1. David Warner (SunRisers Hyderabad, Captain)
The man who gave new energy to struggling Sunrisers Hyderabad batting throughout the season including the IPL final where he made 69 runs from 38 balls and helped his team to post a mammoth total in a high-pressure encounter, David Warner showed a typical Australian approach throughout the season as he led his team from the front and scored 848 runs from 17 innings, which is the second most by any player in IPL 2016 after Virat Kohli. He played many impact innings for his team in IPL 2016 and showed tremendous calmness when odds were against his team as a captain.
2. Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Are there any words left in this world that can describe Virat Kohli in 2016? The ever energetic captain of Indian Test team took his game to another level in this IPL as he broke several records throughout the season as a player and also the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore. He scored 973 runs from 16 innings at an average of 81.08 in IPL 2016 and won the Orange Cap along with the award of most valuable player of the tournament. An able leader, influential character on and off the field, Virat Kohli was one of the biggest highlights of IPL 2016.
3. AB de Villiers (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
AB de Villiers – the one and only 360 degree batsman of this planet, showed his class yet again. AB de Villiers scored 673 runs from 16 innings which is most by a non-opener in an IPL season. De Villiers also created a record by taking 19 catches, which is the most by a player in a T20 tournament. It was his innings against The Gujarat Lions in first qualifier that sealed a place for RCB in the final of IPL 2016.
4. KL Rahul (Royal Challengers Bangalore, WK)
This IPL season has certainly done wonders for KL Rahul as he made his place in the all three formats of the Indian team for the tour of Zimbabwe (ODIs and T20Is) and West Indies (Tests), with his improved hitting skills and risk taking abilities in shorter versions of the game. In 14 matches, he scored 397 runs at an average of 44.11 and with a strike rate of 146.49 in IPL 2016. After IPL 2016, KL Rahul transformed himself into a ‘Multi format batsman’ from ‘Test specialist’.
5. Krunal Pandya (Mumbai Indians)
Krunal Pandya was one of the biggest positives for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2016. He was used a pinch hitter for few games and that suited Krunal’s batting style. Krunal justified his promotion in the batting when helped Mumbai Indians win a must-win game against Delhi Daredevils by scoring 86 runs from just 37 balls while batting at no.3. He also bowled some economical spells for Mumbai Indians this season however it was his strike rate of 191 that caught eyes of everyone this season, the highest among batsmen who have scored at least 200 runs.
6. Yusuf Pathan (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Yusuf Pathan scored 361 runs at an average of 72.20, his average being second best after Virat Kohli in this season, with a strike rate of 145.46. He performed the role of a finisher for KKR this season as he remained not out 8 times from 13 innings this season and his innings against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Bangalore, where he scored an unbeaten 60 when his team were struggling at 69 for 4 chasing a target of 186 runs was his standout performance from his all other such performances his in IPL 2016.
7. Chris Morris (Delhi Daredevils)
Chris Morris scored 195 runs at a strike rate of 178.89 and also picked up 13 wickets, the joint most by any Delhi Daredevils bowler this season. He broke many partnerships at crucial stages of matches and helped his team to win matches and proved his worth why he was bought for Rs 7 crore by Delhi Daredevils.
8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (SunRisers Hyderabad)
One of the heroes of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2016, Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked 23 wickets in 17 matches with an average of 21.30, at an economy rate of 7.42. He was also the purple cap holder. He also bowled 169 dot balls in the tournament, the most by any bowler.
9. Dhawal Kulkarni (The Gujarat Lions)
Dhawal Kulkarni took 14 wickets in powerplay overs this season, the most among all other bowlers. His seam presentation and control over line and length certainly impressed one and all throughout the season, and he nearly helped his team into the final with a 4-wicket haul in the first qualifier match but due to AB de Villiers’ brilliance his team lost the match. Kulkarni took 18 wickets from 14 matches this season and also bowled four maidens.
10. Yuzvendra Chahal (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Yuzvendra Chahal is the only spinner who took more than 15 wickets in IPL 2016. He took 21 wickets from 13 matches at an economy rate of 8.15. Chahal, on the basis of his brilliant performance in IPL 2016, has been picked for India’s tour of Zimbabwe.
11. Mustafizur Rahman (SunRisers Hyderabad)
Bangladesh’s wonder boy, Mustafizur Rahman, took 17 wickets in IPL 2016, at an economy of 6.90. Mustafizur aka Fizz was one of the finds of the tournament. Rahman impressed one and all with his incredible control in the death overs.
By Umang Pabari
