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IPL Greatest XI: Including Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni

Inundated with world-class cricketing talent since the inaugural season in 2008, we've attempted to construct the greatest Indian Premier League XI of all time.

1. Chris Gayle

One of the greatest, if not the greatest batters in T20 cricket, Chris Gayle's prolific run-scoring and longevity made him impossible to overlook.

His unbeaten, 66-ball 175 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru typified Gayle's remarkable proficiency with the bat, a tally which remains the highest individual score in any 20-over match.

The West Indies legend is also the comprehensive leader in the sixes department having cleared the ropes 357 times in the IPL, which is 77 more sixes than the next best player, Rohit Sharma.

2. David Warner

David Warner is one of the most successful overseas batters to have graced the Indian Premier League having clocked up 6,565 runs - the fourth-highest in the IPL - and winning the prestigious Orange Cap award in three different seasons, which is the most of any player.

On top of his productivity with the bat, the destructive opener captained Sunrisers Hyderabad to their maiden tournament success in 2016, showcasing his immense leadership qualities.

3. KL Rahul

KL Rahul's staggering 45.46 average is comprehensively the best of any individual with over 2,000 runs in the IPL.

Not only was the India star capable of obliterating a variety of bowling attacks but it was the consistency in Rahul's performances which have elevated his standing, with the Lucknow Super Giants captain the only Indian batter to hot 500+ runs in five successive seasons.

4. Virat Kohli

In at number four is 'King Kohli', who holds the record for most runs and most centuries in IPL history.

While you can argue longevity has played a key part in Kohli domineering the overall run charts, the 36-year-old demonstrated a skillset that very few are capable of replicating in the 2016 IPL season as he clocked 973 runs, the most of an player in an individual campaign.

The only blemish on his illustrious IPL career is his failure to win a title with his beloved Royal Challengers Benagluru.

5. AB de Villiers

Otherwise known as Mr 360, the ingenuity of AB de Villiers saw him establish himself as one of the finest batters across all formats, let alone just the IPL.

Even at the latter stages of his career, the South African was still capable of producing a match-winning innings, even with the odds stacked firmly against his Royal Challengers Bengaluru side.

Ranking 7th on the all-time IPL run charts, De Villiers' strike rate of 151.68 far exceeds any other batter to achieve 3,000 or more runs in the competition.

6. MS Dhoni

One of the IPL's greatest wicketkeepers and arguably one of the league's greatest captains.

The face of the IPL, Dhoni holds the record for most dismissals by a wicketkeeper, while his leadership and enduring influence played a major role in Chennai Super Kings achieving five titles.

Moving into the final chapters of his career Dhoni reinvented himself, batting lower down the order with a gung-ho approach that saw him collate a series of brief but explosive innings.

7. Sunil Narine

12 runs shy of greatness in 2024 as he aimed to become the first player to achieve 500+ runs and 15+ wickets in the same IPL season, Sunil Narine has proven himself to be one of the most complete all-rounders in the league through the years.

2024 was also the year in which the West Indies ace won his his third MVP award, the most of any player.

While his suspect bowling action has caused controversy in the past, Narine has consistently showcased an ability to claim important wickets at vital moments and his ability to accelerate totals with the bat have made him a vital component in Kolkata Knight Riders' batting unit.

8. Rashid Khan

The first Afghan player to feature in the IPL and one of the most sought after players across global T20 franchise leagues, Rashid Khan's legspin is exemplary and incredibly hard to score against, as showcased by his exceptional economy rate.

Helping Gujarat Titans to the 2022 title, Khan demonstrated his mesmerising effectiveness with the ball by taking 27 wickets in the 2023 campaign, the second-most of any player.

Those wickets were accompanied by an unbeaten high score of 79 and Khan is prolific at finding the boundary when at the crease.

9. Jasprit Bumrah

A superstar in the making from the moment he bowled Virat Kohli for his maiden IPL wicket.

Possessing phenomenal pace and precision, Jasprit Bumrah has emerged as one of the best seamers in the modern era.

Part of an exclusive list to have taken two or more five-wicket hauls in the IPL, Bumrah's claimed 165 wickets at an average of 22.51 and the lethal speedsters has produced no less than 15 wickets in an individual season since 2016.

10. Lasith Malinga

Bumrah was an understudy to Lasith Malinga as he found his feet in the IPL and who better to learn from than one of the greatest limited overs bowlers to have enriched the sport.

The Sri Lankan concluded his Indian Premier League career with 170 wickets at an impressive 19.79 average. The variety in Malinga's bowling made him dangerously unpredictable and his destructive inswinging yorker was the icing of his immense skillset.

11. Yuzvendra Chahal

Adding a specialist spin bowler to our ranks, Yuzvendra Chahal is the only player to amass more than 200 wickets in the IPL.

It was not all fame and fortune for Chahal at the start of his career having made just one appearance in his first three seasons, but the wrist-spinner has proven he is a consistent threat by taking 20+ wickets in five different seasons.

He won the Purple Cap for the first time in 2022 following an extraordinary season where he helped the Rajasthan Royals reach the IPL final for the first time.

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