IPL 2020: COC presents the IPL 13 Team of the Tournament

Here are the XI best performers of the IPL 2020.

The IPL 2020 ended with the Mumbai Indians (MI) defeating Delhi Capitals (DC) in the final in Dubai on November 10 by 5 wickets and lifting the title for the 5^th time. The MI team was ruthless throughout the tournament, though they started off with a loss to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on September 19.

Apart from the obvious performers from the champion team, there were many amazing players who showed why they are the best and command such a heavy price in the IPL players’ auction every year and why some franchises are ready to pay them hefty sums to retain them for a long time.

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IPL 2020 also saw some new faces, who had been doing their job quietly for their teams, come to the fore and stamp their authority on the tournament, and took full advantage of the opportunities they got and helped their team on different occasions. Here is the combination of such players, who shined brightly throughout the IPL 2020 tournament and left a lasting impression.

Here is the COC Team of the Tournament for IPL 13

KL RAHUL (C-KXIP)
M: 14| RUNS:  670| HS: 132*| AVG: 55.83| SR: 129.34 |100s: 1| 50s: 5 | 6s: 23 | 4s: 58

KL Rahul has always been one of the best T20 batsmen in India. He has two centuries in international T20s and was the youngest Indian to achieve that feat as well, against West Indies. He had a good stint with RCB in IPL but didn’t get to bat higher up the order due to the presence of seniors.

However, after Kings XI Punjab bought him, KL Rahul showed immense acumen for runs as an opener. He started with 659 runs in IPL 2018, then made 593 runs in IPL 2019, and was then made captain of the side for IPL 2020.

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He lit the tournament on fire with his bat, first scoring the highest IPL score by an Indian batsman- 132* against RCB and continued on, making 670 runs in 14 matches. Rahul dominated from the beginning and though sometimes he slowed down to let other batsmen take charge, his strike rate of 129.34 is not bad.

He hit 5 fifties as well and almost took the KXIP to the playoffs, but nonetheless, it was a brilliant performance worthy of a captain, as Rahul led from the front with the bat and kept the wickets nicely as well.

SHIKHAR DHAWAN (DC)
M: 17| RUNS:  618| HS: 106*| AVG: 44.14| SR: 144.73|100s: 2| 50s: 4| 6s: 12 | 4s: 67

Veteran Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan had moved to Delhi Capitals in 2018, leaving Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) behind in a pay dispute. And since then has made 497 and 521 in IPL 2018 and 2019 respectively. Dhawan has always been one of the most aggressive openers in the most popular league, but could never make a century in the tournament.

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This all changed and Dhawan slammed not one, but two centuries in IPL 2020. On top of that, these centuries came back-to-back, as Dhawan made 101* against Chennai Super Kings and then made 106* against Kings XI Punjab. He also made 78 against SRH in the important second qualifier match, enabling DC to get into their maiden IPL final.

It was immensely satisfying to see one of the most jovial people on the cricket field and off it, get his due with such an amazing performance in the most successful season for his franchise.

SURYAKUMAR YADAV (MI)
M: 16| RUNS:  480| HS: 79*| AVG: 40.00| SR: 145.01 |100s: 0| 50s: 4| 6s: 11 | 4s: 61

Suryakumar Yadav has been one of the best batsmen in domestic cricket. He has always on the cusp of earning that elusive Indian cap, but his wait has been further extended despite a brilliant and probably career-defining performance in IPL 2020.

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Yadav made 480 runs in 16 matches for the champions MI batting at no.3 and hit 4 half-centuries with a highest score of 79*. However, it was not only the number of runs he scored, it was the way in which he scored those runs. His highest score of 79* was a masterpiece of how to construct a chase and carry it through to make sure the team wins.

ISHAN KISHAN (MI)
M: 14| RUNS:  516| HS: 99| AVG: 57.33| SR:  145.76| 100s: 0| 50s: 4| 6s: 30 | 4s: 36

Not many would know that Ishan Kishan was the captain of the Indian U19 team which went into the finals of the 2016 Youth World Cup. That team also included Rishabh Pant, who had gone onto greater heights since that time. Kishan, on the other hand, has been scoring runs at breakneck speed and knocking on the door of the Indian team for his chance.

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The 22-year-old had an amazing IPL 2020 with 516 runs to his name, the most for an uncapped Indian batsman, with the highest score of 99 runs. He made his runs at a strike-rate of 145.76 and has surely got the attention of the Indian selectors.

Though he didn't keep wickets for MI in the tournament due to the presence of Quinton de Kock, he has done it previously and as the spot for the wicketkeeper in the Indian team has become open again, with many contenders vying for the opportunities, Kishan has put his name in the hat as well.

AB DE VILLIERS (WK-RCB)
M: 15| RUNS:  454|HS: 73*| AVG: 45.40| SR: 158.74 |100s: 0| 50s: 5| 6s: 23 | 4s: 33

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) made it into the playoffs of the IPL for the first time since 2016 and it was a great achievement for the franchise, who finished last twice in the last three editions of the Indian Premier League. 

