Here is a 'short' review of team performances this season in the IPL. (1/4)
Chennai Super Kings 
A very poor year by their illustrious standards. Had a disaster in the first half of the tournament despite a strong start versus Mumbai and went from bad to worse with questionable team selections, tactics and some bizarre statements publicly. From what I can tell in my local circle, casual interest in the team this season noticeably dropped until the end of the season where they had a commendable resurgence that few teams over the IPL have done
after being knocked out. Avoided the wooden spoon largely due to that but make no mistake, this was still a poor campaign and there remains much work ahead.
Ruturaj Gaikwad was probably introduced a season and a half too late, but better late than never I suppose. With three consecutive fifties, he remains firmly established as the domestic opener leading into the upcoming season.
Sam Curran was a revelation this season, chipping in with wickets and crucial runs regularly. There might even be the case of him being underutilized, such was his impact. Has also established himself as a fan favourite who will be warmly welcomed at Chepauk if crowds are permitted.
Jadeja's improvement with the bat in recent years continues and he has now shown that he can bat in the top six without any question. Rayudu's return to good form is also vital for the team going into next season as a senior domestic batsman.
The spinners have been poor, there is no other way to put it. Karn, Chawla and Jadeja have all been flops with the ball and the importance of having overseas players in other roles means that Tahir or Santner is unlikely to be a first-team regular next season. To make matters worse, last season's highest wicket-taker in the SMA Trophy was not given a single game.
MS Dhoni looks visibly past it with the bat, bereft of confidence and form. If his next match is to be the next CSK game, they might be in trouble with a rusty captain in the playing XI who is unlikely to be dropped.
Player of the Season :
Faf du Plessis for carrying that batting lineup on his own at times and later on changing his gears to be an aggressive opener to allow the young Gaikwad to settle and play himself in.
Delhi Capitals
This is a team that has been visibly on the rise. From a wooden spoon in 2018 that coincided with a captaincy change mid-season to a playoff spot last season and their first final this time, it may only be a matter of time before they lift that IPL Trophy that has eluded them till now. A strong start to the season led pundits to predict that they would be the only ones stopping the Mumbai juggernaut but a slump in the second half very nearly threatened their entire season. They will still be happy about how things have gone this season but one wonders if they could have achieved more with some of their regulars contributing in a better manner and with less injuries.
Rabada and Nortje formed a devastating pace duo that contributed 52 wickets. Given how they rely more on their express pace, the Kotla pitch will not hamper them in any way and the way they came back after a sudden loss of form by their high standards was commendable.
Prior to this season, Marcus Stoinis had just 473 runs in the IPL striking at just below 130. He took just 15 wickets with the ball. Not the worst of numbers but there was a sense that he could have gone the way of his fellow Aussie flops in recent IPL years if he did not perform this season. To make matters worse, he was visibly struggling in the middle order role for years with even his national side admitting defeat in their pursuit of the finisher in him. It is remarkable that after all of this, he struck 352 runs with most of it coming in a role he previously struggled with while also picking 13 wickets despite not being optimally utilized with the ball.
Ashwin and Axar may not have led the way in terms of wickets but the control they offered to their side in the absence of a wrist-spinner for most games was remarkable in conditions that often did not suit them best. Watch out for them squeezing the lives out of the opposition next season in much more dangerous conditions at the Kotla.
Rishabh Pant went from having two of the best individual seasons in IPL history to an absolutely terrible one that he only managed to salvage to an extent in the final game of the season. With his keeping also visibly declining and his fitness under the scanner, can Delhi's best batsman in the last two years bounce back next season with a very critical crowd ready to pounce on any mistake he makes?
The drop-off in quality in the second half of the season was alarming, there is no doubt about it. Shaw looked like he was a walking wicket, Shreyas despite finishing fourth on the run scorers list has endured yet another campaign where the number of match-winning contributions he has made has dwindled, Rahane has been outscored by a bowling all-rounder and Hetmyer has not lived up completely to his hype as one of the most destructive hitters in world cricket.
Player of the Season :
Shikhar Dhawan will be my controversial pick here, some of his performances this season have been one man acts sometimes and the way he carried his team forward without any support in the second half of the season especially after Pant's injury is remarkable. With questions looming over the long-term viability of his inclusion in Indian squads, he has shown that he is not leaving anytime soon.
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