IPL 2016: Best XI from Week 4 of Indian Premier League
For a Twenty20 competition, there is nothing quick and straightforward about the Indian Premier League.
The fixture list tends to leave an uneven spread of games when you take a look at the table, while injuries and form play a big part in shaping the standings.
What is clear after a month of the 2016 campaign is there will be plenty of changes to the top four in the coming days, let alone the remaining fortnight of round-robin fixtures.
While we wait for the next twist in the plot, Bleacher Report has picked the best XI from Week 4.
Please note: The team is based on recent performances over the past seven days, not necessarily the entire IPL season.
1. Shikhar Dhawan
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After a slow start, Shikhar Dhawan has found form for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The left-handed opener followed up an unbeaten 47 against Gujarat Lions on Friday with 82 not out in his side's emphatic 85-run victory over Mumbai Indians on Sunday.
Dhawan has now made three unbeaten half-centuries in his last four trips to the middle in the IPL.
He averages 62 in the current season—an impressive number considering he started the year with three single-figure scores.
2. Robin Uthappa
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Robin Uthappa thrashed 70 from 49 deliveries for Kolkata Knight Riders in their victory over Kings XI Punjab on Wednesday.
Opening the innings, the right-hander hit two sixes and six fours. He also shared in a 101-run partnership with his captain, Gautam Gambhir, for the first wicket.
While he is predictably unpredictable, Uthappa is a destructive batsman when he's in the right mood.
Although he is keeping wicket for the Knight Riders, in this week's B/R team, he only needs to concentrate on one discipline—batting (you'll have to keep clicking on to find out who is donning the gloves instead).
3. Virat Kohli
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Virat Kohli returns to the XI after hitting a second century during the 2016 IPL season.
India's Test captain made 108 not out from 58 deliveries in Royal Challenger Bangalore's successful run chase against Rising Pune Supergiants on Saturday.
The right-handed batsman has now managed 541 runs in the current campaign at an outstanding average of 90.16, per the IPL's official website.
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4. Ajinkya Rahane
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It has not been an easy debut season for Rising Pune Supergiants, but Ajinkya Rahane has impressed for the new franchise.
The India international managed scores of 74 and 63 not out during the last week, taking his tally for the season to six half-centuries.
Rahane—who has been pushed up to open for a Pune side minus the injured trio of Faf du Plessis, Kevin Pietersen and Steve Smith—sits third on the list of leading scorers in the competition with 417 runs.
In this team, however, he slots into the middle order behind international colleague Kohli.
5. Shane Watson
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Shane Watson is making useful all-round contributions for Royal Challengers Bangalore, though perhaps that should be expected of an international-class all-rounder.
The Australian scored 34 and 36 with the bat against Kolkata Knight Riders and Rising Pune Supergiants, respectively, during the last week.
He has also picked up four wickets while showing no signs of the injury issues that blighted his career at the very highest level.
So, what is the key to his good health? Yoga, as Watson told Sam Ferris of Cricket Australia's official website: "I would have got a different result if I had have done yoga throughout my career, there's no doubt."
6. Yusuf Pathan
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Yusuf Pathan was a stick-on selection for the team of the week once he produced a match-winning innings against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Monday.
When Manish Pandey was dismissed at the start of the 11th over, Pathan walked to the middle with his Kolkata Knight Riders struggling at 69 for four, still needing another 117 for victory.
Astonishingly, Pathan smashed an unbeaten 60 from 29 deliveries to see his side to their target of 187 with five balls to spare.
The big-hitting right-hander followed up with 63 not out from 41 balls against the Gurajat Lions on Sunday, although the Knight Riders lost on that occasion.
7. Dinesh Karthik
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Dinesh Karthik made a duck during the last week, but his failure against Sunrisers Hyderabad was sandwiched by a pair of half-centuries for Gujarat Lions.
The wicketkeeper-batsman's knock of 53 on Tuesday against Delhi Daredevils couldn't prevent his team slumping to defeat.
However, Karthik then made 51 on Sunday to help the Lions overcome the Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets, a result that lifted the IPL debutants back to the top of the table.
8. Andre Russell
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Andre Russell produced the second-best figures recorded in the 2016 IPL season to date on Wednesday.
The West Indies all-rounder claimed four for 20 in Kolkata Knight Riders' seven-run triumph over Kings XI Punjab, helping his side defend a total of 164 at Eden Gardens.
Russell also picked up a wicket apiece in Kolkata's other two matches during the week, taking his tally for the campaign to 14.
He has a reputation for hitting sixes with the bat, yet it is his abilities with the ball that make him such an important member of the Knight Riders' squad.
9. Dhawal Kulkarni
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Dhawal Kulkarni has been a key component of a Gujarat Lions squad that sits on top of the table.
The seamer produced an excellent spell in a losing cause against Sunrisers Hyderabad, picking up two for 17 from his four overs when trying to defend a below-par total of 126.
He also claimed a wicket in his side's win over Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday, taking his tally for the season to 10 in nine matches.
Kulkarni has played eight one-day games for India, the last of them in July 2015. At the age of 27, could his IPL form boost his international career?
10. Mustafizur Rahman
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As yet, opposing batsmen have not worked out Sunrisers Hyderabad seamer Mustafizur Rahman.
The Bangladesh left-armer is not about express pace but subtle changes of speed, as his variety of slower balls and cutters make it difficult for teams to target him.
He has an impressive economy rate of 6.15 runs per over in the 2016 competition, according to the tournament's official website.
Mustafizur has combined for figures of five for 33 in seven overs in his two appearances over the last week, both of them victories for a Sunrisers side that has risen up to second in the table.
11. Ashish Nehra
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Ashish Nehra is picked to play alongside Sunrisers Hyderabad team-mate Mustafizur Rahman.
Together the pair shared six wickets in their side's resounding victory over Mumbai on Sunday, as the Indians were knocked over for just 92 in 16.3 overs.
Nehra made the best possible start to his spell. With the first ball of the second over, the left-armer bowled opposing captain Rohit Sharma.
He also dismissed Ambati Rayudu and Jos Buttler on his way to finishing with figures of three for 15 from three overs.
All statistics used in the slideshow are from either ESPN Cricinfo or the IPL's official website.
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