IPL 2018: The retired XI

The Indian Premier League has turned many cricketers into legends over the years. The renowned ODI and, Test specialists adjusted well to maintain the same reputation in the extravagant league as well. Many greats, even participated in the league post their international retirement & performed flawlessly.

Retired international legends like Matthew Hayden, Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, Jacques Kallis, Brendon McCullum, Kevin Pietersen and a few others were considered but, unfortunately, missed out due to the team combination requirements.

Let's have a look the best IPL eleven of those players who don't play international cricket anymore.

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#1 Virender Sehwag (Batsman)

Sehwag has scored two centuries in the IPL

Virender Sehwag is one of the most destructive openers in the IPL history. The squash-buckling batsman opened the batting for Delhi Daredevils for six years and, was the only player to be retained by the franchise in the IPL Auction 2011. He is currently the leading run-scorer for his home-based IPL franchise.

'Viru' slammed his highest score in IPL for Kings XI Punjab against Chennai Super Kings in the 2014 Qualifier game. Currently, the 39-year-old is the team director for KXIP.

IPL Career Batting:

Inns - 104 Runs - 2728 SR - 155.44 HS - 122

#2 Adam Gilchrist (Batsman) (WK)

Gilchrist even has a wicket to his name in the only ball that he bowled in his IPL career

The title-winning captain for Deccan Chargers, Adam Gilchrist, led his team just like the captain of the ship does. 'Gilly' was famous for his rocket-like sixes, smashing a 122-meter six in IPL, that sits at third position for longest ones in the IPL.

It was another underrated side, led by an Australian to an IPL title, after what Shane Warne achieved in 2008. He drove DC to the finals single-handedly with the knock of 85 in the semi-finals to take care of Delhi Daredevils.

He is the most successful inactive wicket-keeper in the IPL, having 67 dismissals in 80 innings, that includes 51 catches and, 16 stumpings.

IPL Career Batting:

Inns - 80 Runs - 2069 SR - 138.39 HS - 109

#3 Rahul Dravid (Batsman)

Dravid has even played a T20I for India

An extremely underrated batsman in the IPL, Rahul Dravid, deservingly makes it to the list. To those who think he can't lay siege with the bat, the Wall scored a 36-ball unbeaten 75 smashing half a dozen of sixes and an equal number of fours in 2008 & a match-winning 66 off just 48 balls in the next season.

Both the knocks came batting down the order against his future team Rajasthan Royals. Chris Gayle even praised him, saying, "Rahul Dravid can play attacking cricket like me but I can never play like him."

Furthermore, the consistency in providing solid starts to Rajasthan Royals also kicked into his addition on the list. Jammy scored 450+ runs in his last two seasons of IPL career. Thenceforth, he took the role of a mentor for RR and later Delhi Daredevils before signing out to concentrate India's youth cricket duties.

IPL Career Batting:

Inns - 82 Runs - 2174 SR - 115.52 HS - 75*

#4 Sachin Tendulkar (Batsman) (C)

His lone IPL century came against Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011

Is a record-list complete without the Master Blaster's name on it? In the IPL history-book, Sachin Tendulkar became the first man to win both, the Orange Cap, as well as the 'Most Valuable Player' award in a single edition. He wrote the history in 2010 when Mumbai Indians ended up as runners-up, falling short of Chennai Super Kings in the finals.

Furthermore, his excellent captaincy record makes it evident enough for him to lead the retired XI. Leading MI in 51 IPL matches, SRT managed to take them over the line 31 times with a splendid win percentage of 60.78.

IPL Career Batting:

Inns - 78 Runs - 2334 SR - 119.82 HS - 100

#5 Michael Hussey (Batsman)

Mike Hussey became only the second batsman to score 700+ runs in a season

Mr. Cricket was the second batsman to score an IPL century after Brendon McCullum, playing for Chennai Super Kings. Michael Hussey came to the party in 2011, where he scored 492 runs in CSK's second consecutive title triumph.

A few years later in 2013, he won the Orange Cap for scoring 733 runs at an average of over 52, taking CSK to the finals. he was signed by Mumbai Indians for a couple of years before returning back to the yellows, where he got retired.

In January 2018, Hussey was roped-in by the Dhoni-led team as their batting coach.

