The Indian Premier League, one of the toughest franchise-based tournament in the sport of cricket across the globe, has seen many great players playing in it. While some pave their way into their respective national teams after playing in this tournament, others, who are already established in the international arena come in and win matches for their owners, entertaining the fans in the meantime.

Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore have emerged as two stalwarts of the Indian Premier League due to their mass fan-following and star-studded line-up. And it&#8217;s the dream of every player to be a part of the high-octane clash between the two eminent franchises of IPL. Over the years, both the franchises have produced and flourished many prolific players.

Many of the players, often tend to make a mark in the minds of the fans who watch this tournament. Be it for any team, a good player is always remembered for a long-long time. And, one of the dreams of the fans is to see their favourite players, who are in different teams during the tournament, get placed in a line-up with franchise not acting as a driving factor.

So, here’s one such line up drafted from the rosters of the best players of the two most popular teams in the history of the Indian Premier League:

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-63253" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Chris-Gayle.jpg" alt="Chris Gayle" width="600" height="385" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-63253" class="wp-caption-text">Chris Gayle (Photo Source: IANS)</figcaption>

The explosive opener, holder of the record for the highest ever individual score by any batsman in the history of the Indian Premier League, Christopher Henry Gayle is the name that pops up in the mind of any fan or expert as soon as the word T20 opener comes in. A master of the shortest format of the sport, Gayle has the power and technique to decimate any bowling line-up in the world.

Gayle’s early years in IPL were not successful, but the tables turned around when he joined the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/5-reasons-why-royal-challengers-bangalore-rcb-can-win-ipl-2020/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Royal Challengers Bangalore</a>. In the 2011 edition of the tournament, Gayle was called up midway through the tournament and rest as they is history. In his very first match for the franchise, he scored 102 runs off just 55 deliveries, announcing his arrival in style.

Gayle played 7 seasons for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and during his stint was one of the most successful openers in the tournament. This makes him the perfect fit to be one of two the openers of this combined XI.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-347138" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Matthew-Hayden.jpg" alt="Matthew Hayden" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-347138" class="wp-caption-text">Matthew Hayden. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Joining Gayle will be another player whose presence itself sent a chill down the spine of the bowlers. The matchwinner from Australia, Hayden, was one of those players of his era who adapted easily to excel in the shortest format of the sport. As good as he was in international cricket, his performance in T20 leagues, like IPL, provided the fans a time of their lives whenever they got to see him.

Although he was a part of the IPL for only three seasons, his batting is fondly remembered by <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/10-players-you-never-knew-were-part-of-chennai-super-kings-csk-in-ipl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CSK </a>fans till date. Hayden while with the Chennai based franchise, scored more than 1000 runs, opening the batting. Hayden ensured that his team got off to a solid start whenever he was out there on the field.

Regarded as one of the best openers to have played the league, Hayden and Gayle if they would have ever played together, would have been the most feared duo in the history of the sport.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-335416" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Virat-Kohli-7.jpg" alt="Virat Kohli" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-335416" class="wp-caption-text">Virat Kohli. (Photo: Sandip Mahankal/IANS)</figcaption>

The current Indian captain, the top-ranked batsman in almost all formats of the sport, Virat Kohli cannot be missed out of any list that has the words IPL or RCB in it. Since 2008, when he was first picked by RCB, he has been a regular feature in the franchise’s line up and was handed the captaincy duties of the team for the first time in 2011 and after Daniel Vettori’s retirement in 2012, he has been the full-time captain of the side.

Virat, while playing for the franchise has amassed over 5000 runs and is placed right behind Suresh Raina, who is the holder of the record for scoring the most number of runs in IPL. After a rough start, Kohli has been one of the top performers of the side over the years.

2016 season of the tournament was one of the best ones for Kohli in which he broke the record for the most number of runs in a single IPL season and won the<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/one-player-from-each-team-who-can-win-orange-cap-in-ipl-2020/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Orange Cap</a>. The only red in his ledger is the absence of an IPL trophy since he has taken over the captaincy and for a player like him without a doubt, it is his luck that has barred him from winning one.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-335542" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Suresh-Raina-1.jpg" alt="Suresh Raina" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-335542" class="wp-caption-text">Suresh Raina. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Popularly called as ‘Mr. IPL’ and ‘Chinna Thala’ by his fans, Suresh Raina, just like Virat Kohli, is bound to feature in any team drafted for the Indian Premier League. The man who has scored the most number of runs in the tournament, Raina is a perfect fit in any team at the No.4  spot.

