The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 is over and it is Mumbai Indians (MI) who won their record 4th title. The 8-week long extravaganza saw MI defeat arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 1-run, in a nail-biting last over thriller on May 12. A lot of players struck form, while some of them were even left lurching for it during IPL 12 too. Given on the basis of their form, statistics and numbers in the tournament, we at LatestLY bring you the best XI of IPL 2019. Mumbai Indians Are IPL 2019 Champions: Highlights From High-Voltage Final As MI Dethrones CSK With Last-Ball Victory.

David Warner, SRH

David Warner left the season midway and still ended the IPL 2019 as the Orange Cap winner. In 12 matches that he played in his campaign, Warner scored 692 runs at a staggering average of 69.20 and impressive strike rate of 143.86. Returning from his exile, the flamboyant batsman hit a century and eight half-centuries this IPL season.

Shikhar Dhawan, DC

Shikhar Dhawan began slowly this but picked up speed at the right time. Returning to his home turf this IPL, Dhawan scored 521 runs in 16 matches that he played. Dhawan hit 64 fours this season – the most by a batsman in the league in 2019. His stupendous form was one of the many reasons for Delhi Capitals’ turnaround this IPL.

KL Rahul, KXIP

One of the very few sparks in Kings XI Punjab ranks, KL Rahul had an amazing season this IPL. Rahul scored 593 runs in 14 matches at an impeccable average of 53.90, emerging as the highest run-scoring Indian player in the league. It was the lack of support from other teammates that saw his mammoth run tally go in vain.

Virat Kohli, RCB

Virat Kohli started the season poorly; however, picked up steam when it was perhaps too late for Royal Challengers Bangalore. The skipper looked out of sorts while captaining his side too, such torrid was his season. Nonetheless, Kohli features in the top-10 list of highest run-scoring batsman this IPL, and would give solidarity to any lineup he is a part of.

Rishabh Pant, DC

Rishabh Pant’s exemplary form this season made former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly said that India would miss his services in the quest for ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Pant performed consistently this season, and won the matches for DC almost single-handedly on a number of occasions. Also, he affected the most number of dismissals behind the stumps, i.e. 24, this IPL.

MS Dhoni, CSK (Captain and WK)

MS Dhoni had an amazing first half of the tournament; however, his form dipped in the second half of the season, and so did CSK’s. Given the form that he was in, and add to it some muscle-hitting, leadership qualities in the mix – Dhoni would be the second person, if not the first, to be picked in this IPL XI team.

Andre Russell, KKR

Andre Russell was the only ray in Kolkata Knight Riders’ otherwise dull season. Russell scored 510 runs in only 13 innings at a mind-blowing strike rate of 204.81 – the highest in the tournament. He picked up 11 wickets as well, conceding runs at an average of 26.09. Dre Russ was the only hope and reason if KKR could have qualified for the IPL 12 Playoffs.

Shreyas Gopal, RR

The dark-horse of the tournament this year, Shreyas Gopal picked up a plentiful of wickets in his campaign. In 14 matches he played, Gopal picked up 20 wickets – the fourth-best (overall) and second-best (among spinners) this season. Gopal picked up big fishes throughout the tournament and was Rajasthan’s go-to bowler this year.

Imran Tahir, CSK

Imran Tahir had a spectacular season as he picked up 26 wickets in 17 matches this IPL. His stupendous bowling form earned him the Purple Cap too. Tahir’s exquisite bowling display helped CSK cruise through the crunch situations with ease on several occasions this year. His economy rate of 6.69 was also the amongst the top-5 bowlers this season.

Jasprit Bumrah, MI

If MS Dhoni is ‘Captain Cool’, Jasprit Bumrah is definitely the bowler version of ‘Thala Dhoni’. Bumrah kept his calm and cools in the IPL 2019 where he didn’t concede any boundary in his four overs – a rare feat in T20s. Bumrah picked 19 wickets at an economy rate of 6.63 this season – which saw Sachin Tendulkar call him the best bowler in the world currently.

Kagiso Rabada, DC

Kagiso Rabada had a fruitful IPL season this year. In only 12 matches that he played this season, Rabada picked up 25 wickets – one less than Tahir who played 17 matches. It was Rabada’s exemplary form that saw Delhi Capitals qualify for the Playoffs in this IPL. However, his injury cut-short his otherwise electrifying stint.

MI vs CSK IPL 2019 Final Stats Highlights: Mumbai Indians Lifts The IPL Trophy for 4th Time

12th Man – Deepak Chahar, CSK

You can hate him, love him or ignore him, but Deepak Chahar did emerge as the best Indian bowler, in terms of wickets, in this IPL season. Chahar picked up 22 wickets in 17 matches that he played, at an impressive economy rate of 7.47. Not just that, Chahar often took wickets in the top order, which helped CSK keep a check in their opponents’ run rate throughout.

(The opinions expressed in the above article are of the author and do not reflect the stand or position of LatestLY.)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 14, 2019 11:32 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).