IPL 2020 is almost 2 weeks old now and has moved to the second month. In September, there were a few brilliant performances from players of all teams. Here is a Team of the Week for September.
(Note: Only performances for September have been taken into account.)
Openers
Mayank Aggarwal – KXIP, KL Rahul - KXIP
The best friends and Karnataka teammates get to open this Team of the Week as well. They have been terrific with the bat, and have matched each other with strokes for strokes. Both were highest run-getters in September, with Rahul taking the top spot by just a run. They have each scored a ton and a fifty each in 3 matches in September.
Middle-order
Sanju Samson (keeper) – RR, Steve Smith (captain) – RR, AB de Villiers – RCB
Sanju Samson
We are seeing Sanju Samson 2.0 this season. The Royals player has admitted working hard on his game during the lockdown and it is now paying rich dividends. He also gets to keep wickets for this Team of the Week. Samson has 2 fifties in 3 matches in September, and each knock has class written all over it.
Smith
Smith gets to lead the team as he has led from the front and made some risky gambles that have paid off. His promotion of Rahul Tewatia to No 4 against KXIP was a masterstroke in the end as the leg-spinner reposed faith put in by his skipper. Tewatia slammed a match-winning 53 during a record chase.
AB de Villiers
The legend is getting better with age. He has been the reason behind RCB’s good start – 2 wins from 3 games. He has held the RCB innings together with 2 crucial fifties in 2 won games, batting at No 4. It’s impossible to think RCB without ABD.
All-rounders
Rahul Tewatia - RR, Sam Curran – CSK, Shivam Dube - RCB
For his career-changing knock of 53 against KXIP, Tewatia has walked into this Team of the Week. He has also bagged 4 wickets in 3 games for RR in September.
Curran is the lone CSK player to make it to this Team of the Week. He played a cameo of 18 against Mumbai in the opener to steer CSK to only win in the tournament so far. He has also taken 5 wickets so far.
Shivam is an under-rated all-rounder but is slowly finding his groove in IPL 2020. He played a useful cameo of 27 not out, including 3 sixes, to steer RCB to a big total against MI. He also has 4 wickets in 3 games, implying he is no pushover and can be a great asset to the team.
Spinner
YS Chahal – RCB
Chahal has been the standout and most consistent bowler for RCB in September. He has taken at least a wicket in each of the three games he has played in IPL 2020 so far. He has tied up batsmen with his clever bowling and has 5 wickets in 3 games so far.
Pacers
Mohammed Shami – KXIP, K Rabada – DC
They have been the best pace bowlers so far this season, topping the list with 5 wickets each. Both are fiercely competitive and love to face a challenge. Rabada has been bang on with his consistent yorkers and exceptional line and length. Meanwhile, Shami has bamboozled batsmen with this pace and unplayable bouncers. Both are doing a great job so far this season.
Team of the Week: Mayank Aggarwal – KXIP, KL Rahul - KXIP, Sanju Samson (keeper) – RR, Steve Smith (captain) – RR, AB de Villiers – RCB, Rahul Tewatia - RR, Sam Curran – CSK, Shivam Dube - RCB, YS Chahal – RCB, Mohammed Shami – KXIP, K Rabada – DC.
Photo courtesy: IPLT20
