners:

Another category that had players in abundance competing for the two spots.

Shortlist: Harbhajan Singh, Imran Tahir, Rahul Chahar, Rashid Khan, Ravindra Jadeja, Shreyas Gopal, and Yuzvendra Chahal

Analyzing their performances, Imran Tahir, Harbhajan Singh, Shreyas Gopal, and Rashid Khan stand out among others. Now, Shreyas Gopal has the best performance rating this season as a spinner. Which leaves us with Harbhajan Singh and Imran Tahir competing for the remaining spot.

Considering the overseas players’ combination and the fact that Imran Tahir is the tournament’s leading wicket-taker, he gets the nod ahead of Harbhajan Singh.

#8: Shreyas Gopal

The Rajasthan Royals’ lone spinner has been the second-highest wicket-taker this season with a total of 20 scalps. Shreyas Gopal bowled some outstanding spells this season, and as a result, he has taken a total of 20 wickets from 14 innings at an average of 17.35 and an economy rate of 7.22.

Shreyas Gopal is our primary spinner with a performance rating of 7.05.

#9 Imran Tahir

The purple cap holder, Imran Tahir has taken the maximum number of wickets by any spinner in the IPL in a single season. Overall, he has taken a total of 26 scalps from 17 innings at an average of 16.57 and an economy rate of 6.69.

Imran Tahir is our second spinner with a performance rating of 6.82.

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ALSO READ: IPL 2019: Bowling Performance Report Card for First Half

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Pacers:

Coming to the last category, there has been confusion related to only the second pacer. 

Shortlist: Deepak Chahar, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed, and Jofra Archer

Now, one name that stands out perfectly from the crowd is Kagiso Rabada. He is definitely our primary pacer with the best performance rating.

Now that leaves us with either Jasprit Bumrah or Khaleel Ahmed. Record-wise, Khaleel Ahmed has been better than Jasprit Bumrah with a better performance rating. However, the fact that Khaleel Ahmed played only 9 games paved the way for Jasprit Bumrah as our second pacer.

#10: Kagiso Rabada

The pacey, Kagiso Rabada is our best bowler this season. Rightly so. The speedster has set IPL 2019 on fire with his consistent bowling performances throughout the tournament. 

Overall, he has taken a total of 25 wickets in just 12 innings at an average of 14.72 and a decent economy rate of 7.82. Kagiso Rabada is our leading pacer with a performance rating of 7.52.

#11: Jasprit Bumrah

The lethal, Jasprit Bumrah is our second pacer. Jasprit Bumrah did blow hot and cold this season, but he has been instrumental in crunch situations and often single-handedly helped MI win crucial matches; including the final. 

Overall, he has taken a total of 19 wickets from 16 innings at an average of 21.52 and an economy rate of 6.63. Jasprit Bumrah is our second pacer and our player number 11 with a performance rating of 6.48.

12^th Man: Jonny Bairstow 

With so many options for this spot, it has to go to the most eligible player based on ratings, and it is Jonny Bairstow. Overall, Jonny Bairstow has scored a total of 445 runs from just 10 innings at an average of 55.62 and a strike rate of 157.24. He has a performance rating of 7.41

Thus, that completes our team of the tournament for IPL 2019. Here’s the complete team

IPL 2019 Dream Team of the Tournament:

David Warner, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (Wk), MS Dhoni (C), Andre Russell, Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Gopal, Imran Tahir, Kagiso Rabada and Jasprit Bumrah.    

Now, the team isn’t a perfect one considering the overseas rule criteria. Ignoring all the rules, the best team for IPL 2019 is as follows

IPL 2019 Team of the tournament without restrictions:

David Warner, Jonny Bairstow, KL Rahul, AB de Villiers, MS Dhoni (C & Wk), Andre Russell, Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Gopal, Imran Tahir, Kagiso Rabada and Jasprit Bumrah. 12^th Man: Harbhajan Singh

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