IPL: RCB's greatest overseas XI of all time

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have always been a side that have prided themselves on their world-class foreign players. RCB's strong core consisting of Indian stars like Virat Kohli, Anil Kumble and Yuzvendra Chahal has been ably complemented by some of the best T20 players from other countries.

In the current RCB squad as well, quality overseas players like Aaron Finch, Chris Morris and Moeen Ali are expected to play big roles.

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RCB's greatest overseas XI of all time in the IPL

Ignoring the IPL rule that states that only four overseas players can be part of the XI, we attempt to assemble a team consisting of RCB's best-ever non-Indian players.

Here is RCB's greatest overseas XI of all time in the IPL.

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Openers: Chris Gayle, Tillakaratne Dilshan

Gayle and Dilshan make up an explosive opening combination

One of the greatest T20 players of all time, Chris Gayle is a shoo-in at one of the opening slots of this IPL XI. The West Indian played 85 games for RCB in the IPL, and scored 3,163 runs at an average of 43.33 and a strike rate of 152.73. Gayle also notched up 19 fifties and 5 hundreds for the side, including a world-record 175* against the Pune Warriors India in 2013.

Gayle's partner during his onslaught against PWI, Dilshan was a solid, if underrated, presence at the top of the order. The Sri Lankan scored 587 runs in 25 games for RCB at a decent average of 27.95, and forms a productive right-left opening combination in this all-time IPL XI.

While Dilshan has retired from the sport, Gayle will play for former RCB teammate KL Rahul's Kings XI Punjab in the 2020 edition of the IPL.

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Middle Order: AB de Villiers (c), Ross Taylor, Kevin Pietersen, Mark Boucher (wk)

AB de Villiers is one of two players in this all-time IPL XI still at RCB

South African AB de Villiers is one of two players in this all-time IPL XI who are still at RCB, and he is also the captain of this side. Perhaps the team's greatest overseas player of all time, the former Proteas skipper has played 126 games in which he has scored 3,724 runs at an astounding average of 41.84 and a strike rate of 159.55. With talks of him donning the gloves in this year's IPL for RCB, De Villiers will perhaps be the team's biggest player.

New Zealand middle-order batsman Ross Taylor comes in at his favoured position of No. 4 in this all-time IPL XI. The right-hander, known for his powerful slog sweep, made 22 appearances for the Bangalore outfit and scored 517 runs at an average of 30.41 and a strike rate of 142.03.

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen is at No. 5 in this all-time IPL XI. The dominating right-hander played 13 games for RCB, and scored 329 runs at an average of 32.90 and a strike rate of 135.95. Despite the 40-year-old making only a handful of appearances, the fact that he was the captain during his stint at RCB and his big hitting abilities in the middle overs make him an automatic selection.

The second South African in this all-time IPL XI, Mark Boucher takes up the wicket-keeper's role for the side. Widely regarded as one of the greatest glovesmen ever, he took to the field 27 times for RCB, and scored 388 runs at an average of 29.85. The 43-year-old played for the Kolkata Knight Riders after RCB, before his international career was cut short by an unfortunate eye injury.

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All-rounders: Jacques Kallis, Shane Watson

Shane Watson's RCB stint wasn't incredible, but he makes it into this all-time IPL XI

Legendary all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who recently became the fourth South African cricketer to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, is one of the two fast-bowling all-rounders in this all-time IPL XI. In 42 games for the Red and Gold, he scored 1,132 runs at an average of 31.44 and picked up 23 wickets as well. Kallis lends enviable balance to this side.

Although Shane Watson's RCB stint wasn't as successful as his spells with the Rajasthan Royals and the Chennai Super Kings, he still is one of the greatest all-rounders to have played for the side. Due to his batting position being lower down the order, he managed only 250 runs in 24 games, but was impressive with the ball in hand, with 25 wickets. The Australian even captained RCB at a time when Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers were unavailable.

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Bowlers: Samuel Badree, Mitchell Starc, Dale Steyn

Speedster Dale Steyn will represent RCB in IPL 2020

West Indian leg-spinner Samuel Badree is the lone full-time spinner in this all-time IPL XI. A bowler who has reached the pinnacle of the ICC T20 Bowlers' Rankings, he picked up 9 wickets in the 7 games that he played for RCB.

Although Badree didn't even reach double figures of the team, the lack of other quality overseas spinners ensures that he makes the cut. The Trinidadian will have to be supported by part-time off-spinners - Gayle, Dilshan and Pietersen - in this XI.

Although Mitchell Starc's IPL career has been hampered by injuries, he is still one of the best overseas pacers to have played for RCB. The Australian, who scalped 34 wickets in 27 games for Kohli's men, adds a different dimension to this bowling attack with his left-arm pace. He pulled out of the 2020 IPL to focus on his international career, and won't be seen in the UAE despite the postponement of the tournament.

Dale Steyn is the only other player (apart from De Villiers) who is currently a part of RCB. The veteran pacer has picked up 31 wickets in 30 games for RCB and will be a key component of a bowling attack that looks far from solid on paper. Captain Kohli will need Steyn to be at his very best and mentor Indian pacers Navdeep Saini and Mohammed Siraj.