IPL: Best Overseas XI across all seasons 

All-rounders:

Shane Watson

Shane Watson

Talking of all-rounders in the IPL, Shane Watson is the first name to walk into the XI. Standing joint-fourth in the list of wicket takers as well run-getters among overseas players, Watson has been THE all-rounder of the IPL for a long time.

Man of the tournament of the first edition, Watson has been a complete package, a devastating opener, a skillful bowler and a reliable fielder.

Watson has 3177 runs from 117 games at an average of 32.41 and strike rate of 141.20 with 4 hundreds. He also has 92 wickets at an average of 29.15 and economy of 7.93. He has been amongst the wickets more often than not, but fitness issues have made him bowl less and focus more on batting over the past 2-3 years.

The marauding Aussie, having played most of his career as an opener in the IPL, can also perform his role as a lower middle order batsman, owing to the fact that he has done it for his national side before.

Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo, one of the best death bowlers in the IPL, has been one of the most trusted players for CSK for a very long time. He stands second in the list of wicket takers among overseas players and fourth overall with 136 wickets from 122 games.

He has an average of 24.17 and economy of 8.43. The high economy can be owed to the fact that he bowls most of his overs at the death. With the bat, he has played some very handy knocks coming in at number 6 or below for CSK.

His finishing abilities were on display during the first match of the 2018 season, when he single-handedly won CSK the game from a virtual unwinnable situation. With 1403 runs at an average of 23.77 and a strike rate of 128.71, Bravo fits in as a finisher in this XI.

Andre Russell

Andre Russell

Andre Russell, a genuine all rounder with the ability to hammer the ball at will as well as trouble the batsmen with his variations, has been the X-factor for KKR. Just like Bravo, Russell is one of the players who becomes doubly dangerous at the death, both while batting as well as bowling.

The 2018 IPL also saw his new ball credentials improve as he picked quite a few wickets in his first spell, mostly with the short ball. His 890 runs have come at an average of 26.97 and a monstrous strike rate of 177.29, the best among the players in this XI. He has 44 wickets to his name at an average of 28.43 and economy of 8.75. Russell at 8 can be demotivating for any opposition, courtesy his ability to hit sixes at will.

Honorable mentions: Shakib Al Hasan, Chris Morris and Albie Morkel