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The Indian Premier League (IPL) is arguably one of the most entertaining and successful T20 leagues in the world. The tournament has captured our attention with its huge sixes, mind-blowing dismissals and unbelievable catches.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) invented the cash-rich T20 league in 2008 after the Indian team had lifted the inaugural edition of the T20I World Cup in 2007. Since then, it has given players like Ravichandran Ashwin, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and many more to the Indian cricket. We have witnessed great players in action over the years in this league.
While some of the players have been playing for the same side over the years, only a few of them have been immensely consistent with their performances. They have shattered a number of records in the history of the tournament.
With the help of consistent performances in the IPL, some cricketers announced their arrival in international cricket. In our article, we take you through some of the best players who have made it to the most intimidating XI in the Indian Premier League across all seasons.
#1 Chris Gayle
No T20 team is ever complete without the presence of Caribbean superstar Chris Gayle. The tall left-handed batsman from West Indies is arguably a legend in the shortest format of the game. He has destroyed the bowlers over the years with his fearless batting approach.
Gayle made his IPL debut for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2008 and then moved to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2011. He soon became an integral part of RCB side. The left-hander holds the record of the highest individual score of unbeaten 175 in the history of the IPL. In 2018, he was bought by Kings XI Punjab at his base price of Rs 2 crores.
He has the ability to tear apart any bowling line-up in the world. In his 112 matches IPL career, the 39-year-old has scored 3994 runs at an amazing average of 41.18 and a massive strike-rate of 150.72 with the help of 6 centuries and 24 fifties.
#2 David Warner
David Warner, the pocket-sized dynamo from Australia, has been one of the most consistent batsmen in the history of Indian Premier League. The left-handed batsman made his IPL debut for Delhi Daredevils in 2009 and spent five years with them. Warner scored more than 1400 runs at an impressive strike-rate of about 135 for the Delhi based franchise.
He also smashed a couple of centuries for DD. However, the Delhi Daredevils team management decided to release him ahead of 2014 IPL season.
In the 2014 IPL auction, he was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad. Since then, he has been a vital cog in their lineup. He was appointed as their skipper in 2015. In the following year, David Warner-led Sunrisers Hyderabad to their first ever trophy in the history of the tournament.
He has appeared in 59 games for Hyderabad franchise and has scored more than 2500 runs at a healthy average of 52 and a strike-rate of about 150. Warner, who did not play the last edition of the IPL, has been retained by the franchise ahead of the 12th season.
#3 Virat Kohli
The current Indian skipper, Virat Kohli could be a perfect option for the number three slot. He is widely considered as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the game.
Kohli's impressive performances in the U19 Cricket World Cup was noticed by Royal Challengers Bangalore and they drafted him in their squad ahead of the inaugural edition of the tournament.
The 30-year-old has played eleven straight seasons for the franchise and is the only player to play all seasons for the same franchise. The right-handed batsman has accumulated 4948 runs from 163 games at an impressive average of 38.36 and a strike-rate of 130.76, including 434 boundaries and 177 sixes.
In 2016, he was in great touch as he scored more than 900 runs in a single season. He became the first player in the history of the IPL to smash four centuries in a single season. He also captained the team to the final in the same year.
#4 Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina is arguably one of the best batsmen in the shortest format of the game. He could be an asset to any team in the T20 format. The left-hander has been an integral part of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) since the inception of the IPL.
Raina, who is a destructive middle-order player, is also a hand part-time bowler who could give breakthroughs to his skipper. He is an electrifying fielder too, especially at the toughest positions like slip and cover-point.
Following CSK's two-year ban from the league, he was bought by Gujarat Lions where he spent two years. He was retained by the CSK in 2018 and he helped his franchise to lift the trophy in 2018.
He is the highest run-scorer in the history of the tournament as he has amassed 4985 runs in 176 matches that he has played. He has a decent average of 34.37 with a strike-rate of 138.47. The southpaw has hit 448 boundaries and 185 maximums. Having an experienced player like Raina in the team strengthens the middle-order.
#5 AB de Villiers
A T20 team never complete without the presence of Mr. 360, AB de Villiers. He has the ability to destroy any bowling lineup in the world. He has almost every shot in his bag to counter the bowling attack.
The former South African cricketer began his IPL stint with Delhi Daredevils in 2008 and spent three years with them before moving to Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011. He also scored a century for Delhi franchise in 2009.
Since then, he has been a backbone of Bangalore franchise as he plundered more than 3500 runs for RCB at a massive strike-rate of more than 150 which is more than sufficient to witness his hard-hitting abilities. He has three centuries to his name and has smashed 326 boundaries and 186 sixes in the IPL as of 2018.
