The IPL in its eight years of existence has changed the dynamics of cricket like no other tournament. The Twenty20 buzz that began in England was quickly adopted by the cricket frenzy country of India following the sub-continent nations’ triumph in the 2007 World T20. The rest, as they say is history.
Garlanded by the IPL, the shortest form of the game has quickly become a favourite amongst cricket enthusiasts. The league, which has brought about a new dimension to the fanfare of the game has enthralled us all by its cricketing brilliance. Whether it be Chris Gayle’s attempts at massacring with the cricket bat or Amit Mishra's wizardry, the IPL has never failed to entertain us to the core.
As the cricket mega extravaganza is set to move into to into its ninth season from Friday, we look at the best players to have performed at the big stage. With the quota of four foreigners in a team set, we at Sportskeeda have compiled the best ever IPL eleven that has graced the tournament.
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Chris Gayle
The first thing that comes to anyone's mind when they think of the IPL is the colossal figure of Chris Gayle in the red of Royal Challengers Bangalore tonking the ball to all parts of the field and normally into the stands. The West Indian has found a second home in India, where he has left crowd mesmerized with his brand of power hitting and literally bullying the bowling attacks into submission.
After missing out on the first three editions of the league with Kolkata Knight Riders due to injuries and international duties, his IPL life really took off after making a switch to Bangalore. In seven seasons in the league, the big Jamaica has played 82 games, scoring 3199 runs at an average of 46.36 and a strike rate of 153.42. His best innings of 175* is something that might never get replicated again.
Except for a disappointing campaign in 2014, in his five years with the Bangalore franchise, Gayle’s average has not dropped below 40 and his strike-rate too has not taken a dip below 150. Gayle's dominance can be well understood from the accolades he has achieved . The West Indian currently holds the record in the IPL for the fastest 100, fastest 150, most number of sixes, most runs by a foreign player; while winning the Orange cap in 2011 and 2012.
The only IPL trophy that's missing in his trophy cabinet is the ultimate IPL trophy itself.
Shane Watson
Shane Watson will forever remain one of the best buys in the IPL. The talented all-rounder was scooped up by the financially prudent Rajasthan Royals in the first auction for a meagre $125,000 as clouds hovered around the fitness of the Australian.
In his first season, the Australian helped the unfancied Rajasthan side win the inaugural edition of the tournament. Watson helped himself to 472 run and 17 wickets that season as he deservedly won the Man of the Tournament award.
Watson has ever since been the fulcrum of the team around which the Rajasthan Royals have built their teams. His ability to bat at different positions combined with his more than handful bowling ability has always given the Rajasthan teams of past the flexibility to shuffle their team according to conditions.
In his time in the IPL Watson has played a total of 78 games, scoring 2372 runs at an average of 36.49 while striking it at an impressive rate of 141.72. Meanwhile, his bowling skills have helped him scalp 61 wickets, striking every 22 balls.
After spending his first eight seasons playing for the Rajasthan Royals, the dynamic all-rounder was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore to bolster their arsenal which already contains the likes of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers.
Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina is probably the antithesis of Virat Kohli. While Raina has struggled mightily at the international stage for India in T20 internationals, he has undoubtedly been the best Indian performer at the IPL stage.
The elegant left-hander was been one of MS Dhoni's most entrusted lieutenant in the league while playing for the Chennai Super Kings. His total of 3699 runs in their colours represents the highest runs made by any batsman in tournament history. He certainly hasn’t been no slouch either amassing his runs as his strike rate of 139.84 suggests. Raina currently holds the record of the highest number of catches, most sixes hit by an Indian and the second-fastest fifty in addition to his aforementioned record of being the highest scorer in tournament history.
The UP southpaw has come in handy with the ball as well, picking up wickets at crucial moments for Chennai. His tally of 24 wickets at an economy rate of only 7.23 suggests how valuable he can come with the ball when conditions favour. In his eight seasons with Chennai, the left-hander has seen his team reach the final on six occasions, winning the man of the match award in the 2010 final to lead Chennai to their first trophy.
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma is another whose career in the IPL has been much more fruitful than his adventures in T20 internationals. The current Mumbai Indians skipper has enjoyed his fair share of success in the IPL. After winning the second edition of the IPL with the now defunct Deccan Chargers, the Indian opener won the tournament twice with his native Mumbai Indians in 2013 and 2015.
Over eight seasons in the league, Sharma has scored 3385 runs; a total that is only surpassed by Suresh Raina. He also stands second to Raina when it comes come to the number of sixes hit by an Indian with 147.
His innings of 50* from 26 balls in last year's final helped Mumbai to a memorable 41 run victory over Chennai and a second taste of the championship for the team from West India.
Dwayne Bravo
After spending three not so memorable season with the Mumbai Indians to start off with, Dwayne Bravo burst onto the scene after switching allegiance to the Chennai Super Kings. Although he didn't play much in his first season under Mahendra Singh Dhoni, he has been one of the star performers for the Chennai team in his last four seasons.
Bravo probably enjoyed his best season in the IPL in 2012 when he scored 371 runs at a strike rate of 140.53 whilst also picking up 15 wickets. The last three season has seen his contribution shift mostly to the bowling side of things with the West Indian international picking up the purple cap in two of the last three seasons (he played only one game in 2014.)