IPL Career Batting:

Inns - 58 Runs - 1977 SR - 122.64 HS - 116

#6 Shane Watson (All-rounder)

Watson is set to play for Chennai Super Kings in 2018

The mighty Australian is by far the best all-rounder ever to play the Indian Premier League. He will find a place for sure in any IPL-eleven in years to come.

Shane Watson achieved a unique feat of becoming the only cricketer to win two 'man of the series' award in the history of the tournament, which none of the others has been able to imitate till now.

Furthermore, he is the only cricketer to be the highest run-scorer as well as the highest wicket-taker for the same IPL side, which he accomplished for Rajasthan Royals.

IPL Career Batting:

Inns - 98 Runs - 2622 SR - 138.66 HS - 104

IPL Career Bowling:

Inns - 94 Wkts - 86 Economy - 7.84 BBI - 4/29

#7 Brad Hodge (Batsman)

He coached Gujarat Lions in the last two seasons

Initially, Brad Hodge was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders, where he finished as the highest run-scorer for the team in the second edition.

It was Rajasthan Royals, that saw the transformation of the Aussie batsman from playing the guiding role to strike as a finisher. He played many match-winning knocks for RR lower-down the order to take hem over the line more often than not.

In the upcoming season of the IPL, Brad Hodge will join as the head coach of Ravichandran Ashwin-led Kings XI Punjab.

IPL Career Batting:

Inns - 63 Runs - 1400 SR - 125.22 HS - 73

IPL Career Bowling:

Inns - 20 Wkts - 17 Economy - 7.77 BBI - 4/13

#8 Anil Kumble (Bowler)

Kumble played only the first three IPL seasons

Anil Kumble was the first captain to take Royal Challengers Bangalore to the IPL finals, the opportunity that he got after their first-choice skipper Kevin Pietersen had to leave the extravagant league for national commitments.

Jumbo's economy rate of 6.58 is third best after Sunil Narine and Ravichandran Ashwin in IPL history. His figures of 5/5 are the best in the number of balls he bowled to achieve them. The Indian legend would have given birth to a lot of records had the IPL started earlier at his career's peak.

After his retirement from the cash-rich league, Kumble joined as a mentor for RCB for a couple of years.

IPL Career Bowling:

Inns - 42 Wkts - 45 Economy - 6.58 BBI - 5/5

#9 Zaheer Khan (Bowler)

In 2018, he is set to be a part of the commentary team

The Indian pace legend, Zaheer Khan is one of the few Indian seamers to pick 100 IPL wickets.

Although he has been in and, out of the league, suffering regular injuries, he has performed consistently when involved with a franchise, keeping his economy under 8 in every season barring the inaugural one.

In the tail-end of his IPL career, Zak led a young bunch of guys in Delhi Daredevils, which unfortunately didn't produce a lot of success.

IPL Career Bowling:

Inns - 99 Wkts - 102 Economy - 7.59 BBI - 4/17

#10 Ashish Nehra (Bowler)

Nehra was a part of India's WT20 2016 squad

A similar case as Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra has also been in and, out of the IPL due to injuries, though he too managed to scalp 100 IPL wickets.

After toiling hard for years, it was the 2015 season that saw the rise of the left-arm pacer where he picked up 22 wickets in the season for the Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings. He fell four wickets short of his team-mate Dwayne Bravo, who bagged his second Purple Cap in the IPL. It was that season to set his T20I comeback at 37 years of age.

After CSK's expulsion, Nehra was signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad and, joined Royal Challengers Bangalore as the bowling coach post-retirement ahead of the 2018 season.

IPL Career Bowling:

Inns - 88 Wkts - 106 Economy - 7.85 BBI - 4/10

#11 Laxmipathy Balaji (Bowler)

He played his last IPL game for Kings XI Punjab in the 2014 final

Laxmipathy Balaji was one of the Indian talents who couldn't capitalize on the opportunities at the highest level. Only a few would know that he was the second bowler and, the first Indian to pick up a five-wicket haul in the cash-rich league.

Balaji makes it to the list on the back of his consistency, that his numbers shout out loud about. The Tamil Nadu bowler's wicket tally ended in double digits in six out of the seven seasons that he played.

In the upcoming season, he is set to join Chennai Super Kings setup as their bowling coach.

IPL Career Bowling:

Inns - 73 Wkts - 76 Economy - 8.05 BBI - 5/24