Aakash Chopra picks his best XI of IPL 2024, no place for Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head
Aakash Chopra has picked his team of the recently concluded IPL 2024. He chose batters based on the positions they batted this season and stuck with the criterion of including a maximum of four overseas players in the XI.
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) beat the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets in the final in Chennai on Sunday, May 26, to bag their third IPL title. While Virat Kohli won the Orange Cap as the highest run-scorer, Harshal Patel bagged the Purple Cap as the top wicket-taker.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra picked Sunil Narine and Virat Kohli ahead of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head as his two openers.
"There is no doubt about one person being in this team, that's Sunil Narine. In batting, he scored runs, which includes a century. Consistency's name became Sunil Narine in the first half of the tournament and he has bowled strongly as well. I think Sunil Narine will be there in all teams," he said (1:45).
"His partner will be India's Virat Kohli. Firstly, he is the Orange Cap winner, and secondly, how well he has played. You can check the strike rate, runs, century, quality, intent, passion or aggression - it was Kohli's Virat season this year," the former India opener added.
Chopra chose the Rajasthan Royals duo of Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag to bat at No. 3 and No. 4 respectively.
"I have given the No. 3 spot to Sanju Samson. He was batting at No. 3 and scored a lot of runs. One of his most consistent seasons which you discuss about and praise. Sanju Samson is also my team's keeper. He has given match-winning performances as well," he elaborated.
"At No. 4, I have given a place to his teammate Riyan Parag. Suryakumar Yadav's name also came to my mind here but I am going with Riyan. He has given match-winning performances and has played extremely well as an uncapped Indian. It was his breakthrough season," the former KKR player added.
Chopra completed his top six by picking Shivam Dube and Nicholas Pooran.
"I am keeping Shivam Dube at No. 5. There were discussions about whether he should be kept, whether Venkatesh Iyer or Nitish Reddy's name can come here. I am going with Shivam Dube because he has batted at a different level. Till the time he wasn't selected for India, he was destroying the opposition," he explained.
"After that, I have Nicholas Pooran. It could have been Pooran or Heinrich Klaasen but I have gone towards Pooran because firstly, I get a left-hander. His batting has been incredible, that is true for Heinrich Klaasen as well but I am still going with Nicholas Pooran," the reputed commentator added.
Pooran smashed 499 runs at a strike rate of 178.21 in 14 innings in IPL 2024. Klaasen aggregated 479 runs at a slightly lower strike rate of 171.07 in 15 hits this season.
Aakash Chopra's picks of seam-bowling all-rounder and bowlers in his team of IPL 2024
![Andre Russell impressed with his all-round performances in IPL 2024. [P/C: iplt20.com]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/05/2f8b1-17168672222489-1920.jpg?w=500)
Aakash Chopra picked Andre Russell as a seam-bowling all-rounder and Pat Cummins as the captain of this hypothetical XI.
"Andre Russell is in my side. He is my third overseas player. He started hitting sixes from the start and thrashed Hyderabad in the first match. After that, he scored important runs and even bowled and fielded very well this time. I don't remember when we had seen such a fit Andre Russell last time," he said (7:00).
"Now comes the captain of the tournament. Although Shreyas Iyer lifted the trophy for sure and his captaincy was also very good, I am going with Pat Cummins. I liked Pat Cummins' captaincy a lot. I will put my hand up and say that I didn't have 100% confidence but he did very well. Pat Cummins is the captain of my team," the 46-year-old added.
Chopra chose Harshit Rana and Jasprit Bumrah as the two specialist Indian seamers in his playing XI.
"Harshit Rana is in my team - the best uncapped Indian fast bowler. Whoever was responsible for banning him should also see others' celebrations and I feel you were wronged. You were trolled wrongly as well. It wasn't a no-ball when Virat Kohli got out to your ball. Important matches, important performances - he has been very good," he stated.
"It's obvious Boom Boom has to be there because the best fast bowler in this league was not anybody else but Jasprit Bumrah. He had an economy of 6.5 for the entire season where people were going for 10 or 11. We clap for anyone who goes at 9 or 9.5, and this guy picked up wickets and had an economy of 6.5," the cricketer-turned-analyst added.
Chopra picked Varun Chakaravarthy to partner his KKR teammate Sunil Narine in the spin-bowling department.
"Last but not the least, Varun Chakaravarthy is a part of my team because he picked up wickets and was extremely accurate. He bowled in difficult phases and trapped different batters with different strategies. There might have been an odd match where he was hit a lot, or else he has been very good," he reasoned.
Chopra also named Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc and Abhishek Sharma as the four reserves.
Aakash Chopra's team of IPL 2024: Sunil Narine, Virat Kohli, Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag, Shivam Dube, Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Pat Cummins (c), Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy