Hello Everyone,
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I hope you guys are watching the Olympics and supporting your respective athletes.
I am here with this blog in response to the Second contest by 22 Yards Community to select Best XI from all the Indian Premier League editions.
The link to the contest blog is: @twentytwoyards/sports-token-and-hive-prizes-22-yards-community-cricket-contest-2-best-ipl-xi-of-all-time
And here is my team with the XI players best suited for the T20 format with mix of explosive openers cool middle order batsmen, a cool captain, few best allrounders and some of the best bowlers.
OK, here is my Best IPL XI:
1. Chris Gayle:
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The universal boss is one of the 2 openers I have selected as he is one of the most destructive batsman of all time and fits into any format although he isn't playing much of Tests and ODI matches.
He is the only player with more than 10K runs in T20 format and his record as a spin bowler isn't bad too for him to swing his arms for couple of overs.
2. Rohit Sharma:
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The Mumbai Indians captain is another explosive yet controlled stroke maker and having him along with Gayle will be a good opening pair since he can play sheet anchor role as well as taking attack into opposition bowlers.
3. Virat Kohli
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Team India captain might not have won an IPL title for Royal Challengers Bangalore, but he is simply superb with his batting all thru these 14 editions and he will be my choice for Third position.
He can be more dangerous without the burden of captaincy as he has shown in the past and he plays well under Dhoni's captaincy.
4. KL Rahul:
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I would have loved to see him as an opener for all the success he has as an opener, but Gayle and Rohit's presence means, no chance for him at top.
He is someone who can be a gear changer as per the situation and he can also be a backup wicket keeper if my regular wicket keeper MS Dhoni wants to roll his arm for few overs :)
5. MS Dhoni:
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One of the best captains, one of the best finishers of the game, known for his helicopter shot and his cool thinking even in crisis situation, MS Dhoni stands out for all his characteristics and my choice for captain and as a wicket keeper.
6. Kieron Pollard:
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We all can admit how under utilized is this guy Kieron Pollard in the Mumbai team, may be that is what the thing they want him and play whenever he gets a chance.
But, this guy has always performed well when the team needs him.
His bowling is also under utilized as he can be a very handy cricketer who shines in all the departments including fielding.
Who can forget those bounder line breathtaking catches he has held onto?
7. Dwayne Bravo:
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Another great allrounder who is best suited for the T20formats is this Dwayne Bravo.
Used to be one of the safest choices by captain Dhoni until couple of years ago.
Although he has lost the form in his last 2 IPL stints, but, on his day, he can be as dangerous as any of the above people whether it's batting or bowling.
8. Ravindra Jadeja:
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Ravindra Jadeja is the Third allrounder in this XI I have selected and he can be as economical as only he can be and not to forget his batting and fielding abilities and he has contributed to some of those wins CSK has got.
9. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar:
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This guy is another cricketer we can consider as a bowling allrounder for the runs he scores lower down the order besides his fine bowling spells of 4 overs with one of the best economy rates.
10. Amit Mishra:
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A spinner who can turn the matches within a span of 1 or 2 overs with his magical leg spin bowling and he is handy with the bat too.
He is among the top 3 in the IPL all time highest wicket takers and that record speaks about him.
11. Lasith Malinga:
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Highest wicket taker in the history of IPl, known for his boot cutting yorker deliveries, his accurate bowling and not to forget that cute smile he has :)
He can be a smiling assassin as he keeps uprooting the wickets.
That's the Best IPL XI in my opinion covering all the bases with 3 best allrounders and good top and middle order batting with some of the high wicket taking bowlers.
What do you say about this XI? Do share your comments.
Thank you and wishing a great Sunday to you all.
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