All-time IPL playing XI with players with zero IPL titles

In a couple of days' time, the Indian Premier League will get underway for the 11th time and the teams are already in full swing in getting ready to win the elusive title.

As we discuss winning the IPL title, Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma is the only player to have won the tournament four times while the likes of Harbhajan Singh, Ambati Rayudu, Yusuf Pathan, Vinay Kumar, Lasith Malinga etc. have won the title thrice.

Many players have managed to get their hands on the trophy while there are some who are yet to win the IPL tournament. Let us take a look at a playing XI with players with zero IPL trophies.

Note:

1. Players, who were a part of at least five seasons, are considered here.

#1 Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle, who has been a part of the IPL since the second season, has instilled fear in the opposition bowlers by smashing them out of the park on a regular basis.

But, the Jamaican does not know what it feels to lift the IPL trophy as he was never a part of the IPL-winning team.

After starting off with Kolkata Knight Riders, Gayle was released from the franchise just when the Men in Purple became the force to reckon with and joined Royal Challengers Bangalore, with whom he has spent seven years.

In the nine years, the left-hander has scored 3626 runs in 100 innings at an average of over 41 and a strike-rate of 151.20 with the help of 265 sixes, the most by anyone. In spite of all these, he does not have the trophy that matters.

#2 Ajinkya Rahane

Enter c — Rahane will be leading Rajasthan Royals in this season's IPL

Partnering Gayle will be Ajinkya Rahane. Unlike Gayle, Rahane is a batsman, who thrives on proper cricket shots. Rahane was a part of Mumbai Indians for the first three seasons before he moved to Rajasthan Royals, where he spent as many as five years before the franchise was banned.

He moved to Rising Pune Supergiant and he was so close to winning the IPL but the Steve Smith-led lost the 2017 IPL final off the last ball, continuing his title-drought.

He is back with the Royals for the 2018 IPL and will be leading the side in the 11th edition.

He is one of the most prolific batsmen in the tournament as he has accounted for 3057 runs in 15 innings at an average of 33.59.

#3 Virender Sehwag

Image result for sehwag ipl — Sehwag's only appearance in an IPL final was with KXIP

Not often you will see Virender Sehwag batting at No.3 or below in a T20 match. But, with Rahane and Gayle in the side, Sehwag had to come down the order as Rahane is least effective batting in a position which is not in the Top two in T20s.

Without a doubt, Sehwag is a legend of the sport and him not winning the IPL is a shame. The right-hander has won every single thing in international cricket but somehow failed to get his hands on the IPL trophy.

Sehwag turned up for Delhi Daredevils in the first six years before moving to Kings XI Punjab with whom he played the only IPL final in his career. Unfortunately for him, Manish Pandey's brilliance took the title away from his side.

#4 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli, the greatest batsman of this generation is yet to win the IPL. Whose loss is that? Kohli's or IPL's? The Indian captain has been playing for the Royal Challengers since its inception and is one of the most prolific players to have played in the tournament.

In the 149 matches he has played so far, the right-hander has scored 4418 runs at an average of 37.44 and a strike-rate of 130. In the 2016 season, the RCB skipper scored 973 runs, but, that wasn't enough for him to win the IPL.

#5 AB De Villiers

De Villiers has been a mainstay for RCB over the years

Without a doubt, AB de Villiers falls in the same category as Kohli when it comes to destroying the opposition bowling. Just like the Indian, the Proteas batsman is yet to win the IPL. Once again, whose loss is that?

De Villiers started off his career with the Delhi Daredevils in the 2008 season and was a part of the franchise till before was released after the 2010 season before he joined Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2011 IPL auction.

Since then, he has been with the Bangalore-based franchise and till date, he is yet to know the feel of being an IPL champion, all this in spite of scoring 3473 runs in 118 innings at an average of 38.16 and a strike-rate of 148.16.

#6 David Miller

David Miller is one of the most dangerous batsmen going around in the T20 format as he sends the ball the long way whenever he comes out to bat.

As a testament to his reputation, the southpaw also holds the record for the fastest T20I hundred, which he scored off just 35 balls against Bangladesh last year.

Even in the IPL, he has showcased his heroics but he doesn't have anything to show for that as reaching the final of the tournament is the best finish for him in the extravaganza.

Ever since making his debut for Kings XI Punjab in 2012, Miller has represented the Preity Zinta-owned franchise in every single edition and has scored 1563 runs in 64 matches at an average of 35.52 and a strike-rate of 141.

#7 Irfan Pathan

The Man of the Match in the final of inaugural World T20 in 2007, Irfan Pathan's career has been on a downfall since then. Once considered as India's answer to Kapil Dev, Pathan last played more than five IPL matches in a season way back in 2014.

After being bought by Kings XI Punjab in the inaugural IPL auction, the all-rounder moved to Delhi Daredevils in 2011 before moving to Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2014, Chennai Super Kings in 2015, Rising Pune Supergiant in 2016, Gujarat Lions in 2017 and went unsold in the 2018 IPL auction.

In spite of playing for six franchises in ten years, Pathan never managed to play in the IPL. In fact, he didn't even know how playing in an IPL final feels.

#8 Praveen Kumar

Praveen Kumar is one name that has been associated with the IPL since its inception. He played in every single edition of the IPL and has bowled the most maidens in the IPL.

He started off with Royal Challengers Bangalore before moving to Kings XI Punjab in 2011, Mumbai Indians in 2014, Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2015 and Gujarat Lions in 2016.

In the 119 matches, he has taken 90 wickets at an average of 36 and an economy of 7.7. He is one of the veterans in the tournament and unfortunately, he didn't win the IPL trophy so far and is unlikely to win one in the upcoming edition as he went unsold in the IPL auction.

#9 Amit Mishra

Without a doubt, leg-spinner Amit Mishra is a legend when it comes to IPL as he is the second leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 134 wickets in 126 matches at an average of 24.33 and an economy of 7.4.

Adding to that, he is the only bowler to take as many as three hat-tricks in the first 10 seasons of the IPL.

In spite of achieving all these, the leggie is yet to yet to lift the IPL trophy in spite of playing for Delhi Daredevils, Deccan Chargers and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first 10 editions.

#10 Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan is one of the most loyal servants of Indian cricket and his contributions to the team's success in unmatchable.

With the national team, he has won an ICC Champions Trophy and was the leading wicket-taker for India when they won the World Cup in 2011.

Unfortunately, he couldn't replicate his national success with his IPL club as the left-arm pacer didn't win the IPL even once. His best in the tournament was playing in the final of the 2010 and 2011 edition.

#11 Dale Steyn

After Malinga and Dwayne Bravo, Dale Steyn is the third-highest wicket-taker when it comes to an overseas pacer in the IPL. Steyn has taken 92 wickets in 90 matches at an average of 25 and a strike-rate of 6.72.

One of the greatest fast bowlers of all-time, Dale Steyn, who has played for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Lions in the IPL and has never won the tournament and he is unlikely to win in the 2018 season as he wasn't a part of the IPL auction ahead of the season.

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