My Top Five

We're just over halfway thru the IPL, so I thought I'd comment about the best players so far in no particular order...

1. Shane Watson

An early prediction for the man of the tournament. His batting, particularly his big hitting, was always going to be a factor in t20 matches, but it is his bowling which has really blossomed under the leadership of Shane Warne. Watson is going to displace Hopes from the Australian ODI team. of this I'm fairly sure based on current form. He has has scored 287 runs at an average of 57 and strike rate of 157, and picked up 12 wickets at a fantastic economy rate of 6.8. Add four man of the match awards to that tally and some brilliant outfielding as well.

2. Shaun Marsh

Perhaps the biggest surprise packet of the tournament. At the outset, he didnt even look like he would get a game in squad which featured Lee, Sangakkara, Jayawardene, Katich and Sarwan. But ever since he was given a chance, he has impressed mightily with 295 runs at 98 from only 5 innings. Another early prediction- its going to be between Marsh and Gambhir for the orange cap award for the leading runscorer in the IPL. Marsh's simple technique with minimal footwork, backlift and flourish has proven extremely effective on Indian wickets. He is limited one feels in terms of shots, but for t20, with its emphasis on boundary hitting, he is a perfect fit. A certainty for the australian odi team in the west indies, as australia really need to blood some young batsmen for the next world cup.

3. Gautam Gambhir

Has been at the top of the run scoring charts ever since the first week of the IPL. He was also India's leading batsman in the t20 world cup last year and has been in immaculate odi form since then. He has scored four fifties in 8 matches and maintained a strike rate in the high 130's quite consistently. His major blemish has been an inability to convert one of his scores into a highly sought-after century. His fielding has also been very sound, whether on the boundary or in the infield. Gambhir and Sehwag have been the best opening pair so far in the tournament, though Hopes and Marsh are closing in.

4. Irfan Pathan

The equal leading wicket taker with 13 wickets at an average of 18 and economy of only 6.50. Once again, he has proven his potency with a swinging white ball. He has attacked the stumps relentlessly and been very difficult to score boundaries off. Not all the best bowlers have managed to consistently take wickets (eg McGrath, Sharma, Steyn) in t20, so Pathan's performance must be doubly appreciated. His batting has not really been required but he has managed a couple of quick lower order cameos. In any other team, we probably would've seen more of Pathan the allrounder.

5. Adam Gilchrist

Second on the runs chart, Gilchrist's ton against Mumbai demonstrated his full t20 potential. Unfortunately, Laxman's injury and the woeful performances by Gibbs, Styris and Afridi have robbed Gilchrist of the batting support he so badly needed. Rohit Sharma has batted exquisitely, but has not batted with Gilchrist enough for it to make a difference for the Deccan Chargers. This season is effectively over for the Chargers, but next season, I expect that Gilchrist will come to India with a point to prove. With a line-up reading Gilchrist, Laxman, Sharma, Symonds, Afridi, I think 2009 will be the year of the Chargers.