We are halfway through the 2019 IPL, and it would be fair to say that the level of cricket and entertainment it has provided has been of top quality. We have seen some brilliant individual performances and nail-biting finishes and controversies. Some players have exceeded all expectations and surprised fans and pundits with their performances. A few big names and 'million dollar babies', however, have disappointed their fans and franchises, too. 

Let’s have a look at the best-combined playing XI from all teams.

Openers: David Warner and KL Rahul 

On his return, David Warner has shown that “class is permanent”. After staying away from the game for more than a year, Warner returned to IPL, and is the leading run-scorer of IPL 2019, so far. In 8 matches, Warner has scored 450 runs at an average of 75, and his strike rate is more than 145. The hard-hitting Australian has scored five fifties and one century. 

KL Rahul has had a tough 12-14 months, but he is making the most of his ‘top of the order’ position for Kings XI Punjab and scoring runs in his trademark ‘free-flowing and elegant’ style. Rahul is the second highest run scorer of IPL 2019 so far, and the national selectors have rewarded his good batting by giving him a place in the all-important ICC World Cup 2019 squad. The most noteworthy change in Rahul's batting has been his shot-selection. 

Number 3 and 4: Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler (wk)

Jonny Bairstow has impressed everybody with his skillful and aggressive batting at the top of the order for SRH. Bairstow has looked very comfortable against spinners and has scored 365 runs at a strike rate of 153.36. Although he has scored all his runs as an opener, Bairstow has skills and technique to bat at any position and adjust his game accordingly. So, he will be our number 3 in the midseason ‘best playing XI’ of IPL 2019. 

At number 4, is Bairstow's England teammate and one of the most destructive batsmen in the world, Jos Buttler, who has scored 311 runs at a strike rate of 151.70, so far. He has carried forward his form from the last season and played a very aggressive brand of cricket for Rajasthan Royals. Buttler will also be the wicketkeeper of our best playing XI. 

Number 5 and 6: AB de Villiers and Andre Russell

The swashbuckling South African batsman has retired from international cricket, but he is still hitting the ball sweet and big. De Villiers has mostly batted at number 3 for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2019, but he can bat at any position. In 8 matches, AB de Villiers has scored 307 runs at a strike rate of 154.27. 

Andre Russell is the most loved and feared player of IPL 2019. Loved because he has batted most outrageously and smashed some of the biggest sixes in the tournament. The big Windies all-rounder has smashed 30 sixes in IPL 2019 so far, and in all likeliness, this number is only going to get better. Russell has also taken six wickets in the tournament for Kolkata Knight Riders. 

Number 7: Hardik Pandya 

The dashing Indian all-rounder has been hitting the ball as clean and hard as he can in IPL 2019. Batting lower down the order for Mumbai Indians, Hardik has played some match-winning cameos and impressed one and all with his hitting skills and temperament. Pandya has scored 186 runs so far in IPL 2019, at a strike rate of 191.75, which is much higher than his IPL career strike rate of 147.66. 

Bowling attack: Ravichandran Ashwin, Imran Tahir, Kagiso Rabada and Deepak Chahar

Imran Tahir has been running, smiling, jumping and most importantly, taking wickets this IPL. The South African leg-spinner has taken 15 wickets in the tournament so far and has the best economy (5.67) and average (12.86) among top 10 wicket takers of IPL 2019. 

Ravichandran Ashwin is not in the scheme of things for India as far as limited-overs international cricket is concerned, but he has been one of the spinners on show in IPL 2019. Ashwin has taken 11 wickets in the tournament so far at an economy rate of 7.44. It was a tough call between Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, but we have picked Ashwin because, with Imran Tahir already in the team, he adds more variety to the bowling attack. 

Kagiso Rabada is the ‘Purple Cap’ holder with 17 wickets to his name. The young Proteas fast bowler is bowling at his best, and his bowling is one of the main reasons why Delhi Capitals are sitting at the number 2 position on the points table. 

Deepak Chahar is one of the finds of the season. Playing for Chennai Super Kings, Chahar’s 11 wickets at an economy of 6.97, and his control with the new ball has been very impressive.