IPL: Greatest all-time XI consisting of one-club men

In the high-stakes T20 franchise tournament that is the Indian Premier League (IPL), we see players switching teams with increasing frequency every year.

Parthiv Patel, Aaron Finch, Thisara Perera, Ishant Sharma and Dinesh Karthik hold the dubious distinction of having represented 6 or more franchises in the IPL. In a competition where the concept of loyalty is overshadowed by money and the teams' needs, very few IPL players have managed to stay at one team over the course of their careers.

However, it must be said that players from the Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals are slightly unfortunate to have not made this list owing to the ban that the two teams incurred.

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Greatest all-time IPL XI consisting of one-club men

Here is the greatest all-time IPL XI consisting of players who have worn only one colour on their jersey.

Note: The rule that says only four overseas players are allowed per team has been followed. The minimum number of years at the team for a player to be considered is four.

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Openers: Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli (c)

Opening combinations don't get much better than this

Arguably the two greatest players India have ever produced - Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli - make up what can only be described as a dream opening combination.

Sachin Tendulkar played for the Mumbai Indians (MI) for 6 years after signing for the team as an icon player in the inaugural IPL draft. In 78 games for the 4-time IPL champions, the Master Blaster scored 2,334 runs at an average of 34.83, along with winning the coveted trophy in his final year at the team (2013).

Virat Kohli has been with the Royal Challengers Bangalore since the inaugural season, and is the leading run-getter in the IPL with 5,412 runs in 177 games. The current Indian captain has notched up 36 fifties and 5 hundreds, and will look to end his wait for an IPL trophy this year in the UAE. Despite the fact that the trophy has eluded him so far, he is the captain of this XI.

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Middle Order: Shaun Marsh, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk)

Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer are part of a wonderfully balanced Delhi Capitals side

Shaun Marsh is arguably the Kings XI Punjab's greatest player ever, and won the Orange Cap in the inaugural IPL season. The Australian has scored 2,447 runs in 71 games for the team at an incredible average of 39.95, but has gone unsold in the last three IPL auctions.

Delhi Capitals (DC) captain Shreyas Iyer led his team to the playoffs last season, and will be looking to take his team one step further this year. Having been with the team since 2015, the Indian ODI No. 4 has scored 1,681 runs in 62 games at an average of 30.56.

The explosive Rishabh Pant dons the gloves in this XI, and in 4 years with DC, he has scored 1,736 runs in just 54 games at an average of 36.16 and strike rate of 162.69. The wicket-keeper will look to make himself an Indian cricket team regular with his performances in the 2020 IPL, especially now that former Indian captain MS Dhoni has retired.

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Fast-bowling all-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard

Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard form the backbone of the Mumbai Indians middle order

Mumbai Indians all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard are two of the most dynamic players in the IPL, owing to their destructiveness with the bat, handiness with the ball and electricity in the field.

The younger Pandya brother has been with MI since 2015, and forms the Indian backbone of the team alongside Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. In 66 games, he has scored 1,068 runs and picked up 42 wickets, along with as many as 43 catches.

Pollard, on the other hand, has been part of the MI setup since 2010 and has played a key role in all 4 IPL title triumphs. The West Indian has tallied 2,755 runs in 148 games to go with his 56 wickets, and has won many a match single-handedly for MI.

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Spin-bowling all-rounders: Krunal Pandya, Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine may not be in his preferred opening slot but will still be dangerous with the bat

Krunal Pandya and Sunil Narine are the two spin options in this team.

While the elder Pandya brother has managed 891 runs and 40 wickets in 55 games (spread over 4 years) for MI, Kolkata Knight Riders superstar Narine has picked up 122 wickets in just 110 games at an economy rate of 6.67.

The West Indian joined the team in 2012 and has picked up two Most Valuable Player awards to go along with two IPL crowns. Krunal, on the other hand, has been an integral part of MI's success in the last few years, and has two IPL titles to his name as well.

Both players are dynamic with the bat and although Narine isn't at his preferred opening slot, he will be as dangerous as ever.

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Fast bowlers: Lasith Malinga, Jasprit Bumrah

The two greatest death bowlers the IPL has ever seen make up the pace attack in this XI

Two of the greatest death bowlers the IPL has ever seen - Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah - make up this team's pace attack.

The former has played 122 IPL games for MI and is the leading wicket-taker in the competition with 170 wickets (at an economy rate of 7.14) to his name. Bumrah, on the other hand, shot into prominence with his dismissal of Virat Kohli on his IPL debut in 2013, and has 82 scalps in 77 games.

Both Malinga and Bumrah are still as lethal as ever for MI and will look to continue their fruitful partnership at the death in IPL 2020, although the former is expected to miss a large portion of the tournament due to personal reasons.

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