The 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) season has finally come to a conclusion with Gujarat Titans (GT) winning their maiden IPL trophy in what was their first season in the cash-rich league. The new IPL entrants were at their possible best against Rajasthan Royals (RR), beating them by seven wickets to win the coveted trophy for the first time.
However, apart from the star players from both teams in the final, there were some stars from the season gone by who were in prime form for the respective franchises. Here, we analyse some of these players, both among the bowlers and the batters who played in the 2022 IPL season.
Top five batters:
This season witnessed history being written in many aspects. It was the first-ever IPL to record over 1,000 sixes being hit in a single season. It was also the first-ever season to witness over eight centuries scored.
Jos Buttler (RR): Jos 'the boss' Buttler, bossed this IPL season. The batter with the most sixes this season (45), Buttler helped Rajasthan reach the final. Buttler has scored four centuries this season. With a total of 863 runs, Buttler won the Orange Cap this season. His batting average was 57.53 with a strike rate of 149.05.
KL Rahul (LSG): The captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) scored two centuries and four half-centuries this season. He came second on the orange cap standings with 616 runs to his name. Rahul's best score this season was an unbeaten 103. Unfortunately, his team were knocked out by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Eliminators. Rahul smashed 45 boundaries and 30 sixes this season. His batting average was 51.33 with a strike rate of 135.38.
Quinton de Kock (LSG): The South African wicketkeeper-batter played a key role in LSG’s batting line-up this season. He finished the season in the third position with 508 runs. Quinton’s remarkable innings of 140 not out against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), his only century of the season, is one to remember. He has hit 47 boundaries and 23 sixes this season. He finished the season with three half-centuries. His batting average was 36.29 with a strike rate of 148.97.
Hardik Pandya (GT): The GT skipper led his team to the ultimate trophy with exceptional performances in Qualifier 1 and the final of IPL 2022. Pandya finished the season with 487 runs to his name, averaging 44.27 runs and striking at a rate of 131.26. His best score was an unbeaten 87 and Pandya also picked up 49 fours and 12 sixes this season. His performances this season were rewarded with a return to the national team for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa.
Shubman Gill (GT): The young gun carried the bat for Gujarat in the final with his unbeaten 45 off 43 balls. Shubman has improved in leaps after moving to Gujarat, and this is proven by his exceptional performance in the final. He finished the season with 483 runs to his name, an average of 34.50, and a strike rate of 132.32. This is his best IPL season to date.
Top five bowlers:
This season, speed and swing did not usually dominate the charts as the spinners excelled for their respective teams. Here, we look at the ]top five wicket-takers this season.
Yuzvendra Chahal (RR): The former RCB man, now playing for Rajasthan, finished on top of the Purple Cap standings with his one scalp against GT in the final. This meant Chahal finished the season with 27 wickets, the most for a spinner in the IPL. His best bowling figure is 40/5 wickets. He has one four, one five-wicket haul as well, and also a hat-trick to his name this season.
Wanindu Hasaranga (RCB): The Sri Lankan all-rounder, brought in for a whopping Rs 10.75 crore, stood up to his price tag for RCB. He finished the season in second place, with 26 wickets to his name. His best bowling figure is 18/5 wickets. He has four as well as a five-wicket haul to his name.
Kagiso Rabada (PBKS): Brought by Punjab Kings (PBKS) or Rs 9.25 crore during the IPL 2022 mega auction, Kagiso Rabada scalped 23 wickets this season. His best bowling figure is 33/4 and he has two four-wicket hauls as well while recording an economy rate of 8.45.
Umran Malik (SRH): The boy from Jammu is definitely the upcoming star of Indian Cricket. Umran Malik recorded the second-fastest delivery of this IPL season at 157 kilometres per hour. Umran comes at fifth position in the race for purple cap. He has taken 22 wickets this season with the best bowling figure of 22/5. Umran is the backbone of the Sunrises Hyderabad (SRH) bowling attack for the years to come.
Kuldeep Yadav (DC): Brought in by Delhi for Rs 2 crore this season, Kuldeep Yadav bagged 21 wickets with the best bowling figure of 14 runs and four wickets to his name. It was a redemption season for the spinner who had fallen out of favour with his former franchise KKR as well as the Indian national team set-up. Kuldeep's performances also brought him back into the national team for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa.
