When the Delhi Daredevils were knocked out of the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League, it came as no surprise that Eric Simons was the one answering the media's heated questions.

Ajinkya Rahane was one of the revelations of the recently concluded Indian Premier League. Headed for the Caribbean next, where he will represent India A, Rahane hopes to make a strong case for a spot in the Indian team. Wisden India found out that Rahane was willing to do whatever his country wanted if he was given the opportunity.

Kolkata Knight Riders had all the requisite cricketing skills to emerge Indian Premier League champions against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday night. But they didn't ignore the mental aspect.

There aren't too many better cricketers in the world than Jacques Kallis. For Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL V, Kallis has been a bit slow at times, but is still second on the run charts for his team. Kallis blames his team's lack of runs on the pitches on offer, but tells Wisden India that the important thing was to get the job done, and that's been achieved.

Shakib-al-Hasan is easily the best cricketer to have come out of Bangladesh. He has been a star for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, making useful contributions with bat and ball.

When Ross Taylor swishes his blade with refreshing ferocity for the Delhi Daredevils, well in excess of 40,000 people pack the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi. Taylor, still only 28, and with plenty of cricket ahead of him, has already come a long way, literally and figuratively, thanks to the game.

Even as the Deccan Chargers crashed and burned in the fifth edition of the IPL, one man towered over all his peers in the tournament. Dale Steyn is already counted among the greatest fast bowlers of all time, and he came into the tournament with little to prove.

Amongst the top performers in IPL 2012, there is Sunil Narine who seems destined to become a household name for years to come.

Albie Morkel's international career might not have taken flight the way a lot of people expected it to, but he has been a stellar performer for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.

Irfan Pathan, the Delhi Daredevils allrounder, on his ink-free body, mum's biryani, and comparing sixes with brother Yusuf.