With the ability to score at a brisk run rate and if required, if required, play the role of an anchor, Raina is one such player for whom any team would shell big bucks any day. And, probably that is the reason that his franchise from the first season, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/10-players-you-never-knew-were-part-of-chennai-super-kings-csk-in-ipl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chennai Super Kings</a>, brought him back into the side, in 2018, after their absence for two seasons.

Raina is that kind of a player, for whom a season with 350-400 runs is considered low, while the same would be decent on for any other player of the tournament. This, along with his ability to give his captain some overs with the ball if required, while maintaining a decent economy, makes him a sure shot feature of this side.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-330215" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/AB-de-Villiers.jpg" alt="AB de Villiers" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-330215" class="wp-caption-text">AB de Villiers. (Photo: IANS)</figcaption>

Abraham Benjamin de Villiers is one such player, whom one could have only imagined to have existed if he was not born. A versatile batsman with the ability to hit the ball anywhere around the park, de Villiers is a player who has earned himself recognition by adapting his game over the years, and not losing his consistency even once.

After playing for the then, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2019-3-players-delhi-daredevils-should-target-in-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Delhi Daredevils</a>, for the initial three seasons, de Villiers moved to the Royal Challengers Bangalore and has never looked away since. He along with Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli formed a trio that was extremely hard to bowl to. They used to come, hit the ball over the ropes, one of after the other and pile on mountains of runs. Even after his retirement from international cricket, he has been playing for RCB.

Adding to all of his batting abilities are his wicket-keeping and fielding skills. This man is that sort of player whom anyone would create in a video game and make him rise through the ranks in no time. And his inclusion in any XI of the shortest format of cricket cannot be questioned by any individual.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-341278" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-5.jpg" alt="MS Dhoni" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-341278" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)</figcaption>

One of the most successful captains of the Indian Premier League, MS Dhoni has been leading the Chennai Super Kings to glory year after year. Right from the first season, Dhoni has ensured that CSK make it to the play-offs. Even when the team was suspended, playing for the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/the-9th-ipl-team-fans-feel-rising-pune-supergiant-as-the-new-team-for-2020-season/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rising Pune Supergiant</a> for two seasons, MS led the team to a final and almost won it. Making a return to the franchise in 2018, he made sure that he led the side from the front to an IPL win. His and the team’s third in the 10 seasons they’ve played.

His batting and wicket-keeping also have been exceptional over the years. A couple of hiccups here and there have never stopped ‘Thala’ Dhoni from making a strong come back and hit hard in the very next game.

An exceptional reader and student of the sport, Dhoni can captain virtually any team of the world to the top spot, making him one of the best players to have played the tournament. A great finisher, the former Indian skipper can walk in at any time and turn the tides into his team’s favour.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-317092" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Albie-Morkel-chennai-super-kings.jpg" alt="Albie Morkel chennai super kings" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-317092" class="wp-caption-text">Albie Morkel chennai super kings. (Photo by Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images/Getty Images)</figcaption>

The second player from South Africa in this line-up, Morkel was one of the best all-rounders in his playing days. A big hitter of the ball with the bat, and an equally able bowler, Morkel was a great addition to the Chennai Super Kings and helped them win matches on many occasions.

One of his best innings with the bat came in 2010, where he racked up a record third-wicket partnership with Murali Vijay against the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mere-paas-technique-hai-rajasthan-royals-wish-rahul-dravid-on-his-birthday-with-a-deewar-poster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rajasthan Royals</a>, helping his side win the match. In the 2012 edition too, he hit 28 runs off of Virat Kohli’s bowling and helped Chennai reach a match-winning total of 206 runs from a position when anyone could be forgiven to consider RCB the winner of that match. With the ball, he had 91 wickets to his name.

Having played for Chennai in 5 seasons, he switched a couple of teams before retiring but is still remembered fondly by the fans of the yellow army for his big hits and other exploits with the bat and the ball that helped them win matches on several occasions.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-15658" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ravichandran-Ashwin-Chris-Gayle-IPL.jpg" alt="Ravichandran Ashwin CSK" width="700" height="488" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-15658" class="wp-caption-text">Ravichandran Ashwin CSK. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

The local boy while playing for the Chennai Super Kings, Ravichandran Ashwin was one such player for whom the Indian Premier League proved to be a launchpad into the Indian cricket team. Ashwin was a hit right from the start and won Chennai Super Kings many matches and morphed into becoming MS Dhoni’s go-to bowler.