And most of the credit for that goes to their superstar batsman AB de Villiers from South Africa. He even kept wickets for most of the tournament, freeing up space for an extra player as well.

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Though young Devdutt Padikkal did his best at the top and even Virat Kohli made over 400 runs, it was AB de Villiers as the finisher that stole the show with match-winning innings one after another.

One of those innings was against Rajasthan Royals when RCB needed 45 runs from 18 balls chasing 178 runs to win. De Villiers then thumped Jaydev Unadkat for three sixes in an over and then ensured RCB won the match, with another six off Archer, making 55* in just 22 balls.

He has shown that experience trumps everything and with his superhuman skills, De Villiers was the man for RCB throughout the IPL 2020.  

HARDIK PANDYA
M: 14| RUNS: 281 |HS: 60*| AVG: 35.12| SR: 178.98 |50s: 1

Hardik Pandya was coming off a long rehab after his back surgery. He was supposed to be back in the limited-overs series against South Africa at home in February, but the Coronavirus pandemic put a halt to those plans.

Instead, he got extra time to strengthen his back and also got married to his girlfriend Natasa Stankovic. They welcomed their first baby a boy, named Agastya, weeks before Hardik left for UAE for the IPL 2020. There were questions over his fitness and if he could handle the load of being an all-rounder.

However, he didn’t bowl a single delivery in the tournament, playing as a specialist batsman and wreaked havoc on opposition bowling as a finisher.  He made 281 runs in 14 matches at an eye-watering strike-rate of 178.98. He also made a half-century- 60* in 21 balls with 7 sixes against Rajasthan Royals.

RASHID KHAN
M: 16| WKTs: 20| BB:  3/7 | ECO: 5.37

Rashid Khan was the trump card for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain David Warner, who became their most important bowler after SRH lost the services of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Rashid didn’t disappoint whenever the ball was thrown to him and he ended up with 20 wickets in 16 matches at an economy of just 5.37.

His best figures of 3/7, which are the most economical figures in IPL history as well, came against Delhi Capitals when SRH defended 219 runs. He helped SRH win by 88 runs after picking the wickets of Shimron Hetmyer, Ajinkya Rahane, and Akshar Patel in one of the best spells of leg-spin bowling.

JOFRA ARCHER (RR)
M: 14| WKTs: 20| BB:  3/19| ECO: 6.55

What can be said about the England pacer Jofra Archer. He bowled his heart out for Rajasthan Royals despite getting no support at the other end from other pacers throughout the tournament. He still managed 20 wickets and looked like a million dollars trying to win matches for RR whenever called to bowl.

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He bowled 175 dot balls, the most in IPL 2020, and kept the batsmen on their toes with his speed as well. He constantly bowled at over 150 kph with his fastest ball being 153.62 kph. A true gem of a player, who might do more wonders for a franchise and be more lethal, which has bowlers to support him from the other end as well.

KAGISO RABADA (DC)
M: 17| WKTs: 30| BB: 4/24| ECO: 8.34

Kagiso Rabada was a steal for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2017 in the auction and he repaid the faith in IPL 2019 with 25 wickets to his name and did even better in IPL 2020, picking 30 wickets, becoming only the second bowler after Dwayne Bravo to pick 30 or more wickets in one season of IPL.

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Rabada was quick and ruthless both at the start with the new ball and then bowled searing yorkers in death overs. He even helped Delhi Capitals win a brilliant super over against Kings XI Punjab. Rabada is an asset for DC, who made it into their maiden finals on the back of his and Anrich Nortje’s bowling performances.

YUZVENDRA CHAHAL (RCB)
M: 15| WKTs: 21| BB: 3/18| ECO: 7.08

Yuzvendra Chahal has been the go-to man for Virat Kohli in the RCB franchise, whenever he needs wickets at any stage of the match. And Chahal rarely disappoints as he performed brilliantly, picking 21 wickets at an economy of 7.08 in IPL 2020. He mostly came onto bowl in middle overs and kept the batsmen quiet, making them take risks off him and getting out in the process.

JASPRIT BUMRAH (MI)
M: 15| WKTs: 27| BB: 4/14| ECO: 6.73

Jasprit Bumrah was the leader of the Mumbai Indians pace attack in absence of Lasith Malinga and proved his mentor correct by picking his career-best 27 wickets in 15 matches including his best performance of 4/14. Bumrah was deadly in the death overs with Trent Boult and James Pattinson/Nathan Coulter-Nile doing the job at the start.

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While Boult picked wickets in powerplays, Bumrah ensured that the heavy hitters in the opposition didn’t take the game away in the second half, mostly bowling 2-3 overs in the death. It was a big comeback for Bumrah after his poor showing on the New Zealand tour after his return from back issues. He worked on his fitness during the Coronavirus enforced lockdown and results were deadly for any team facing MI in the IPL 2020.