IPL has announced the format for the upcoming campaign. As part of this, the ten teams have been split into two virtual groups. The grouping criteria is based on the number of titles won and final games played by each franchise. While MI, KKR, DC, RR and LSG will play in Group A, CSK, SRH, RCB, PBKS and GT. Each team will play twice against teams in the same group and once against squads in the other groups. There will be an additional game against the team from the same row in the opposite group. This way, each team will play 14 games in the league phase. On that note, in this article, we take a look at the best-combined playing XI of Group B in IPL 2022.
Openers: Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shikhar Dhawan
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shikhar Dhawan will open the batting for this best-combined playing XI of Group B in IPL 2022. Many other solid options such as Mayank Agarwal have been left out. This is mainly because, in the recent season, not many have done better than Ruturaj and Shikhar. In fact, Ruturaj won the Orange Cap in IPL 2021. Faf du Plessis also misses out due to the four-foreigner rule.
Middle-Order: Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and MS Dhoni (C&WK)
Virat Kohli has batted as an opener in recent IPL seasons but for this XI, he will play at No.3. His current form has been disappointing but knowing his class and potential, a strong comeback is on the cards. Glenn Maxwell saw his IPL career take a rise in IPL 2021. Hence, he was retained by RCB and will be expected to repeat the displays. MS Dhoni will play IPL 2022 and will operate as the captain of CSK again.
All-Rounders: Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya
Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya will be the all-rounders in this best-combined playing XI of Group B in IPL 2022. At peak fitness, even Team India will have the same all-round department. It will be a new franchise for Hardik and he will captain them. For Jaddu, he is the likely candidate to take over from MS Dhoni but for IPL 2022, he will remain as probably the most important member in the playing XI.
Bowlers: Rashid Khan, Lockie Ferguson, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Kagiso Rabada
The bowling attack for this XI will have a lot of foreign influence. Rashid Khan is the world’s best T20 spinner and he is an obvious inclusion here. His Gujarat teammate Lockie Ferguson will also feature in this XI. Bhuvi has returned to form and this will be good news for SRH, who have re-hired him. Kagiso Rabada will play for Punjab next season and he will also lead the bowling attack for them.
