'King' Kohli to 'Baby AB': Hits and misses of the 2022 IPL season

The high-octane Indian Premier League (IPL) moves into the playoffs this week with four teams left to battle for the glitzy T20 championship and the winners to be crowned in Sunday's final.

Gujarat Titans, Rajasthan Royals, Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore are all that remain standing from the 10 teams who embarked on a marathon season of 70 matches two months ago.

Ahead of Tuesday's first playoff match when Gujarat Titans face Rajasthan Royals in Kolkata, AFP Sport highlights five players who grabbed the headlines this season in the world's most valuable cricket tournament:

Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

The superstar's batting slump has been a constant talking point during the season as Kohli suffered three uncharacteristic 'golden ducks' - out on the first ball of his innings.

But 'King' Kohli bounced back just in time for his team's final league game with a match-winning 73 off 54 balls that helped the team make the top four.

Kohli, 33, has endured a torrid 12 months that saw him replaced as Indian captain, give up the Bangalore armband and fail to score a century in more than 100 matches in all formats.

Now he and Bangalore stand just three wins from a maiden IPL title and play Lucknow in an eliminator on Wednesday.

"I'm actually in the happiest phase of my life. I am not finding any self-worth or value in what I do in the field. I'm way past that phase. This is a phase of evolution for me," Kohli said.

Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals) 

The England batsman has bossed this IPL with three centuries to help Rajasthan finish second in the table, awaiting table-toppers Gujarat in the first qualifier on Tuesday.

Buttler has been a smiling assassin, stroking 629 runs in 14 matches - the most of any player