IPL 2018: Best overseas players combined XI

Indian Premier League happens to be one of the most competitive cricket leagues in the world. With IPL entering into its 11th season, it is expected to be a cracker of a contest.

IPL has been a platform to which players from all over the look at as an opportunity. Right from the Indian uncapped players to the overseas players, the colossal league provides an ideal platform for everyone to showcase their talent.

The overseas players have made a massive contribution all these years with some swashbuckling performances in the history of the tournament, and are certain to play a big role again in the coming years as well.

Here we bring you the best overseas playing-XI for the upcoming edition of IPL.

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Openers:

#1 Brendon McCullum (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Brendon McCullum will serve RCB as an opener

'Brash' - that is the word, Brendon McCullum, easily the greatest of all the Kiwi glovesmen, and one of their finest batsmen, uses to define himself.

The explosive batsman from Dunedin has been one of the best openers in the limited overs format and especially in T20s.

With Chris Lynn's future in IPL unknown, Brendon McCullum would be an obvious choice as an opener.

IPL Numbers- Matches: 103 | Runs: 2754 | Avg: 28.10 | S/R: 131.08

#2 David Warner (C) (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

David is the most successful SRH captain so far

David Warner has been one of the best players in T20 cricket.

Having played much of T20 cricket, Warner is one of the most experienced players to meet the format.

Warner happens to be one of the batsmen who starts the innings cautiously and builds on it brick by brick with an explosive touch to it.

Thus, the Australian has to be an ideal choice as a left-handed opener in any T20 playing XI.

IPL Numbers- Matches: 114 | Runs: 4014 | Avg: 40.54 | S/R: 142.13

Middle Order:

#3 AB de Villiers (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

AB de Villiers will be crucial for RCB

AB De Villiers has risen through the ranks to become one of the world's best batsmen, across all formats.

When on song, the South African can take any bowling apart with his wide array of strokes on either side of the wicket.

If his drives, pulls, and cuts are pleasing to the eye, his ability to innovate has left bowlers hapless on many occasions.

Henceforth, De Villiers would be the perfect link between the top order and the lower middle order at No.3 spot.

IPL Numbers- Matches: 129 | Runs: 3473 | Avg: 38.16 | S/R: 148.16

#4 Jos Buttler (WK) (Rajasthan Royals)

Jos Buttler will give the much-needed firepower for Rajasthan

A hard-hitting batsman and a wicket-keeper, Jos Buttler, is seen as a player who has everything to succeed in the shorter formats of the game.

Buttler happens to be an unorthodox player who acclimatises to a situation aptly. His smart wicket-keeping and explosive batting make him a perfect T20 combo.

In addition to that, Buttler provides a much-important depth in the middle-order who can assist the team at any stage of the game.

IPL Numbers- Matches: 24 | Runs: 527 | Avg: 25.09 | S/R: 145.98

All-rounders:

#5 Ben Stokes (Rajasthan Royals)

Ben Stokes was the find of IPL 2017

One man who will always make it to the list of best all-rounders is Ben Stokes. The Englishman is the one all-rounder who is likely to feature in the all-time T20 XI of every cricket fan and pundit.

Stokes had a fantastic debut IPL season and played a vital role in Rising Pune Supergiant road to their first ever IPL final.

Once again, he will prove to be crucial for Rajasthan Royals in the upcoming edition of IPL. Thus, one can't think of an overseas IPL XI without the services of Stokes.

IPL Numbers- Matches: 12 | Runs: 316 | Avg: 31.6 | S/R: 142.98 (Batting)

IPL Numbers- Matches: 12 | Wickets: 12 | Eco: 7.18 | Avg: 26.33 | S/R: 22.00 (Bowling)

#6 Glenn Maxwell (Delhi Daredevils)

Maxwell has returned to Delhi where he made his IPL debut

The right-handed explosive batsman from Australia, Glenn Maxwell, has taken the T20 cricket to altogether a different level.

Currently, Maxwell is the second-ranked T20I batsman in the world. His aggressive traits as a batsman and his smart bowling make him a perfect T20 material.

The Australian adds to the variety of the side with his spin bowling as well.

IPL Numbers- Matches: 57 | Runs: 1228 | Avg: 25.06 | S/R: 164.39 (Batting)

IPL Numbers- Matches: 57 | Wickets: 11 | Eco: 8.87 | Avg: 43.54 | S/R: 29.45 (Bowling)

#7 Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians)

Pollard has been an integral part of Mumbai's recent success

Another fast bowling all-rounder to feature on the list is Kieron Pollard.

The Trinidadian all-rounder has been the go-to-go man for Mumbai Indians. His fantabulous batting performances in the crunch matches make him a must-have player in the playing XI of any T20 side across the globe.

In addition to that, Pollard is an able bowler who can chip in with two-odd economical overs. Moreover, Pollard has been an experienced campaigner who has played a lot of IPL matches.

IPL Numbers- Matches: 123 | Runs: 2343 | Avg: 28.92 | S/R: 146.52 (Batting)

IPL Numbers- Matches: 123 | Wickets: 56 | Eco: 8.85 | Avg: 31.60 | S/R: 21.41 (Bowling)

Spinners:

#8 Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Narine was retained by KKR

The right-arm off-break bowler from Trinidad and Tobago, Sunil Narine, has been one of best spinners in T20 cricket.

His economy of 6.32 in IPL is the best in the league so far. Apart from being a mysterious off-break bowler, Narine, of late, has developed his name as a fiery batsman too.

Thus, Narine happens to be a perfect player for a T20 side.

IPL Numbers- Matches: 82 | Wickets: 95 | Eco: 6.32 | Avg: 21.37 | S/R: 20.27

#9 Rashid Khan (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Rashid Khan is the best T20 bowler in the

worltd

at the moment

This 19-year-old leggie from Afghanistan has shown some great character in the world cricket.

A leg-spinner is the heart of a T20 side. No other bowler can compensate for the variety of a leg-spinner.

Thus, a quality leg-spinner like Rashid Khan will only add to the strength of the side that has him in its ranks.

IPL Numbers- Matches: 14 | Wickets: 17 | Eco: 6.62 | Avg: 21.05 | S/R: 19.05

Pace Bowlers:

#10 Mitchell Starc (Kolkata Knight Riders)

In IPL 2018 Starc will play for KKR

Mitchell Starc – a name that strikes fear into the hearts of contemporary batsmen.

It is hard to fathom that the tall, skinny lad from Sydney, who was once an aspiring wicketkeeper in junior cricket, would one day become the most menacing sight for the world's best batsmen.

Just like Virat Kohli, Starc is one of the kinds who would feature in every format of the game.

IPL Numbers- Matches: 27 | Wickets: 34 | Eco: 7.16 | Avg: 20.38 | S/R: 17.05

#11 Kagiso Rabada (Delhi Daredevils)

Rabada will lead Delhi's attack this season

In any discussion regarding the most promising fast bowlers around the world today, Kagiso Rabada will most likely be the center of the talk.

Armed with fiery pace along with the ability to generate the extra bounce, he is one of the most exciting pace sensations of recent times.

IPL Numbers- Matches: 6 | Wickets: 6 | Eco: 8.81 | Avg: 31.33 | S/R: 21.33