The 2021 edition was a one-of-a-kind Indian Premier League (IPL) season. It was split into two parts due to the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in India. No teams had home advantage, and maintaining the form across two nations – India and the UAE – over five months was a huge logistical challenge.
The teams responded differently to the change of venue. Defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) lost their steam in the UAE leg. In contrast, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), reeling at seventh place after the India leg, staged a remarkable recovery to finish runners-up.
And it didn't matter to some. Punjab Kings (PBKS) remained baffling, while Chennai Super Kings (CSK) remained consistent to win the final against KKR to claim their fourth title.
To fish out a handful from the sea of exceptional performers is a task, no doubt, but we make an attempt and list out Cricket News' best XI of the tournament.
Openers: Faf du Plessis (CSK) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK)
Du Plessis (633 runs @ 45.2 | SR 138.2 | 50s 6) and Gaikwad (635 runs @ 45.3 | SR 136.3 | 50s 4 | 100s 1) went neck and neck this season and were the primary reason for CSK’s glory. Between them, they contributed to over 50% of the team runs this season.
While du Plessis championed the Indian conditions, Gaikwad stepped up in the UAE. They stitched seven partnerships in excess of fifty. Gaikwad's batting was alluring, and he remained brutal against spin. In contrast, du Plessis clobbered the pacers at will.
Gaikwad vs spin in IPL 2021: Ave 54.6 | SR 154.2
Du Plessis vs pace in IPL 2021: Ave 48.6 | SR 151
If not for the du Plessis's match-defining 86 in the tournament final, Delhi Capitals (DC) Prithvi Shaw, with 479 runs at a strike rate of 159, would have made the cut. Venkatesh Iyer was another tempting proposition.
Du Plessis and Gaikwad are placed third and fourth in the MVP points table, respectively.
Middle-order:
K.L. Rahul (PBKS)
626 runs @ 62.6 | SR 138.8 | 50s 6
Apart from Mayank Agarwal, Rahul got no support from his teammates as PBKS had another disappointing season. Despite not being at his fluent best, Rahul remained consistent in both the tournament legs kept claiming and losing the Orange Cap throughout the tournament.
His unbeaten 98 against CSK in their final league match was arguably the most breathtaking knock of the tournament.
Though he opened in the tournament, he bats at No. 3 in this dream team. As the only IPL captain to have made this team, he leads the team.
Glenn Maxwell (RCB)
513 runs @ 42.8 | SR 144.1 | 50s 6 | 3 wickets @ 45 | Econ 8.4
Maxwell finally found a home in RCB, where he justified his INR 14.25 crore salary by being their best batter of the season. The seventh most valuable player of the tournament, he is one of the five batters and the only non-opener in the 500-run club this season.
Shimron Hetmyer (DC)
242 runs @ 34.6 | SR 168 | 50s 1
KKR’s Rahul Tripathi misses out despite a fantastic season as Shimron Hetmyer is better suited for the death overs. DC gave an impression that they underused the in-form West Indian.
DC finished first in the league stage, and Hetmyer did contribute to it with his phenomenal strike rate. His strike rate in the death overs touched 200.
All-rounders/Spinners:
Ravindra Jadeja (CSK)
227 runs @ 75.7 | SR 145.5 | 50s 1 | 13 wickets @ 26.6 | Econ 7.1
Phenomenal as always, Ravindra Jadeja was the pillar behind CSK's success. He hit out in the death overs at will, led the spin attack with potency, held 13 catches and effected two run outs to his numbers. His finishing as the second-most valuable player of the tournament is hardly a surprise.
Sunil Narine (KKR)
16 wickets @ 22.6 | Econ 6.4 | 62 runs @ 7.8 | SR 131.9
Narine edged out Rashid Khan (18 wickets @ 20.8 | Econ 6.7) narrowly. While Rashid remained consistent throughout the tournament, Narine ended up seizing the key moments. He was exceptional in the knockout stage, keeping KKR afloat in the competition.
Despite his poor batting numbers, he made a massive difference to KKR's fortunes with two cameos, including one against RCB in the Eliminator.
Varun Chakravarthy (KKR)
18 wickets @ 24.9 | Econ 6.6
Between the two legs of IPL, Varun Chakravarthy made his India debut and booked a place in the T20 World Cup ahead of Yuzvendra Chahal (18 wickets @ 20.8), someone he also edges out in this team.
While Chahal was superb in UAE, he disappointed in India. Chakravarthy remained consistent. He might not have picked wickets in bulk except the RCB match in UAE; but he did not concede more than 26 in his four-over quotas in any game until the final. Chakravarthy was critical to KKR's phenomenal resurgence.
Pacers: Harshal Patel (RCB), Avesh Khan (DC) and Jasprit Bumrah (MI)
The three fast bowlers picked are the top three wicket-takers of the tournament, and the only pacers who have made it to the top ten of the MVP list. While Harshal (32 wickets @ 14.3 | Econ 8.1) was named the MVP, Avesh (24 wickets @ 18.7 | Econ 7.4) and Jasprit Bumrah (21 wickets @ 19.5 | Econ 7.45) came close.
Harshal’s transfer to RCB from DC proved to be a masterstroke. He helmed the death overs and proved critical to his team’s inspiring show this season. He drew level with Dwayne Bravo's record for most wickets in an IPL season. He also played a crucial knock of 31 in the lower order.
Uncapped like Harshal, the much younger Avesh lit up the tournament and can arguably be called the best bowler of the tournament as 50% of his wickets were of the top four batters.
Bumrah remained the hope for MI in what was a rare disappointing campaign for them. He was consistent throughout and was Rohit Sharma’s go-to bowler in every crisis.
Substitute: Andre Russell (KKR)
183 runs @ 26.1 | SR 152.5 | 50s 1 | 11 wickets @ 17.1 | Econ 9.9
An injury ruled Andre Russell out of the tournament in the second leg. Had he played the entire tournament, KKR could have gone one step further.
Close misses: Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, Sanju Samson, Rashid Khan, Rahul Tripathi, Venkatesh Iyer, Shardul Thakur, Anrich Nortje, Lockie Ferguson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Moeen Ali, Arshdeep Singh
IPL 2021 XI (in batting order): Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, KL Rahul (c & wk), Glenn Maxwell, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Sunil Narine, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah. Sub: Andre Russell