Best Indian Players In IPL History XI
The IPL was introduced in 2008 in order to build on the 2007 success India had at the Cricket World T20. The best Indian players were split up and were sold to franchises in the IPL auction. These were then mixed with lesser quality players and foreign stars in order to build teams.
Since then, the IPL has gone on to become the most successful domestic cricket league in the world, with many other countries adopting their own league as well. The last few years has thrown up young superstars such as Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan and Deepak Chahar. All of whom have gone on to represent the Indian national team.
But, who are the best Indian players in IPL history and what is the best XI that can be made?
The Openers
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan
Rohit Sharma has been one of the best openers in the history of the IPL. This, despite struggling in the past four seasons and only averaging just over 25 in those four seasons. He is an excellent player of both spin and fast bowling and has led the Mumbai Indians to four IPL titles. Overall, Rohit Sharma has scored over 5000 runs at a batting average 31 and strike rate of 131.
Shikhar Dhawan has been incredibly consistent in the Indian Premier League. He won the tournament with the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2016 edition and moved to the Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2019 season. He scored 500 and 600 runs for the Capitals in two seasons to help them make the play-offs in 2019 and the final in 2020.
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are the opening batsmen in our “Best Indian Players in IPL history XI.”
The Middle-Order
Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina
Virat Kohli is the highest run-scorer in IPL history. He has scored nearly 6000 runs for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, including a ridiculous season in 2016, where he scored 973 runs to haul RCB to the final. However, not winning an IPL, despite three finals, will likely be something that he wants to overturn quickly. The 2021 IPL is another chance for his franchise to do so.
A bowler’s worst nightmare. 😎#PlayBold #IPL2020 #WeAreChallengers #WickedWednesday pic.twitter.com/x21jSXkUhf
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) September 9, 2020
Suresh Raina is arguably the best batsman in the history of the Indian Premier League. His consistency for middle-order batsmen is rivalled only by Virat Kohli, among Indians. Despite not featuring in the 2020 edition, he has scored over 5000 runs at a batting average of 33.
He is a three-time IPL winner with the Chennai Super Kings and is also known for his awesome fielding. Raina can bowl part-time spin if required as well, especially on slower tracks in Chepauk.
Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina are the middle-order batsmen in our “Best Indian Players in IPL history XI.”
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The Wicket Keeper
MS Dhoni (C) and (WK)
MS Dhoni has been the best wicket keeper batsman in the history of the IPL and arguably also the best captain in the IPL. He is a tactical genius and is known to bring out young talents and revitalise careers of those who are considered close to retired. As a player and captain himself, his record is outstanding.
A finisher who can win the game from any situation, MS Dhoni has been CSK’s saviour. He has also won three IPL titles and has reached 10 IPL finals out of 13 seasons. A remarkable achievement.
Stephen-King thrillers Sep 19 onwards… 😋 #BPtabletReady #WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/Z4XAGgamNv
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) September 9, 2020
MS Dhoni is the captain and wicketkeeper in our “Best Indian Players in IPL history XI.”
The All-Rounders
Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja
Hardik Pandya was sensational in the death overs at both the 2019 and 2020 editions of the IPL with bat in hand. He formed a deadly partnership with Kieron Pollard to score rapidly in the last few overs of the Mumbai Indians’ innings. He had a strike rate of 191.42 and scored 402 runs during the 2019 season. Plus, he picked up 14 wickets in 16 matches.
Ravindra Jadeja also had good campaigns for the Chennai Super Kings in both editions. He batted well towards the end of the innings and finished off games. Plus, he picked up 15 wickets in 2019. He has been excellent for CSK recently. His athletic fielding also makes him an all-round package in the IPL.
He will be crucial to CSK’s plans in IPL 2021, in what is now an ageing team.
Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja are the all-rounders in our “Best Indian Players in IPL history XI.”
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The Pacers
Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Jasprit Bumrah was the man of the match in the 2019 IPL final. After an inconsistent start to his career, Bumrah has been brilliant for the Mumbai Indians. He picked up 19 wickets in 16 games in 2019. Even better, he had an economy rate of just 6.63, despite bowling all of the tough overs.
Overall his IPL career has been excellent and he helped the Mumbai Indians retain their title in the 2020 season. He was the second-highest wicket-taker behind Kagiso Rabada.
Despite Bhuvneshwar Kumar missing parts of both the 2018 and 2019 IPL seasons through injury, he makes our team for his performances prior to that. He was the purple cap holder in both 2016 and 2017 with 23 and 26 wickets respectively. The Sunrisers Hyderabad will want him firing again, if they are to replicate their success of 2016 at IPL 2021.
Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are the opening bowlers in our “Best Indian Players in IPL history XI.”
The Spinners
Amit Mishra and Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal has often been the lone warrior for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, in terms of their bowling attack. He took 21 wickets in 15 games at the 2020 IPL. In recent years his economy rate has been falling as well, which means he is doing an exceptional job.
Amit Mishra is an IPL legend in every sense. He is the second-highest wicket-taker in the history of the competition, having picked up 160 wickets. Mishra has also picked up three hat-tricks and has been successful with a variety of sides. His overall bowling average of 24 and economy rate of 7.34 are both very healthy numbers.
Amit Mishra and Yuzvendra Chahal are the spinners in our “Best Indian Players in IPL history XI.”
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