IPL XI vs PSL XI: A dream match-up

The PSL Season 3 concluded in a star-studded event at Karachi, where Cricket returned after almost a decade. While the Islamabad United were crowned as champions twice in 3 years, the league showcased a number of talents from Pakistan and overseas across all the teams that were a delight to watch. The focus of T20 Cricket fans will now move to India where the most lucrative T20 League of all- the Indian Premier League is set to commence from 7th April.

With the never-ending debate among the fans of both sides that which league is better, we have tried to make the best PSL XI and IPL XI and how would the players fare against each other if they are placed head to head and this is not the comparison.

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#1 Luke Ronchi vs Chris Gayle

Luke Ronchi has been brilliant for Islamabad. Needless to say, he was one man who made a vital difference at the top of the order. Ronchi not only finished as the highest run-getter of PSL this season he also scored 4 quick-fire half centuries including the one in the final which made the modest target of 149 more of a cakewalk for Islamabad.

There cannot be a better guy to open for the IPL XI Team other than the Universe Boss, Chris Gayle. Surprisingly Gayle has ruled the T20 Leagues of all around the world except for PSL having gone unsold this year. However, in IPL, Gayle is at a different level altogether. There have been few in the T20 cricket who have made as big an impact as him. The Caribbean southpaw has deposited the balls 265 times in the stands making him top the list of most sixes. He also boasts of the fastest century of this format that came off only 30 balls thus making him the opener for this team.

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Kamran Akmal (WK) vs Virat Kohli

The forgotten Pakistani Wicket Keeper came off age in the PSL and displayed some brilliant batting for his team Peshawar Zalmi. Opening the batting for his team, the senior Akmal often made the quick-fire starts which took the game away from the opposition. His 27-ball 77 that was studded with eight sixes and five boundaries took the Karachi Kings by surprise and guided Peshawar into the finals.

It is impossible to not have Virat Kohli in any team of any format in the world. “Freak” as England’s former captain Michael Vaughan calls him, Kohli has almost achieved everything a cricketing great would desire. It includes 4 centuries in a single IPL Season in the year 2016 in which he amassed 973 runs at an unreal average of 81. While the legend opens the batting for RCB in IPL, he is doing so for our IPL XI as well.

#3 Sangakkara vs AB de Villiers

When do you see Sangakkara playing cricket in leagues around the world you only wonder has this man really quit the international cricket? And if yes, why? The delightful strokes he plays and the ease with which he does that can still make people buy tickets and watch him on song. Playing for the debutant team Multan Sultans, he made the team early PSL favorites by starring in the opener against Zalmi and scoring a half-century and followed it up in the next match by scoring 63 runs against Lahore re-establishing the fact that age is just a number.

As an Indian, I haven’t seen a warmer reception for any overseas player than AB de Villiers. It might be a coincidence but all the top 3 of this IPL XI featured were in Bangalore last year. AB, as expected easily, makes the cut in IPL XI thanks to his incredible batting prowess. No matter who is the opposition, no matter how tough the batting conditions are, no matter how skillful the bowlers are, AB will guide the team through and he will do it consistently.

#4 Babar Azam vs Suresh Raina

Pakistan’s most prolific batsman right now will be batting 2 down in this PSL XI. Babar Azam is consistent and he can accelerate the innings at will. This makes him a perfect number 4 because he can absorb the quick fall of wickets and can hit the ball hard if need be in the death overs. In this edition as well, Babar Azam was one of the reasons Karachi sailed through till eliminator 2 very easily.

IPL and Suresh Raina can be synonyms, such is the impact this batsman has made in this league that it would be tough to imagine an IPL without him. The leading run scorer of all times in IPL is expected to do well this year too as he has made a comeback in national colors and that will surely boost his confidence. Besides being an excellent batsman, Raina is a brilliant fielder and has the distinction of the most number of catches in this league too making him an automatic choice for this IPL XI.

#5 Misbah Ul Haq vs Rohit Sharma

Who would have guessed that a batsman who was trolled with the name Tuk Tuk would turn out to be a Pakistani great and will captain the team who will lift PSL twice in three editions? Misbah already has the distinction of the fastest half-century in the longest format of the game. It goes without saying that the man who is as cool as cucumber can not only hit those long ones but also steady the ship if some early hiccups happen just like he has been doing it all his career.

It is a sin not to make Rohit Sharma open. But it is a bigger sin to keep him out of the team if the opening slots are occupied by the likes of Kohli and Gayle. We have purposely demoted Rohit Sharma down the order in this IPL XI because a batsman of his caliber can wreak havoc at any position against any bowling line up. Is there a merrier sound than the ball hitting the willow of Rohit Sharma? We guess not.

#6 Darren Sammy vs MS Dhoni

When Darren Sammy lifted the WT20 trophy as Windies Captain in 2016 and went straight back to Carrebian rather than staying back for IPL many were surprised. World's most successful T20 captain not playing IPL was definitely questionable. However, the warrior that Darren Sammy is, he has given PSL his heart and soul and is currently not only one of the most loved cricketer in Pakistan but also a successful one. He led Peshawar Zalmi to the title in the second Edition of PSL and guided them into finals this year. Not to forget the epic one-legged knock that he played which will go down as one of the best in the history of PSL. He is also our captain for the PSL XI.

We'll try to give adjectives to the captain of our IPL XI side but we don't think we would be able to because this man MS Dhoni has surpassed every level of awesomeness that we can think of. An automatic choice for our Keeping and Captaincy spot. MS Dhoni though being in the fag end of his carrier is still the number 1 captain and wicketkeeper any team in the world can have right now. And with the Man making a comeback into CSK he will surely be in his prime form.

#7 Shane Watson vs Dwayne Bravo

While Shane Watson has a pretty decent IPL Career as well, we are putting him in the PSL XI because of the 4 players overseas restriction in a team. Watson is an asset to whichever side he plays with his powerful batting and cunning bowling. Playing for Quetta Gladiators, he made more runs than any overseas player at PSL, which speaks volumes of the brilliant all-round skills he has despite hanging boots long ago.

Every year the Indian fans await with interest that which new celebration will Darren Bravo bring to the ground. But that is just another facet of the brilliant personality Bravo is. He makes sure that his cricketing skills overshadow all the other non-cricketing facets of him. He is a brilliant death bowler, an excellent finisher and an absolute livewire in the field. Bravo makes it to the IPL XI for bringing so much onto the table.

#8 Shahid Afridi vs Hardik Pandya

The ageless sensation Shahid Afridi takes the all-rounder spot in this PSL XI. The maverick all-rounder can still take the game away with a bat, by a ball, and on the field. In fact, in a tournament that was dominated by the youngster, it was Afridi who plucked the catch of the tournament. His leadership skills were handy for Karachi too and had he been fit for the eliminators the fate of Karachi Kings would surely have been different.

The Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya might have had a dip in form in recent times but he is a different player altogether when it comes to IPL. It won't be wrong to say that his place in Team India was secured through IPL and he has been a vital cog in the wheel for Mumbai Indians and their 3 trophy campaigns. Not to forget some absolute blinder of the innings he has played that has guided Mumbai home when even the fans gave up. A decent bowler and brilliant fielder, Pandya gets the all-rounder spot for IPL XI.

#9 Mohammed Amir vs Jasprit Bumrah

We can only imagine how much lethal a bowler Amir would have been had he not lost those 5 years on the spot-fixing. Even after his return, he performed as if he never went away. He is right now rated as one of the best left-arm pacers in the world and is quite handy with the bat too. In the eliminator match when Kamran Akmal went berserk and all the bowlers went for Plenty, Amir was it his prime and gave away merely 16 runs in his 4 overs.

He is fast, he is accurate and he is brilliant. Jasprit Bumrah is currently the best-limited overs bowler in world cricket and no wonder Mumbai retained him for the Auctions. It is a no-brainer as to why he makes it to the IPL XI. He can pick up crucial wickets while being economical at the same time. Amir vs Bumrah is one battle that will be very interesting to see.

#10 Mohammad Sami vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The 37-year-old Pakistani fast bowler perhaps never got his due in international cricket and always remained under the shadow of Shoaib Akhtar. His stint with Islamabad United, however, has presented him in a completely different avatar. He has bowled the most number of dot balls in PSL and has picked up wickets whenever his captain wanted him to. His speed might have dipped from the yesteryears but he is more intelligent and thinking cricketer now for sure.

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar's rise in Indian cricket should be made a case study. The young fast bowler is the reason why India is now on the map of best fast bowlers in the world. Bowl him in power plays or during death overs and he will be attractive, to say the least. Not to mention his batting that has improved drastically. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar is an asset to Sunrisers Hyderabad and he will prove one to this IPL XI as well.

#11 Shadab Khan vs Sunil Narine

Shadab Khan is the spinner Of PSL XI. He is courageous, gives flight to the ball and ends up picking wicket most number of times. A quality that any T20 team will look forward to having. Shadab became a regular in Pakistan National side courtesy PSL and has justified his selection everywhere. Not to forget how handy he is as a batsman and this all makes him a must-have in this PSL side.

No one knew Sunil Narine before IPL. As per Gambhir, he was shopping in a mall when Kolkata team management called him and asked which player to chose. Gambhir replied I only want Narine and the others you can select as you may deem fit. The rest is history. The West Indian mystery bowler can make it to any T20 side in the world right now. After all, not many players can bowl a maiden in the Super Over. He is also a brilliant pinch hitter and is opening for many franchises around the world.