Ashwin during his association with the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/10-players-you-never-knew-were-part-of-chennai-super-kings-csk-in-ipl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chennai Super Kings</a> for 8 long years, was a match-winner for the side. In the 86 matches he played for the franchise, he took 89 wickets at an average of 22.85. He was also handy with the bat on many occasions and has a highest score of 46 runs.

A household name for the fans of CSK, Ashwin moved to Rising Pune Supergiant with Dhoni during CSK’s absence from the tournament. His name is profoundly etched in the minds of every fan who has followed CSK even for a short time.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-74236" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Kumble-with-virat-GettyImages-98408334.jpg" alt="Virat Kohli (R) and Anil Kumble" width="600" height="417" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-74236" class="wp-caption-text">Virat Kohli (R) and Anil Kumble. (Photo by Julian Herbert-IPL 2010/IPL via Getty Images)</figcaption>

Another local boy for his team in the Indian Premier League, Anil Kumble played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore for his entire career in the league. A veteran in the international version of the sport, Kumble’s bowling was an instant hit among the fans. Nicknamed ‘Jumbo’ by his fans, Kumble could win matches single-handedly.

Kumble to continue playing even after his retirement in order to honour his contract in 2008 and he made sure that he made the fullest of this move. In 2009, he was made the captain of the side and led the team to one of its only two finals ever. This did not end well, but <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/its-all-about-how-he-performs-in-ipl-anil-kumble-opens-up-on-ms-dhonis-future-with-team-india/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kumble </a>built a name for himself here also just like in international cricket.

During his stint with RCB, he played 42 matches for RCB and took 45 wickets, with the best bowling figures of 5/5. In his three-year-long career in the IPL, he made sure that he put in his best every time he stepped on to the field, helping his team in winning matches.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-17084" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Daniel-Vettori-RCB.jpg" alt="Daniel Vettori RCB" width="584" height="404" sizes="(max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-17084" class="wp-caption-text">Daniel Vettori RCB. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

The lone New Zealander in this team, Daniel Vettori, a jack of all trades, played the Indian Premier League for six years. After starting off with the then <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/ipl-2019-3-players-delhi-daredevils-should-target-in-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Delhi Daredevils</a>, he was picked up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2011 edition of the tournament and he turned out to be a gem of a player for them.

Enjoying success with the ball, he was a regular feature in the RCB team for the entirety of 3 years he played for the team. In 2011 he was handed over the captaincy of the team and he did pretty well in the role. He is till date one of the most successful captains in the history of the franchise. He led RCB to victory in 53.57 per cent of matches, right behind his predecessor, Anil Kumble who tasted success in 54.25 per cent of matches.

An able leader, a great performer with the ball and an equally able fielder, Vettori is one of those players whose name would be etched in golden letters in RCB’s record books.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-379659" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Lakshmipathy-Balaji.jpg" alt="Lakshmipathy Balaji" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-379659" class="wp-caption-text">Lakshmipathy Balaji. (Photo by Anesh Debik/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Lakshmipathy Balaji is one of those names who got more recognition while playing in the Indian Premier than while a part of the Indian team. He started off his career in the tournament playing for the Chennai Super Kings and shot to fame right from the start.

Apart from that one over from the Finals of the inaugural edition of IPL, his run in the tournament has been pretty great. Balaji’s role in Chennai Super Kings’ victory in the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/is-the-bcci-planning-a-mini-ipl-to-replace-champions-league-t20/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Champions League T20</a> of 2010 was praised by the captain of the side, MS Dhoni.

He was one of the strike bowlers of the side, before moving on to Kolkata Knight Riders. His stay in CSK brought him his due share of recognition and made him one of those players whose name will pop up in any discussion related to Chennai Super Kings and the Indian Premier League.

IPL: CSK and RCB combined all-time XI

CSK and RCB have emerged as two stalwarts of the Indian Premier League due to their mass fan-following and star-studded line-up.

11. Lakshmipathy Balaji