As is the rule for any IPL game, this XI has four foreigners alongside seven Indians. Several young players impressed in this year’s edition, with Rinku Singh, Mohsin Khan, and Umran Malik being some of the standouts. None of these, however, feature in this XI.
KL Rahul (wk – Lucknow Super Giants)
616 runs @ 51.33, SR: 135.38
Rahul made more than 500 runs in an IPL season for the fifth successive time, scoring four half-centuries and two hundreds this year. Both his centuries came against Mumbai Indians in a winning cause. In a new franchise, Rahul played the anchor role, opening alongside Quinton de Kock, who was then able to be more aggressive, striking at 148.97.
Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals)
863 runs @ 57.53, SR: 149.05
The Rajasthan Royals batter scored the second-most runs in any IPL season. He hit four hundreds along with four fifties and, at one point, looked on course to possibly breaking Virat Kohli’s record of 973 runs – the most scored by a batter in an IPL season – before tapering off towards the end with five successive scores of 30 or less, including three single-digit knocks. He bounced back in the playoffs, though, finishing with scores of 89, 106* and 39.
Rahul Tripathi (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
413 runs @ 37.55, SR: 158.23
Only Liam Livingstone made more runs at a better strike rate than Tripathi’s 158.23, which is evidence of the fearless cricket the Sunrisers Hyderabad No.3 played in the 2022 IPL. Tripathi took on the seamers and the spinners with ease but was a surprise omission from India’s T20I squad against South Africa.
Liam Livingstone (Punjab Kings)
437 runs @ 36.42, SR: 182.08
The big-hitter enjoyed a spectacular IPL and was one of the most destructive batters in the competition. He had the fifth-best strike rate in the league this season, and also hit the biggest six of IPL 2022, measured at 117 metres. He was Punjab Kings’ second-highest run-scorer this season, behind only Shikhar Dhawan. Livingstone also picked up six wickets with his spin.
Hardik Pandya (captain – Gujarat Titans)
487 runs @ 44.27, SR: 131.27
8 wickets @ 27.75, BBI: 3-17
The return of Hardik to full fitness bodes well for Indian cricket. The Gujarat Titans skipper was impressive with his leadership skills too, ensuring his team finished the league stage at No.1 on the points table. The Baroda all-rounder had a lean 2021 but made a strong comeback this year. He took on the responsibility of sending down overs in the Powerplay, troubling batters with searing pace. Hardik was the Player of the Match in the final for his fine 3-17, which rattled the Rajasthan Royals, and for his knock of 34.
Tilak Varma (Mumbai Indians)
397 runs @ 36.09, SR: 131.02
The youngster, playing his maiden IPL season, was one of the bright sparks in what was an otherwise dismal campaign for Mumbai Indians. Part of India’s 2020 U19 World Cup squad, Varma ended with 397 runs at an average of 36.09, the second-highest from the side, and the most any teenager has made in a single IPL season.
Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)
335 runs @ 37.22, SR: 174.47
17 wickets @ 16.35, BBI: 4-5
Often troubled by injuries, the West Indies big-hitter looked fit throughout IPL 2022, and it translated to his performances on the field. The Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder scored 335 runs at a strike rate of 174.47 and also took his season-best of 17 wickets, the most from his team in IPL 2022. No other player in the league scalped as many wickets and made more runs in the league.
Rashid Khan (Gujarat Titans)
19 wickets @ 22.16, BBI: 4-24
91 runs @ 22.75, SR: 206.82
Yet another IPL season where Rashid Khan continued to reign supreme. His bowling economy rate of 6.60 indicates how miserly he was. The all-rounder also played match-winning cameos down the order, including knocks of 19* off six against Royal Challengers Bangalore, an 11-ball 31* against Sunrisers Hyderabad, and 40 off 21 deliveries against Chennai Super Kings. He showed his class in the playoffs, ending with figures of 0-15 in Qualifier 1, and 1-18 in the final.
Yuzvendra Chahal (Rajasthan Royals)
27 wickets @ 19.52, BBI: 5-40
The spinner ended with the Purple Cap, with one more wicket to his name in the 2022 IPL than the second-placed Wanindu Hasaranga. Having been omitted from the T20 World Cup squad last year, Chahal gave a befitting reply, outfoxing the best batters throughout the league. He is also the only bowler with a hat-trick in 2022, his feat coming against Kolkata Knight Riders in a crunch situation.
Harshal Patel (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
19 wickets @ 21.58, BBI: 4-34
The Royal Challengers Bangalore quick continued his purple patch this season as well, and now has 51 wickets in the last two editions alone. His economy rate of 7.66 till the 2022 IPL league stages is the best by any quick who picked up more than 17 scalps.
Mohammed Shami (Gujarat Titans)
20 wickets @ 24.40, BBI: 3-25
The Gujarat Titans quick pips ahead of equally impressive Bhuvneshwar Kumar courtesy of picking more wickets than him. It is the fourth successive season Shami has grabbed more than 15 wickets.
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