#6 MS Dhoni (Captain and Wicket-keeper)
The former Indian skipper, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is arguably one of the most successful captains in the history of the cash-rich T20 league. Dhoni has won three IPL titles and two Champions League titles for his team.
He possesses the ability to destroy different bowling attacks on his own. He could hit the crucial boundaries and has an ability to convert the singles into doubles and doubles into triples.
The Ranchi-born cricketer was bought by Chennai Super Kings in 2008. Following the team's suspension in 2015, he moved to Rising Pune Supergiant in 2016. So far in his IPL career, he has scored 4016 runs in 175 games at an average of 40.16 and a strike-rate of 138.19, including the best knock of unbeaten 79.
Dhoni, who has 120 dismissals to his name, has definitely been one of the best wicket-keepers in the IPL.
#7 Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh was an integral part of the Mumbai based IPL team since the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League. The former Mumbai Indians player, who can provide early breakthroughs to his team, is also a handy batsman who can hit big sixes. He is currently the fifth highest wicket-taker in the tournament.
The right-arm off-spinner appeared in 136 games for MI and took 127 wickets at a decent average of about 29 and an impressive economy of about 7. However, Ambani-owned franchise decided to release him ahead of the 2018 IPL auction.
In 2018, he was bagged by Chennai Super Kings. He had a below-par season with his new franchise as he took just 7 wickets in 13 games. With his bat, the right-hander has scored 800 runs at a massive strike-rate of 138 which is more than enough for a bowling all-rounder in the shortest format of the game. He also has an IPL fifty to his name.
#8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar
The right-arm pacer has been an important member of the Indian team in all formats of the game for the last five years. Following his impressive performances in Ranji Trophy, he was bagged by Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2009. However, the right-arm pacer could not wear the red jersey.
In 2011, he joined Pune Warriors India (PWI) and spent three years with them before moving to Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2014. He has been a stalwart in their bowling lineup over the last five seasons.
In his 102 matches IPL career so far, the right arm swing bowler has taken 120 wickets at an impressive average of 22.44 and an economy of 7.15 with the best figure of 5 for 19. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who took 23 and 26 wickets in 2016 and 2017 IPL season respectively, became the first player to win two consecutive purple caps in the history of the cash-rich T20 league.
#9 Zaheer Khan
The former Indian cricketer, Zaheer Khan retired from International cricket in 2015. He is undoubtedly one of the successful fast bowlers the country has ever produced. His pace, swing and toe-crushing yorkers in the death overs made him more lethal especially in the shortest format of the game.
Zaheer Khan represented the Indian team in 17 T20Is and took 17 wickets with the best bowling figure of 4 for 19. In his IPL career, he represented Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals.
The left-arm pacer from Maharashtra scalped 102 wickets in 100 games that he played at an average of 27.27 and a decent economy of 7.5, including the best figure of 4/17. In 2017, he became the 8th Indian bowler to pick 100 wickets in the IPL. Having someone like Zaheer Khan in the squad would increase the bowling strength.
#10 Amit Mishra
Although Amit Mishra has struggled to cement his place in the Indian team, he is one of the most successful spinners in the history of the Indian Premier League. The leg-spinner is currently the second highest wicket-taker in the tournament. The 36-year-old has a number of record to his name in the IPL.
He is the only bowler to pick three hat-tricks in the history of IPL. The Haryana-born cricketer has taken hat-tricks against Deccan Chargers in 2008, Kings XI Punjab in 2011 and Pune Warriors India in 2013.
Mishra has featured in 136 matches and picked up 146 wickets at an average of 24.14 with a decent economy of 7.39. He registered his best figure of 5 for 17 when he played for DD in the first edition of the tournament.
He has also made useful contributions with the bat. He has represented Delhi Daredevils, Deccan Chargers and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League.
#11 Lasith Malinga
The fourth overseas player of the 'Most Dangerous IPL XI' would be Sri Lanka's fast bowler Lasith Malinga. The deadly pacer came into limelight when he made his International debut. He has been the most successful bowler for his country in the shortest format of the game as he has bagged 92 wickets in just 69 T20Is.
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Having made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians in 2009, he played a crucial role with the ball in MI's victories. Malinga, who is currently the highest wicket-taker in the tournament, has taken 154 wickets in 110 games at a breathtaking average of 19.01 and a majestic economy of 6.86. In 2011, he won the Purple Cap for taking 28 wickets in just 16 matches.
The right-arm pacer did not live up to the expectation in 2017 as he picked up just 11 wickets in 12 games at an average of about 35. He was then released ahead of 2018 IPL and went unsold in the 2018 IPL auction.
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