It’s been almost two decades since the Indian Premier League (IPL) started. All these years, many players have lit up the league with their performances.
But a few have left such a lasting impression that any IPL conversation is incomplete without them. We are talking about players who’ve had a big impact in the IPL.
And these players make our all-time playing XI. So, here’s a look at IPL’s all-time playing XI.
Chris Gayle
You can’t simply talk about IPL without Chris Gayle. He was the one who made scoring runs at outrageous strike rates normal. And that too at a time when T20 cricket was taking shape!
Remember that unbeaten 175 against Pune Warriors? That’s still the highest score in the league!
With close to 5000 runs at a strike rate of 149, Gayle slots in as an attacking opener in this XI.
Virat Kohli
The highest run-getter in the IPL makes the cut without any doubt. He balances out our opening pair.
When Gayle attacks from one end, Kohli sneaks in those singles, doubles and boundaries to keep the scorecard ticking.
The best thing about Kohli? He knows how to shift gears at the right time. And few batters are as consistent as Kohli. (Check some of his impressive records in the league here.)
Also Read | The 5 Best Batting Performances of Virat Kohli in IPL
Suresh Raina
Like Kohli, Suresh Raina is another consistent player you can bank on, be it with batting, bowling or fielding.
Early wicket gone? Raina handled things at No. 3 with ease. Wanted a quick fielder? He was there. Wanted someone to roll over the arm? He was a handy spinner.
Who wouldn’t want such a reliable player?
Suryakumar Yadav
He can hit straight. He can hit behind the wickets. He can hit on the square. You know what, he can hit anywhere (sometimes while literally falling)!
That’s Suryakumar Yadav, the modern Mr. 360. His ridiculous hitting alone places him in this all-time IPL XI. SKY is one of the best strikers of the ball in this decade in the league.
AB de Villiers
How can we forget the OG Mr. 360? AB de Villiers walks in in almost any XI on any day!
He showed the 360-degree hitting even before SKY did. And that too in some style. Scoop, reverse sweeps, lofted drives, he had it all.
And add to it his incredible consistency. There were barely a few days when ABD didn’t click. So, you simply can’t leave out the South African batter.
MS Dhoni (C & WK)
Captain. Finisher. And wicketkeeper. MS Dhoni is the one man you’ve got for all three jobs.
And he does it all with so much calm. Like complete ice cool!
The five IPL titles make him the right captaincy choice. The number of games he has finished is crazy. And then his fast reflexes behind the stumps rounds it all well.
Also Read | MS Dhoni’s 7 Remarkable Records in IPL History
Hardik Pandya
That one clutch player you need in your lineup. Hardik Pandya brings an X-factor with his all-round skills.
He can hit the ball hard. He strikes at nearly 147! That’s what you need lower down the order. And then he gives you breakthroughs with his medium pace.
Sunil Narine
Not many overseas spinners have had a huge impact in the IPL. But Sunil Narine? He’s surely an exception.
He’s right up there among the top wicket-takers. And what’s exciting about him is his pinch-hitting. You can even open with him. Mind you, he has an IPL century!
Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal will pair up nicely with Narine. He’s someone who will get you wickets, especially in those middle overs.
Sure, he goes for a lot of runs sometimes (well, who doesn’t these days!), but he knows how to pull things back with his variations.
Jasprit Bumrah
Powerplay, middle overs, death overs. Jasprit Bumrah is your go-to bowler in any of these phases.
With the kind of variations and, obviously, the action he has, most batters find him almost unplayable. And his yorkers can be pretty difficult to hit.
Lasith Malinga
Lasith Malinga, along with Bumrah, makes our pace attack deadly. Many batters would have a hard time scoring against this greatest pace duo.
Malinga had that pace. And then those pinpoint yorkers, just enough to scare any batter. So, it’s a no-brainer to have Malinga in the XI.
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