Aakash Chopra names his all-time IPL XI; picks five specialist bowlers in the star-studded team

It has been 13 years since the Indian Premier League (IPL) started. It turned out to be the revolution not only for the Indian cricket but for the world. IPL paved the way for the other leagues as well and has been garnering a huge response since its inaugural season. Top Indian and overseas players have been the heart of the T20 extravaganza and they have been entertaining the fans consistently.

Some of the cricketers have played all the seasons while few have climbed to the top in the last few years. Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has named the strongest all-time IPL XI and it is obviously filled with the cricketers who are at the top of the charts with the bat and ball. Interestingly, there is no all-rounder in the team as he preferred to pick five specialist bowlers.

Chopra has gone with David Warner and Rohit Sharma to open the innings. Both the players are destructive and Warner is a beast when it comes to consistency especially in the IPL. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli and Mr IPL Suresh Raina will follow them at number three and four respectively. Though one can argue that Raina is the best option at three, Kohli is no less either thanks to his overall T20 record at the position.

Bumrah and Malinga to lead the bowling attack

Two of the greatest players to have played the sport, AB de Villiers and MS Dhoni will look after the finishing duties on most occasions. The duo can also play according to the situation and if they fire together, it would be a treat for the fans. Needless to say that Aakash Chopra has named Dhoni as the captain and the wicket-keeper of the team. Dhoni has successfully led the CSK to the playoffs in all the years of the franchise’s existence.

Aakash Chopra also cited the importance of having proper bowlers in the team to restrict the opposition. For the same reason, he went with two spinners in Harbhajan Singh and Sunil Narine, who can tonk the ball if needed in the death overs. The three pacers in the team are Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga all of whom are excpetional at any stage of the innings.

He also picked Gautam Gambhir and Andre Russell as the two reserves terming them unlucky to miss out from this team.

Aakash Chopra’s all-time IPL XI: David Warner, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, AB de Villiers, MS Dhoni (C & WK), Harbhajan Singh, Sunil Narine, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lasith Malinga, Jasprit Bumrah.

12th and 13th Man – Gautam Gambhir, Andre Russell.