The league of extraordinary gentlemen in IPL 5
GAUTAM GAMBHIR & VIRENDER SEHWAG
Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir have shared many great opening partnerships for India, Delhi and the Delhi Daredevils in the past.
This season, they shared the distinction of leading their teams the Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders respectively to the top two spots in the table, not just as captains but also with the bat.
CHRIS GAYLE
Royal Challengers Bangalore failed to qualify for the play-offs but it wasn't for lack of effort on the part of the Jamaican.
Gayle amassed 733 runs in 14 innings, 164 more than the secondplaced Shikhar Dhawan. He averaged 61 and the runs flew from his bat at a blistering strike rate of 160.74. The seven fifties that he hit were all entertaining knocks. His highest was 128 not out. In total, Gayle smashed an incredible 59 sixes 39 more than Kevin Pietersen (20) and Cameron White (20).
MORNE MORKEL
Twenty20 matches can turn around in a blink of an eye and one over from the tall South African speedster definitely turned the match in Delhi Daredevils' favour.
With Rajasthan Royals seemingly coasting to victory, needing 15 runs from two overs with nine wickets in hand, Morkel took the ball and put a spanner in the works.
ROHIT SHARMA
Rohit Sharma has often frustrated his fans, but the talented batsman delivered against Kolkata Knight Riders in a crucial match.
With Sachin Tendulkar dismissed early, Rohit and South African Herschelle Gibbs took on the testing Kolkata bowling and carved out a big score for the Mumbai Indians.
DALE STEYN
Few would argue that Dale Steyn is the best fast bowler in the world, and he bowled four spells that figure in the IPL's top 40 most economical spells this season.
Steyn saved his best for the last, eliminating Bangalore with an unplayable spell of 4-0-8-3, including the prize wicket of Chris Gayle.
SUNIL NARINE
Some OF the best West Indies players are playing in the IPL instead of representing the country against England, and two of them Gayle and Sunil Narine head the list of best performers.
No batsman has yet been able to decipher Narine's variations, delivered with a smooth finger-spinner's action. His 22 wickets in 13 games, with an economy rate of 5.19, is testament to that.