IPL5 Dream Team - Feature
The 54-day-long season five of the cash-rich Indian Premier League saw a number of players, domestic and foreign, playing crucial roles in helping their respective franchises script thrilling wins at various occasions. Depending upon players’ performances
during the esteemed tournament, Bettor.com has picked its dream IPL team. Going by the IPL provisions the team is limited to just four overseas players and the rest is left to the domestic players.
1. Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore):
The explosive http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 top-order batsman finished the tournament as the leading run scorer compiling a tally of 733 runs from 14 innings, to claim the Orange Cap for a second successive season. Having struck 105 boundaries (46 fours and 59 sixes), the
left-hander is the best option to open the innings against any world class attack.
2. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/G-Gambhir-c1447 (Kolkata Knight Riders):
The KKR opener, who led the side from the front during their march to the maiden IPL title, is the best option to open the innings alongside belligerent Gayle. His consistency and ability to score runs even on difficult tracks of Eden Garden gave him an
edge over http://www.senore.com/Cricket/S-Dhawan-c2392 (Deccan Chargers).
The left-handed http://www.senore.com/Cricket/CH-Gayle-c1221.
3. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SK-Raina-c2539 (Chennai Super Kings)
The hard hitting Indian batsman failed to play a big knock this season, but his telling 30’s and 40’s with great consistency throughout the round-robin league phase helped the Super Kings put a handsome total or chase down a big target at various occasions.
His whirlwind 73 against Kolkata Knight Riders in Sunday’s final, though in vain, gives us a hope that the left-hander will emulate the performance if sent at No. 3 against any world class attack. He scored 441 runs this season at a strike rate of 135.69 and
finished among the top 10 on the 2012 IPL runs chart.
4. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JH-Kallis-c1692 (Kolkata Knight Riders)
The veteran South African all-rounder is the second overseas player of our dream team. The local Indian talent lacks quality all-rounders, leaving it up to Kallis, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KA-Pollard-c1754 to vie for the role. Kallis has
been preferred over the rest of the contenders owing to his better bowling performance. Match winning 69 off just 49 deliveries in the IPL final was the highlight of the season.
Kallis scored 409 runs from 17 innings and claimed 15 wickets as well at an average of 26.86 and an economy rate of 7.46.
5. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RG-Sharma-c2309 (Mumbai Indians)
The middle-order batsman needed a big series to get the selectors' nod for the upcoming http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mumbai-c820 with a tally of 433 runs from 16 games, including an unbeaten
109 against eventual IPL champions, KKR. The local boy pairs up with Indian teammate Suresh Raina to strengthen the field on the off-side position.
6. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 (wk and Capt)
The Chennai Super Kings skipper, though failed to complete the hat-trick of titles after losing to Kolkata Knight Riders in an enthralling IPL final on Sunday, still remains a strong contender for the captaincy position and bettor.com, keeping faith in his
calm and cool nature, has retained the Ranchi boy as the skipper of its dream team.
Continued...
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely of the author and do not represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
Tags: