Greatest IPL XI of all time

A new season of the Indian Premier League(IPL) is almost upon us and it promises to be yet another exciting two months of cricket with players from all across the globe descending down to India.Over the years, there have been many stupendous performers in the T20 tournament who have played a key role in the success of their franchisees and also entertained fans across the globe with their pyrotechnics.Here’s an All-time Indian Premier League XI.

#1 Chris Gayle

One of the most devastating openers the game has seen, Chris Gayle has scored 2708 runs in 68 IPL matches at a strike-rate of 154.56. The 35-year-old Jamaican was initially bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2009 but didn't quite set the stadium alight, scoring a combined tally of 463 runs in 2009 and 2010 seasons.

But a major turning point in his IPL career came when he was drafted into the Royal Challengers Bangalore(RCB) squad in 2011 in place of an injured Dirk Nannes and that proved to be sensational replacement for the franchise.

The left-hander scored 608 runs in 12 matches in 2011 season, including 2 centuries and took home the Orange Cap for the most runs scored in a single season of the T20 tournament, that year. He went one better that next year, scoring 733 runs in 15 matches at a strike-rate of 160.74.

In the 2013 edition, Gayle scored 708 runs in 16 matches, that included a breath-taking 66-ball 175 not out against the Pune Warriors. However, the 2014 season didn't prove to be as fruitful for him, as he made just 196 runs in 9 matches with a best of 46.

The RCB are yet to win the IPL in its seven-year history and they would be hoping for this left-hander to play a massive role in helping them achieve that win this time around.

#2 Gautam Gambhir

When the League first began, Gautam Gambhir was one-half of one of the most successful opening pairs in himself and Virender Sehwag for the Delhi Daredevils. The left-hander amassed 534 runs in 14 matches of the inaugural season, but, unfortunately, couldn‘t repeat his performances in the 2009 and the 2010 season, scoringless than 300 runs in both editions of the tournament.

However, the turnaround in his IPL career occurred when he was picked by the Kolkata Knight Riders for 11 crores in the 2011 auction and was even appointed captain by the franchise. The 30-year-old had a much better time that year, scoring 378 runs in 15 matches as the Knight Riders finished in the top-four for the first time.

He went one better the following year, leading the team to their maiden IPL triumph by defeating the Chennai Super Kings in the final. The Delhi batsman’s personal form was also very good that year. He made 590 runs in 17 matches at a strike-rate of 143.55.

But Knight Riders failed to make any significant impact the following year, but Gambhir had a decent tournament with the bat, notching up 406 runs in 16 matches at a strike-rate of 118.36.

In the next year, though, his side came roaring back to clinch their second title in 3 years and Gambhir also received a recall to the Indian Test team for the tour of England in July. His personal form with the bat, that year, though wasn't the best as he could amass just 335 runs in 16 matches.

He would hoping to improve those numbers this around and lead his side to a strong finish in the tournament this year.

#3 Suresh Raina

If ever an IPL Hall-of-Fame is started by the organizers, one of the first inductees into that would be Chennai Super Kings mainstay Suresh Raina. The left-hander has been a prolific run-scorer for the franchise from season one, where he amassed 421 runs in 16 matches at a strike-rate of 142.22.

In the following year, he scored 434 runs in 14 matches at a strike-rate of 140.90. He, then played a key role in the Super Kings’s maiden IPL triumph in 2010, scoring 520 runs in 16 matches at a rate of 142. 85.

He was once again instrumental in the side winning back-to-back titles in 2011, amassing 438 runs in 16 matches. While his side couldn’t make it 3 out of 3 in 2012, he made 441 runs in 19 matches, including a 38-ball 73 not out in the final against the Knight Riders.

He scored his first IPL ton in 2013 gainst the Kings XI Punjab, an unbeaten 100* at Chennai in what proved to be yet another fantastic run for him, where he made 548 runs in 18 matches.

The 2014 season saw Raina score 523 runs in 16 matches at a strike-rate of 146.08, that included a sensational 25-ball 87 in a losing cause in the eliminator against the Kings XI Punjab.

Astonishingly, the 28-year-old hasn't missed a single IPL game in all these seven editions and there’s no doubt that he would once again hold the key if his side are to win the league for the third time, this year.

#4 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma was one of the few shining lights in an otherwise terrible maiden season of the IPL for the Deccan Chargers. The right-hander notched up 404 runs in 13 matches at an impressive strike-rate of 147.98. He once again performed commendably in the following season, making 362 runs in 16 matches in a victorious campaign in South Africa.

In the 2010 season, Rohit once again did very well, scoring same amount od runs as the first season but in fewer matches(13) as the Chargers finished in fourth spot.

He then made a switchover to the Mumbai Indians where he made 372 runs in 16 matches of the 2011 edition. He backed that up with yet another season in 2012, where he made 433 runs in 17 matches, including 3 half-centuries and one century.

One of the most significant phases of not only his IPL, but also his cricketing career came in 2013, when he was appointed the captain of the Mumbai Indians mid-way through the season. That decision further spurred him as his performances with the bat improved further as he made 538 runs in 19 matches and led the side to their first ever IPL title.

Although the team failed to retain the title last year, the 27-year-old scored 390 runs in 15 matches and would be hoping to have a much better outing this time around.

#5 Shane Watson

There’s no denying that the IPL played a significant role in the resurgence of Shane Watson as an international cricketer. The 33-year-old scored 472 runs in 15 matches and picked up 17 wickets and was adjudged the Player of the tournament as the Royals won the inaugural season of the T20 League.

After missing out in 2009, Watson returned in 2010 but had a poor time with both bat and ball, scoring just 185 runs and picking up 6 wickets in 6 games. He couldn't set the stadium alight in the 2011 and 2012 seasons as well, but returned back to run-making as well as wicket-taking ways in 2013, scoring 543 runs in 16 matches with the bat and picking up 13 wickets in 16 games with the ball as the Royals made it to the top four in the table after a gap of 4 years.

After Rahul Dravid retired in 2013, he was named the captain of the side for the 2014 season, but unfortunately, he couldn't continue his stellar run from 2013 and could score just 240 runs and pick up 7 wickets in 13 matches as the Royals failed to make it to the knockouts by a whisker.

#6 MS Dhoni (C) (WK)

Probably the most successful captain in the history of the IPL, MS Dhoni has scored 2615 runs in 112 matches at a strike-rate of 142.19. It would certainly be a bit unfair on the part of Dhoni if his season-by-season stats are considered, purely because of the fact that the CSK batting line-up comprise the likes of Suresh Raina, Faf du Plessis, Brendon McCullum etc and so the wicketkeeper-batsman doesn't get as many opportunities to play a big innings.

However, the 33-year-old has played some significant innings during the course of his career like the 54 not out off 29 balls against the Kings XI Punjab at Dharamshala that helped his side pull off a must-win encounter.

Another instance where he made a vital contribution with the bat was in the eliminator against the Mumbai Indians where he made a 20-ball 51 that helped the Super Kings post 187 on the board and eventually go on to win the game.

So, while Dhoni’s stats might not look as good as some of the top-order batsman, there is no doubting that when the heat is on, there are few who flourish as well and as consistently as he does.

#7 Rajat Bhatia

One of the most underrated cricketers in the League, Rajat Bhatia has proven to be an important cog in the three IPL franchises that he has represented so far, especially with the ball. While the Delhi cricketer might not regularly be present in the highest wicket-taker list, but the 35-year-old possess a pocket full of variations under his armory and deceive the best of batsman with his change of pace.

Bhatia has picked up 63 wickets in 80 matches at a miserly economy of 7.38, including best figures of 4 for 15. He is also an extremely capable batsman and although he hasn't provided the fans with a glimpse of it, yet, that is no reason to underestimate his capabilities.

The Royals would be hoping for him to provide them with another good season and he will definitely play a key role in the middle overs for them with the ball in hand.

#8 Amit Mishra

One of the most consistent performers of the IPL, Amit Mishra has picked up 102 wickets in 86 matches at an economy of 7.18. The leg-spinner took 11 wickets in the first edition while representing the Delhi Daredevils and bettered those numbers in the next season taking 14 wickets in 11 games.

Mishra enjoyed successful tournaments in 2010 and 2011 as well, picking up 17 and 19 wickets respectively and featured among the highest wicket-takers each time.

He had a slight dip in 2012, where he took 13 wickets in 14 matches but got back to his elements in 2013, when playing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, he took 21 wickets at an economy of 6.35.

He had a below-par tournament last year as well, as he took a mere 7 scalps in 10 matches. Mishra, however, holds a unique distinction of being the only bowler to have taken three hat-tricks while playing for three different teams in the competition.

#9 Sunil Narine

The mystery spinner from the West Indies Sunil Narine might have begun his IPL career only in 2012, but right one ball the 26-year-old left every batsman bamboozled with his variations. Narine took 24 wickets in 15 matches in the 2012 edition of the tournament and played a crucial in the Knight Riders maiden IPL triumph.

In 2013, he once again proved to be extremely effective for them, taking 22 wickets in 16 matches even as the team didn't perform as well as they did last time around. The following year, though proved to be a good one for him as well as the team as he took 21 wickets in 16 matches to guide the side to their second title in 3 years.

While it is still not very clear as to whether he would be allowed to bowl in the 2015 IPL, there is no doubting the fact that his role with the ball will go a long way in determining the performance of the franchise this year.

#10 Lasith Malinga

Perhaps the most devastating bowler in T20 cricket, Lasith Malinga has taken 119 wickets in 83 IPL matches while playing for the Mumbai Indians. The 31-year-old began his IPL career in 2009, picking up 18 wickets in 13 matches at an economy of 6.30. He then followed that up with 15 scalps n 13 matches at an economy of 7.02.

His best season came the following year, where he took 28 wickets in 16 matches at a brilliant economy of 5.95. He once again took in excess of 20 wickets in the following edition, again at a miserly rate of 6.30.

Malinga took 20 wickets in the 2013 edition as well and played an important role in his side’s maiden IPL triumph. Although his team bowed out in the eliminator last year, he still had a good season with the ball, taking 16 wickets in 10 matches.

#11 RP Singh

RP Singh might not be a permanent member in the Indian team currently, but he certainly has a pretty decent record in the IPL. Along with Rohit Sharma, he was one of the bright spots for the Deccan Chargers in the first season of the tournament, taking 15 wickets in 14 games.

He then played a crucial role in the resurgence of the franchise the following year, taking 23 wickets in 16 matches and earning the Purple Cap for picking up the most number of wickets.

Although he couldn't repeat the same level of performance after that, he was definitely around the fringes and took a minimum of 10 wickets in each of the next four years from 2010 to 2013.