IPL 2015: Winners and Losers from Indian Premier League
The 2015 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is in the book with Mumbai Indians crowned champions after thrashing Chennai Super Kings in the final.
This year's competition featured the usual mix of hype, glamour, tight finishes and explosive performances.
Which batsmen exceeded expectations? Which superstars failed to live up to their expensive price tags? Which overseas stars flopped? Which sides bagged a bargain?
Mumbai Indians won the competition, but who were the other big winners and losers from the 2015 IPL?
Stats courtesy of ESPNCricinfo and IPLT20.com.
Winner: Harbhajan Singh
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It's over two years since Harbhajan Singh last played Test cricket for India. His recent call-up for the forthcoming tour of Bangladesh is largely down to a string of fine performances in this year's IPL.
The 34-year-old turned back the clock and finished the competition with 18 wickets at an average of 24.77. Throw in 117 runs and it was a hugely impressive return.
Speaking to IPLT20.com, the Mumbai off-spinner outlined his hunger for an international recall: “I don’t think I am old, I am playing competitive cricket, I am doing well and I am pretty happy about it.” That optimism proved to be extremely well placed.
Loser: Yuvraj Singh
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After forking out a record-breaking $3.31M to secure the services of Yuvraj Singh, Delhi Daredevils could be forgiven for asking for a refund.
In his 14 visits to the middle, Yuvi passed 50 just twice. A total of 248 runs at an average of just 19.07 was a paltry return.
We shouldn't blame Yuvraj about the money. It wasn't his fault that Delhi paid over the odds. Had they looked at his IPL record they'd have noticed that he'd never previously totalled 400 runs in a single IPL season.
Winner: Yuzvendra Chahal
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Yuzvendra Chahal showed once again how valuable a leg-spinner can be in the shortest form of the game.
Chahal's economy rate of 8.86 was nothing special. He more than made up for that by taking 23 wickets. A strike rate of a wicket every 12.2 balls was among the best in the competition.
The Royal Challengers Bangalore bowler represented India at chess as a youngster. International cricketing recognition could be in the offing too.
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Loser: Dale Steyn
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The conventional wisdom at the start of the winter was that Dale Steyn was the best bowler in the world. That assessment may need to be reconsidered.
The South African wasn't at his best during the World Cup and that worrying lack of form continued during the IPL.
Steyn made just six appearances in the 2015 competition, picking up three wickets at an average of 56.66. His economy rate was an expensive 8.94 runs per over.
A number of big-name imports flattered to deceive this year. Steyn was among the biggest disappointments.
Winner: Golden Oldie Bowlers
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For all its emphasis on athleticism and dynamism, there's still room in the T20 game for players in the twilight of their careers.
Experience paid in the bowling ranks. Five of the top 11 wicket takers in this year's competition were in their 30s, including Dwayne Bravo, Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh.
Two of them, Ashish Nehra and Imran Tahir, are closer to 40 than 30.
Loser: Royal Challengers Bangalore
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Despite boasting a team that included the world's best fast bowler in Mitchell Starc, the world's best batsman in AB de Villiers, the highest scorer in IPL history in Chris Gayle and India's biggest batting superstar in Virat Kohil, RCB didn't even make it to the final.
All four produced moments of genius during the competition. None could produce a match-winning effort when it mattered most, in the final eliminator against Chennai.
Considering the star power on show, not going all the way must be considered a disappointment.
Winner: Ricky Ponting
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Before the start of this year's IPL, rookie Mumbai Indians coach Ricky Ponting was full of attacking intent.
The former Aussie skipper told IPLT20.com, “I think this game is all about taking the positive approach all the time; not sitting back and waiting for something to happen but being proactive and making things happen.”
Ponting was as good as his word. Despite losing their first four matches, the fledgling coach kept the faith and was rewarded with a massive upturn in form that took the Indians all the way to the title.
Darren Lehmann is firmly in situ as Australian coach. When Boof does call it a day, Justin Langer and Jason Gillespie may have competition for the top job.
Loser: Kings XI Punjab's Australian Contingent
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Coming to the IPL fresh from World Cup victory, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson and skipper George Bailey were supposed to lead Kings XI to glory. All three, alongside fellow Aussie Shaun Marsh, were a huge let-down.
In 36 innings combined the vaunted Australian quartet managed a total of just 516 between them. Bailey was the best of a bad bunch with the bat, but even he averaged just 23.54.
Mitchell Johnson was equally disappointing with the ball, picking up just nine wickets at an average of 37.33 with an eye-popping economy rate of 9.37 runs per over.
Poor Maxwell had a high score of just 43 and averaged 13.18 with the bat and took just two wickets.
With form that like from their overseas stars, it's no wonder Punjab propped up the table.
Winner: West Indian Players
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The West Indian contingent at the 2015 IPL was small, but what a contribution they made.
Andre Russell was the Most Valuable Player of the tournament after scoring 326 runs and taking 14 wickets.
Lendl Simmons was the top scorer in the final. His aggregate of 540 runs tied for second on the leading run scorer table.
Dwayne Bravo won the Purple Cap after taking 26 wickets.
Chris Gayle was among the leading run scorers and produced one of the best innings of the competition against Kings XI.
Kieron Pollard scored 419 runs including a fine little cameo in the final.
Even Dwayne Smith picked up a wicket with his first ball of the competition—in the final no less.
The only disappointment was Sunil Narine. The Trinidadian picked up just eight wickets and more questions were raised about his bowling action.
Loser: James Faulkner
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Widely regarded as one of the one-day game's best finishers with bat and ball, James Faulkner was expected to have a big tournament.
Instead, the Australian all-rounder proved a disappointment. Faulkner scored just 144 runs at an average of 18 in his 11 visits to the middle.
His return with the ball was equally underwhelming. Eight wickets at an average of 53.25 and an economy rate of 9.46 can't be what Rajasthan were hoping for when they paid a reported $1.7M to retain his services.
Winner: Mumbai Indians
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Ably led by Rohit Sharma, Mumbai Indians deservedly claimed their second IPL crown. After a shocking start, Ricky Ponting's side righted the ship, and once they built up some momentum they proved unstoppable.
The West Indian duo of Lendl Simmons and Kieron Pollard batted superbly. In Mitchell McClenaghan, Harbhajan Singh and the peerless Lasith Malinga they had a trio of bowlers at the top of their game.
They also found a massive bargain in 21-year-old spinner Jagadeesha Suchith.
Mumbai's triumph was a real team effort. Coach Ponting and skipper Sharma deserve huge praise.
Loser: Chennai Super Kings
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Chennai's hopes of claiming a third IPL title failed to materialise after a complete no-show in the final.
Mumbai's total of 202 was about 20 more than par. After struggling with the ball, the Super Kings never recovered from a turgid start to their reply.
The Powerplay delivered just 31 runs and there was no way back from that. With too much to do, Chennai subsided meekly, eventually losing by 41 runs.
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