Best Indian playing 11 of all time in the IPL ft. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has brought out the best in players since the league's inauguration in 2008. Big superstars of Indian cricket have been a part of the league for several years and have delivered consistent performances.
While foreign players have always been a major attraction in the IPL, it has also been a platform where Indian players have delivered brilliant performances, showing their class in the shorter format of the game. Indian superstars such as Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni are also the most successful captains in the league's history.
Several rising talents and emerging players have also come through, displaying their worth in the IPL and then going on to make it big for the national side. On that note, here is a look at the best Indian all-time playing XI in IPL history.
Best Indian playing 11 of all time in the IPL
Openers - Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma
Veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan has played for many teams in the IPL such as the Mumbai Indians. Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings. He has played 222 games in the league and is among the highest run-getters with 6769 runs including two centuries.
Rohit Sharma, the current captain of India’s ODI and Test teams, is recognized as one of the most successful captains in IPL history. The 37-year-old has guided the Mumbai Indians to five championships, with their most recent victory in 2020.
Additionally, he ranks as the third-highest run-scorer in IPL history, accumulating 6,628 runs across 252 innings, featuring 43 half-centuries and two centuries.
Middle-order and all-rounders - Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (C and WK), Ravindra Jadeja, and Hardik Pandya
Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli features without a doubt in this lineup. Despite not yet winning an IPL trophy, his impact on the league is unmatched. Kohli holds the record as the tournament’s all-time leading run-scorer, amassing 8,004 runs in 252 matches, with an impressive 55 half-centuries and a record eight centuries.
Suresh Raina, known as "Mr. IPL," is regarded as one of the tournament’s all-time legends due to his impactful performances. The former Indian cricketer clinched the IPL title four times with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Throughout his career, he played in 205 matches, scoring a total of 5,528 runs, which included 39 half-centuries and a century.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni will take on the roles of captain and wicketkeeper for the team. Renowned as one of the most successful captains in the league, he has guided CSK to five trophies.
Across 226 matches as captain, Dhoni has secured 133 wins, reflecting a win rate of 58.85 percent. Over his career, he has scored 5,243 runs in 264 matches, including 24 half-centuries.
Ravindra Jadeja is among India's prolific all-rounders. His performances have been exceptional in the IPL as well. Jadeja has been an integral part of CSK's success in the league. From 240 matches, he has amassed 2959 runs and has picked up as many as 160 wickets with the ball.
Hardik Pandya is another big name that features in this team. Apart from winning the title with Mumbai Indians, he has also won the IPL trophy as captain with the Gujarat Titans. In 137 matches, he has scored 2525 runs and has 64 wickets to his name as well.
Bowlers - Piyush Chawla, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Piyush Chawla is among the veterans and most successful players in the IPL. He was a key player for both the Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders in previous seasons of the tournament. Notably, he scored the winning runs in the 2014 final, helping the Knight Riders win their second title. He is among the all-time highest wicket-takers in the league with 192 scalps.
Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, at 34, holds the record of being the highest wicket-taker in IPL history and is the only bowler to have crossed the 200-wicket milestone. Chahal has claimed 205 wickets in 160 matches, including one five-wicket haul.
A modern-day star and one of India’s leading bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah has been a crucial part of the Mumbai Indians for several years. He has made a significant impact for the team, taking 165 wickets in 133 matches, with two five-wicket hauls to his name.
Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the final name in this team, who was instrumental in the Sunrisers Hyderabad’s title-winning season in 2016. He won the Purple Cap for most wickets in two consecutive seasons (2016 and 2017) and has accumulated 181 wickets across 176 matches.