His tally of 32 wickets in 2013 remains a record for the highest number of wickets taken by any bowler in a single IPL season. In all Bravo has recorded 58 scalps in his last 36 IPL games; striking at an astounding rate of 11.88.
The Gujarat Lions will hope that Bravo will continue to spew his magic in their first season in the IPL.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper and captain)
Mahendra Sigh Dhoni gets in the team not only because of his ability with the gloves and as a finisher, but also because of his ability to lead his team at all crucial junctures. Under his captaincy, Dhoni led the Chennai Super Kings to six final appearances in the eight editions played so far. In fact, Chennai remains the sole team to have qualified for the playoffs on each occasion.
Whilst his stats may suffer because of his decision to come lower down the order, there is certainly no doubting his ability to finish off things. However, even whilst coming in so low down the order, Dhoni boasts an enviable average of 39.3, whilst striking it at 139.31.
Yusuf Pathan
For many reading this, this might be one of the most controversial picks in the eleven. However, there are certainly not many Indian middle-order batsmen who have enjoyed as much success in the IPL as the big-hitting man from Baroda has.
There is no doubting the fact that wherever Pathan has gone, success has followed him. After winning the first edition of the tournament with the Rajasthan Royals, h has gone on to win the 2012 and 2014 edition of the tournament with the Kolkata Kight Riders.
The elder of the Pathan brother enjoyed his best tournament in the first edition when his power hitting helped the Rajasthan team Shane Warne to the title. His 435 runs in 2008 at a rate of 179 to go with 8 wickets was instrumental to their success. He, in fact, brought his best to the finals where he took 3 wickets for 22 whilst also guiding the Royals home with a knock of 56 from 39.
Pathan currently holds the record for the fastest century by an Indian in the IPL for his 37 ball ton against Mumbai in 2010 and the fastest fifty overall. He also comes fourth when it comes to the number of sixes hit by a batsman in the IPL.
His total of 2400 runs at a strike rate of 146 to go with 40 wickets certainly bodes will for his inclusion in the side.
Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin totally changed the dynamics of the Chennai Super Kings bowling attack upon his introduction to the team in 2010. He won it all in his first year in the league taking the Chennai Super Kings to its first title that year whilst capturing 13 wickets along the way.
While Ashwin has never been a serious contender for the purple cap, he has been one of the most a consistent performer for the Chennai in his six seasons in yellow. His 90 scalps over 97 IPL games pays tribute to the threat that he has been over the years. It has not only his effectiveness at taking wickets, but also his ability to smother the batsmen with his economy rate of 6.75.
Amit Mishra
Besides Suresh Raina, Amit Mishra probably has to be the second Indian that warrants an automatic mention in the eleven. Whilst team success hasn't always come his way, the man from Haryana has laid siege to all batsmen in this league. His total tally of 111 wickets in 98 games stands second only to Lasith Malinga's numbers when it comes to picking up wickets in the league.
After spending his first three seasons in Delhi, he spent the next four with Hyderabad only to return to Delhi last seasons. In amongst all his travels, the lad from Haryana has managed to consistently become a thorn for batsmen around the league, picking up wickets wherever he has gone. His career strike-rate of 19.18 in the IPL stands a testament to the troubles he has caused over the years.
Mishra is, in fact, the only player in IPL history to pick-up a hat-trick on three occasions.
Lasith Malinga
Putting it as simply as we could, Lasith Malinga arguably has been the most destructive bowler that the league has seen. His statistics of 143 wickets in 98 games is pretty unreal. Whilst Mumbai's fortunes have fluctuated over the eight years, Malinga has always delivered and delivered when it mattered.
Malinga was one of the first names in the elven and deservedly so. It's not only his tally of wickets but also his strike rate of 16, that leaves makes anyone’s jaws drop whilst taking a peek at his numbers.
His figures in all the leading stats in regards to bowling in the IPL.The Sri Lankan slinger’s figures of 5-13 against the Delhi Daredevils in 2011 remains one of the best in the IPL. He still remains one of the best death bowlers that the IPL has seen over the years.
Ashish Nehra
Whilst RP Singh makes a strong case to be included here, the Nehraji gets a nod. Ashish Nehra finds a place in the eleven owing to his consistency over the years. The 36-year old has proved the proverb of “age is nothing but a number” to be true after storming back into contention with his performances over the last year.
Starting off with Delhi, Nehra saw his form dip whilst with the now defunct Pune Warriors India. However, unlike many other, Nehra found his groove wearing the yellow of Chennai Super Kings. His last years tally of 22 wickets at a strike rate of 16.9, where his best in his eight years in the league. In fact, it was Nehra’s contribution alongside Dwayne Bravo that formed the base which helped Chennai reach the final.
His strike rate of 18.25 to pick up 89 wickets grabs him a place in the greatest eleven.
Honourable mentions
Whilst the many players have been brilliant, we were unable to select them due to many constraints such as team balance, foreigner quota constraints, and others.Some of the names that came up vividly in our discussion were:
- Sunil Narine
- Virat Kohli
- Gautam Gambhir
- AB de Villiers
- Sachin Tendulkar
- Shaun Marsh
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