IPL 2019: Best all-rounders' XI
All-rounders play a very pivotal role in the success of any T20 team. A quality all-rounder is a prerequisite to attain the right team balance.
Over the years several multi-faceted cricketers like Dwayne Bravo, Shane Watson, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Yuvraj Singh and Kieron Pollard have produced a string of match-winning performances and enthralled their fans.
The auction process for the upcoming IPL season has been completed, and all the teams tried to build a balanced squad by purchasing quality all-rounders. But not all teams were successful in this task as the likes of RCB and KXIP still don't have a top class all-rounder in their ranks.
On the other hand, teams like CSK, Mumbai Indians and KKR are well equipped with quality all-rounders and are being considered as early favorites to win the 2019 IPL.
Now let's take a look at the best all-rounders' XI from the players who have been picked for the upcoming edition of the IPL:
#1 Openers: Shane Watson and Sunil Narine
Shane Watson has been an integral part of the IPL ever since its inception. He played a crucial role in the victorious campaign of Rajasthan Royals during the inaugural season in 2008. Since then, he has been a consistent performer for all the teams he has represented.
He even captained the Rajasthan Royals team after the retirement of Shane Warne. After a lengthy spell with the Royals, he had to move away due to the two-year ban imposed on the Rajasthan franchise.
Post that he had a rather unsuccessful two-year stint with the RCB team. His stock fell considerably after that association, but his fortunes turned around when he was picked by CSK during the IPL 2018 auctions.
In 2018 Watson turned the clock back and produced some match-winning performances. He played a vital role in the final against SRH as he scored an unbeaten century to help CSK clinch the IPL trophy for the 3rd time.
He will be entrusted with the responsibility to open the innings for this all-rounders' XI given his outstanding record and experience in the league.
Left-handed KKR all-rounder Sunil Narine would be the perfect partner for Watson. He can provide early impetus and allow the Australian some time to adjust to the playing conditions.
Narine has been used as a pinch-hitting opener by the KKR franchise in the last few years, and he has been relatively successful in that role. He will be the enforcer in this line-up which consists of star all-rounders from all the IPL teams.