IPL T20 cricket team of the first round

 

In the first round of IPL, Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Daredevils played two matches each while other teams played one match each. Sourav Ganguly (Pune Warriors) emerged as the best captain in the first round. No team emerged as the hot favourite in this round. Pune surprised everyone by defeating Mumbai in Mumbai. KKR once again deceived fans with poor performance while Rajasthan impressed everyone with limited resources.

 

 

Best innings of the first round: Ajinkya Rahane (Rajasthan Royals). He performed well even in England but Indian team management failed to give him enough chances in International cricket.

 

Most valuable player of 1st round: Kevon Cooper (Rajasthan Royals).

 

 

IPL T20 cricket team of 1st round:

 

Captain of the team: AB De Villiers (Royal Challengers).

 

My team has just 4 Indians. If rules do not allow to play with 7 foreign stars, I replace Muralidharan  and Smith with Ashwin/Ojha & Irfan Pathan respectively.

 

 

Batting:

 

1. Ajinkya Rahane (Rajasthan Royals): He might have missed the century but produced a classic innings. His well constructed innings (98 runs in 66 balls) is one of the best in IPL history.

 

2. Richard Levi (Mumbai Indians): Sensational innings on IPL debut against CSK but Murali Karthik brutally exposed him on a turning Wankhede pitch. He is too dangerous on his day.

 

3. Steven Smith (Pune Warriors): Good batting under difficult conditions against quality attack. He can bowl also.

 

 

4. AB de Villiers (Royal Challengers): What an innings against Delhi Daredevils! He is arguably the best batsmen in international cricket.

 

All-rounders:

 

1. Kevon Cooper (Rajasthan Royals): This T20 star from Trinidad & Tobago produced best all-round performance of the first round in 2012 IPL. Rajasthan Royals know how to spot the talent.

 

2. Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings): Consistent all-round performance. Who can forget his breathtaking 18-ball 43 against Deccan Chargers (5 sixers)?

 

 

3. Ravindra Jadeja (Chennai Super Kings): Sensational all-round performance against Deccan Chargers. Jadeja became the first bowler to take 5 wickets in IPL 5.

 

Wicket-keeper:

 

1. Robin Uthappa (Pune Warriors): His two stumpings against Mumbai Indians changed the course of the match. He scored crucial 36 runs in a low scoring match.

 

Bowling:

 

 

1. Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians): No discussion and no explanation is needed to select the best T20 bowler in international cricket.

 

2. Ashok Dinda (Pune Warriors): Wonderful performance against strong Mumbai side – 4 wickets in 4 overs.

 

3. Muttiah Muralidharan (Royal Challengers): Form is temporary but class is permanent. Against Delhi, he changed the course of match in just 8 balls by taking the wickets of rampaging Aaron Finch and Noman Ojha.

 

 

Special mention:

 

1. Murali Karthik & Rahul Sharma: Both bowled good spells against Mumbai in a low scoring match.

 

2. James Franklin (Mumbai Indians): Consistent batting but bowling is expensive.

 

3. Irfan Pathan (Delhi Daredevils): Wonderful batting but too expensive in bowling.

 

4. Morne Morkal & Dale Steyn: Good pace bowling display against tough batting sides.

 

5. R. Ashwin: Good bowling but Chennai is expecting wickets from him.

 

6. Pragyan Ojha: Narrowly lost to Muralidharan.

 

Please share your team of the IPL first round.