The first half of the ongoing IPL 2022 tournament has thrown up many surprises as we see two giant teams of the Indian Premier League- Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians- lying at the bottom of the points table with CSK winning 2 matches and MI yet to open their account.
The two new teams- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT)- have surprised everyone and are placed in the top half of the IPL 2022 points table.
Apart from teams, individual accomplishments have also been at the foremost, while some stalwarts of the tournament have seen worst fortunes, while some cricketers have come back strongly and shown that there is still a lot left in them.
Also, youngsters have left a positive impression in the tournament showing that young blood is more than ready to face the best of the best at the grandest stage of them all in IPL.
Taking this into consideration, here is the COC Best XI of the first half of the IPL 2022.
The openers for this best XI of the first half of the IPL 2022 have to be Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) Jos Buttler and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain KL Rahul. Both have slammed multiple centuries this season with Buttler leading the way with three centuries and 491 runs in 7 matches.
Orange Cap Holder for most runs, Jos Buttler has made his runs at a strike rate of 161.51 and averages 81.83, hitting 32 sixes and 41 fours. KL Rahul, on the other end, made two centuries, both against MI, and has 368 runs in 8 matches at an average of 61.33 and strike rate of 147.79. He has hit 15 sixes and 33 fours.
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The middle-order sees a rejuvenated Hardik Pandya, MI’s teen sensation Tilak Varma, KKR veteran Andre Russell and Shimron Hetmyer.
Hardik Pandya has enjoyed the captaincy thus far for Gujarat Titans (GT), as he has made 295 runs in 6 matches with 3 fifties so far. He has also bowled regularly picking 4 wickets, showing that he has regained most of his fitness.
Andre Russell has 10 wickets including four in an over and has made 227 runs at a strike rate of 180.15 with 22 sixes and 12 fours to his name, giving the KKR middle order a lot of solidarity. Shimron Hetmyer has been a beast as a finisher for Rajasthan Royals (RR), with 224 runs in 7 matches at 179.20 strike rate and 17 sixes to his name.
He will be getting help in finishing matches from Dinesh Karthik, who has been a star for RCB which has struggled in the batting department thus far. He has 210 runs in 8 matches at a strike rate of 200 and averages 105 with 18 fours and 15 sixes down the order.
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The spin twins Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have set the IPL 2022 on fire after both of them were written off some time back. Kuldeep in particular has been a revelation with 13 wickets in 7 matches with the best of 4/35. He has his confidence back and is back to bamboozling the batters.
The current Purple Cap holder for most wickets, Chahal picked his maiden IPL hat-trick and his first IPL fifer in this tournament, and has 18 scalps to his name at an economy of 7.28 and along with R Ashwin, has been the foundation of RR's bowling success.
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T Natarajan is experiencing a resurgence after returning to the game with full fitness and is back to bowling toe-crushing yorkers and has 15 wickets to his name in 7 matches.
Though his side is not having the best of luck thus far, Josh Hazlewood has been outstanding for RCB. He has bowled extremely frugally with 8 wickets in 4 matches at an economy of 7.80.
COC Best XI of first half of IPL 2022:
Jos Buttler (RR), KL Rahul (LSG), Hardik Pandya (C-GT), Tilak Varma (MI), Andre Russell (KKR), Shimron Hetmyer (RR), Dinesh Karthik (WK-RCB), Kuldeep Yadav (DC), Yuzvendra Chahal (RR), T Natarajan (SRH) , Josh Hazlewood (RCB)
