IPL 2019: The all-time XI of players who will play this season

#4 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma

4493 runs in 168 innings; Average: 31.86; Strike Rate: 131.02; 50/100: 34/1; 4s/6s: 379/178

The Hitman is one of the all-time IPL greats. Although he took some time to establish himself at the international stage, Rohit Sharma has not been short of brilliant performances in the IPL. He earned his name in international cricket by opening the innings, but in the IPL, he has played mainly in the middle order. So, he will play the role of a key middle-order batsman in this team.

In the first two seasons with Deccan Chargers, he amassed 766 runs, which were enough to prove his ability and talent.

When he switched over to his home franchise Mumbai Indians in 2011, he became an even better player. The real turnaround came in 2013 when he was handed over the captaincy of the Indians. The captaincy duties enhanced his batting abilities and he blossomed under pressure. In the 2013 season, Mumbai went on to win the title and he led from the front, scoring 538 runs in that season.

He led the Mumbai Indians to two more titles in 2015 and 2017. He had a pretty-average 2018, both with the bat as well as the captainship, as Mumbai failed to make the playoffs.

Rohit, who stands at number three in the list of leading run scorers in the tournament, will be hoping for a turnaround in the 2019 season.

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#5 Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina

4985 runs in 172 innings; Average: 34.37; Strike-Rate: 138.47; 50/100: 35/1; 4s/6s: 448/185

No IPL all-time XI can be complete without Suresh Raina; Mr. IPL. Raina who is the leading run-scorer in the history of IPL, has been instrumental to the success of the Chennai Super Kings. He has missed just a solitary game for them in nine seasons. His consistency levels can be shown from the fact that he is the only batsman to have scored over 300 runs in each the 11 seasons of the IPL so far.

Right from the first season, where he scored 421 runs, he has been a match-winner for the Chennai Super Kings. He has been a significant part of the CSK teams that won the trophy in 2010, 2011 and 2018, scoring 520 runs, 483 runs, and 445 runs respectively.

With his ability to play spin really well and finish the innings with a flourish, he will again play a key role for CSK this season. Although he is not quite at his prime currently, he cannot be underestimated.