Ravichandran Ashwin unveils his all-time IPL XI, Dhoni named captain
Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed his all-time Indian Premier League (IPL) XI, featuring a balanced team of six batters and five bowlers. The line-up includes international stars like AB de Villiers, Sunil Narine, Rashid Khan, and Lasith Malinga. MS Dhoni has been chosen as the captain of this dream team by Ashwin.
Ashwin's choice of openers: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli
Ashwin has selected Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as the opening batters for his elite XI. Rohit, with a total of 6,628 runs from 257 IPL matches at a strike rate of 131.14, has led Mumbai Indians to five titles. Meanwhile, Kohli has scored an impressive 8,004 runs in his 252 IPL appearances at a strike rate of 131.97, making him the tournament's highest run-scorer ever.
Middle-order and spinners in Ashwin's IPL XI
For the middle order, Ashwin has chosen Suresh Raina, Suryakumar Yadav, and AB de Villiers at positions three, four, and five respectively. The spinning department is manned by Rashid Khan and Sunil Narine. These players have been selected for their consistent performances in the IPL over the years. Notably, Ashwin is himself among the most successful spinners in IPL history with 180 scalps.
Pace attack in Ashwin's all-time IPL XI
The pace attack of Ashwin's all-time IPL XI is led by Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Lasith Malinga. These bowlers have been instrumental in their respective teams' success in the IPL. Their inclusion underscores the importance of a strong bowling lineup in T20 cricket. Notably, Bumrah was a part of each of MI's five triumphant IPL campaigns.
Ashwin's all-time IPL XI
Ashwin's all-time IPL XI: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Suryakumar Yadav, AB de Villiers, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Sunil Narine, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lasith Malinga, Jasprit Bumrah.