IPL 2018: An XI that can beat the 2018 IPL champions, CSK.

After 60 matches, 7 weeks, and countless memories, the IPL 2018 came to an end with Chennai Super Kings re-claiming the beautiful trophy for the record-equaling third-time.

It was Watson who did it for Super Kings in the finals of IPL 2018. Watson's century helped Super Kings to cross the line, and put their hands on the beautiful trophy once. Chennai Super Kings proved to be one of the hardest teams to beat in this year's IPL.

Hence, let us look at the best possible XI from the 2018 IPL that can prove to be invincible for the 2018 IPL champions, Chennai Super Kings.

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Openers: KL Rahul and Kane Williamson

KL Rahul (Kings XI Punjab)

It was a breathtaking season for the classic KXIP opener, KL Rahul, as he smacked the fastest ever IPL fifty in his first ever match for his new franchise. From the start of the season, Rahul seemed to be in sublime touch as he unsettled the opposition with his swashbuckling strokeplay.

In this year's IPL, Rahul notched up 659 runs at an astonishing average of 54.91 and a high strike-rate of 158.41 which also includes six fifties with the highest score being 95*. However, it was unfortunate for him and his team to not enter the playoffs.

Kane Williamson (C) (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Kane Williamson. What a season he had? A plethora of runs, captaining his side to the finals, and of course a great sense of respect. Not many would have thought, after Warner's exclusion from the league, that Sunrisers would pose such a threat to other teams in the league. But all thanks to Williamson who rose up to the occasion and made it possible for the Sunrisers to make it to the playoffs.

His batting was no different than his captaincy. Interestingly, this season, Williamson scored more runs than all of the seasons combined. This year, Williamson was the Orange Cap holder with a mammoth of 735 runs to his name at an outstanding average of 52.50 and a strike-rate of 142.44 which also includes eight fifties with the highest score being 84. Williamson went past Michael Hussey tally of 733 runs to feature third on the list of most runs in a single season of IPL, only behind David Warner and Virat.

Middle-Order: Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and AB de Villiers

Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Virat Kohli rightly explains why adjectives are of utmost importance. Kohli, as ever, was fluent with the bat in IPL 2018. This season, he was the seventh highest-run scorer. However, to his unfortunate terms, his team wasn't able to qualify for the playoffs.

This IPL, Kohli scored 530 runs at an average of 48.18 and a decent strike-rate of 139.10 which also includes four fifties with the highest score being 95*.

Rishabh Pant (Delhi Daredevils)

Joining Virat Kohli in the middle-order is the promising player from Delhi Daredevils, Rishabh Pant. For Pant, this season was no different from Kane or Rahul's. This season marked a new phase in Pant's career.

From 14 matches that he played, Pant scored a mammoth 684 runs at an average of 52.61 and a strike-rate of 162.67 which also includes eight fifties and a solitary hundred with the highest score being 128*. For his spectacular performances throughout the 2018 IPL, Pant won the Emerging Player of the Season as well as the Stylish Player of the Season award.

AB de Villiers (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Superman, you call him. AB de Villiers is the name. You have got to awe him when he is at the crease or on the field, because, of all the crazy things that have happened in cricket, AB has been a part of it. This season was no different for AB de Villiers. He was the second highest scorer for his team in this year's IPL.

In 12 matches, AB scored 480 runs at an average of 53.33 and a strike-rate of 174.54 which also includes six fifties with the highest score being 90*. Like Kohli, AB too had to bear the taste of being knocked out of the tournament before the playoffs.

Wicket-keeper: Dinesh Karthik

Rajasthan Royals v Kolkata Knight Riders - IPL T20

Dinesh Karthik (WK) (Kolkata Knight Riders)

A lot of credit goes to Dinesh Karthik for KKR's success at the IPL 2018. Unlike other teams, KKR faced a lot of issues before the start of the tournament as many of their key players got injured just before the start of the league.

Despite those issues, it has been his improved batting prowess, especially while chasing, which still kept the Knight Riders alive in the league. Eventually, KKR finished third in the league. Karthik has amassed 498 runs this season in 16 matches at an average of 49.80 and a strike rate of 147.77. These statistics reaffirm that this has been his best IPL season as a batsman since 2008.

All-rounders: Krishnappa Gowtham and Hardik Pandya

Krishnappa Gowtham (Rajasthan Royals)

Krishnappa Gowtham, probably one of the very few players who justified their price tag in the IPL 2018, shot to fame when he scored a match-winning cameo of 33* runs in just 11 balls and carried his team over the line. Gowtham was a find of IPL 2018 for RR.

From 15 matches that he played this year, Gowtham scored 126 runs at an average of 14 and an astonishing strike-rate of 196.87. He contributed with the ball as well. This year, he scalped 11 wickets at a strike-rate of 21.81, an average of 28.36, and an economy of 7.80.

Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians)

This year, Hardik Pandya had a decent outing with the bat as well as the ball. Although it was a year to forget for MI, they had some brilliant individual performances in this IPL. Hardik Pandya was one of them.

From 13 matches that he played, Hardik scored 260 runs at an average of 28.88 and a strike-rate of 133.33 which also includes a solitary fifty with the highest score being 50. Come to the bowling he was the highest wicket-taker for MI in this year's IPL. He scalped 18 wickets at a strike-rate of 14.22, an economy of 8.52, and an average of 21.16.

Spinner: Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

This 19-year-old leggie from Afghanistan has shown some great character in this season. A leg-spinner is the heart of a T20 side. No other bowler can compensate for the variety of a leg-spinner.

How good has Rashid proved to be in this year's IPL? He can bowl those unplayable wrong-uns. He can tonk a few out of the part. He can grab those stunning catches as well. The 19-year-old Afghan finished second in the top wicket-taker list of the season.

From 17 matches that he played, Rashid grabbed 21 wickets at a strike-rate of 19.42, an average of 21.80, and a controlled economy of 6.73. He also notched up some crucial runs in the tournament. He smashed a match-winning knock of 34 runs off just 10 balls in the second qualifier against KKR.

Pace Bowlers: Andrew Tye and Siddarth Kaul

Siddarth Kaul (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

This season has been a fast bowler's season as seven out of top ten bowlers have been fast bowlers. Of all, Siddarth Kaul has been the one. Kaul had an impressive season with the ball.

The 27-year-old pacer has been producing superb spells for Sunrisers Hyderabad, helping take it to the top of the table. Kaul, a vital cog in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s brilliant bowling show in IPL 2018, once again earned a national call-up for the T20I series in Ireland and England, and ODI series in England.

In this year's IPL, Kaul grabbed 21 wickets at a strike-rate of 18.85, an average of 26.04, and an economy of 8.28. Kaul finished as the third highest-wicket taker in IPL 2018.

Andrew Tye (Kings XI Punjab)

Andrew Tye, a young fast bowling prodigy from Australia, turned out to be one of the best pace bowlers in this year's IPL. The Perth-born cricketer proved to be good throughout the IPL with variations in pace and accurate yorkers.

Andrew Tye finished as the highest wicket-taker in IPL 2018. Also, he became the first Australian in the history of IPL to bag the Purple Cap. He finished the tournament with 24 wickets to his name at an average of 18.66, at a strike-rate of 14.00, and an economy of 8.00.