Picking a combined playing 11 of the four IPL 2024 playoff teams ft. Virat Kohli and Sunil Narine
And then there were four. After so many twists and turns, close encounters, rain-marred games, and constantly shifting positions, IPL 2024 has been narrowed down to just four teams: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
It's one of the most deserving quadrants in the league history. All four have been among the most entertaining sides which have either found tactical superiority or a close-knit surge with contributions from every member to give them an edge. But equally, their seasons have been laced by some amazing individual performances.
Below, in a fun exercise, we have tried to pick an 11 and two Impact Players from the qualified teams, just to see what their combined lineup will look like. Check it out:
#Top order: Travis Head, Sunil Narine, and Virat Kohli
It's hard to look past an opening combination as fearless as Travis Head and Sunil Narine. The left-handers are not only the highest run-scorers for SRH and KKR, respectively, in IPL 2024 but also have among the best strike rates -- 218.07 and 173.15 -- overall in the powerplay overs of the tournament so far.
While Abhishek Sharma, Head's partner, has been more explosive than Narine, the KKR star provides four quality overs of spin every game. He's the only bowler to have picked up at least a wicket in every match for his team this season and, thanks to that balance, is in the race to be the IPL 2024 MVP.
RCB star and the current Orange Cap leader Virat Kohli who has 708 runs in the season already would easily slot at number three in this team. He seems to have taken his game to a new level against spin so his favorite ODI position shouldn't be a spot of bother anymore in T20s. He'd provide a brilliant bridge between the explosive openers and the big-hitting middle order in this team.
#Middle order: Sanju Samson (C), Heinrich Klaasen, Dinesh Karthik (WK), and Andre Russell
RR captain Sanju Samson is the only player from his team in this 11. The inaugural champions started IPL 2024 like challengers but have seen their season deflate completely in the last two weeks and a big reason for that has been the dip in the form of most of their batters. Samson, the sixth-highest run-getter this year with 504 at a strike rate of 156.52, has shone nevertheless and warrants a place.
He's also the only one in this team leading his franchise so naturally takes the captaincy armband as well. Most of RR's other recent problems have been selections-oriented while on the field, Samson hasn't done much wrong.
He'd be followed by two more wicketkeepers - Heinrich Klaasen and Dinesh Karthik. The South African middle-order batter in SRH had a lean middle phase in IPL 2024 but showed what he's worth against Punjab Kings on Sunday. His combination of an average of 43 and a strike rate of 183.17 says it all.
A pre-T20 World Cup Karthik would be any team's dream. The veteran has 315 runs this season at a strike rate of 195.65. Given the position he bats in the RCB lineup, these are extraordinary numbers. His experience and ingenuity while finishing the game would go well with Klaasen and Samson.
And if all of them won't get you, Andre Russell will. The KKR legend is in this team for his bowling as much as his batting. He has among the best bowling averages in the middle overs in IPL 2024 and is a serial wicket-taker. He hasn't had too many match-winning knocks this season but KKR haven't needed them a lot too. A strike rate of 185 and a versatile bowling ability make their own place.
#Bowlers: Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Yash Dayal, and T Natarajan
KKR have been the best bowling team in IPL 2024 and they have been led by Harshit Rana and Varun Chakaravarthy, who are also their top wicket-takers in the pace and spin departments respectively. Rana can take the new ball with aplomb and now has been one of the best in death overs for good measure.
Chakarvarthy has turned around a slow start to the season by picking 10 wickets in the last four games, emerging like an almost unplayable bowler on turning tracks. With Harshal Patel and Jasprit Bumrah's teams out of IPL 2024, he has a good chance of winning the Purple Cap this year.
To join the right-arm pace of Harshit and Russell would be two left-armers: RCB's Yash Dayal and SRH's T Natarajan. With 17 and 15 wickets respectively, they are the highest wicket-takers of teams that have relied more on the wham-bam of their batting lineups. While Dayal has been the best exponent of swing this season, Natarajan has had similar success in the slog overs, making them a daunting pair.
Impact Player: Riyan Parag/Sandeep Sharma
As honorable mentions, Riyan Parag, who is having a breakthrough IPL 2024 for RR and Sandeep Sharma, who has emerged as one of the best bowlers at death overs, would be the Impact Subsititutions for this team.