Legendary Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist recently revealed his all-time Indian Premier League (IPL) dream team on Cricbuzz. This selection comes with a unique criterion, every player chosen must have experienced the triumph of lifting the coveted IPL trophy during their careers.
Adam Gilchrist picks MS Dhoni as captain in his all-time IPL XI
Gilchrist's 'winners-only' all-time IPL XI is heavily populated with iconic players from the two most successful franchises in the IPL's history, Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Both the teams have each clinched the IPL title five times since the glitzy league's inception.
Gilchrist entrusted the captaincy of his all-time IPL XI to the charismatic leader of Chennai Super Kings MS Dhoni. This choice serves as a clear tribute to Dhoni's exceptional captaincy and his remarkable success in guiding CSK to all five of their IPL championships.
Given MS Dhoni's pivotal role as captain, it comes as no surprise that two of his most trusted and accomplished teammates from CSK, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja, have also secured their places in Adam Gilchrist's exclusive dream team.
Representing Mumbai Indians, Gilchrist's selection includes a formidable array of talent. He has picked Rohit Sharma, the five-time IPL-winning captain himself, alongside the powerful all-rounder Kieron Pollard, the dynamic batter Suryakumar Yadav, the former fearsome pace spearhead Lasith Malinga, and the current premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. This quintet has been instrumental in Mumbai's sustained success over the years.
The Australian cricket expert has also included the spin wizard Sunil Narine from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The West Indies star, a two-time IPL champion with KKR, is renowned for his unique skillset and his ability to single-handedly alter the course of matches in the world's most prominent T20 league.
To further bolster the batting lineup, Adam Gilchrist has included explosive Australian opener David Warner. Warner, a consistent run-scorer in the IPL, also brings leadership experience, having captained Sunrisers Hyderabad to their first IPL title in 2016. Completing Gilchrist's all-time IPL XI is Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the masterful swing bowler and a two-time Purple Cap winner, recognized for his exceptional skills with the ball.
Interestingly, despite being the all-time leading run-scorer in IPL history with an astounding 8509 runs in 255 innings, Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli has been surprisingly omitted from Gilchrist's selection. Kohli, an icon of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), is yet to lift the IPL trophy, a factor that ultimately led the Australian legend to overlook his impressive statistics in favor of players with championship wins.
Gilchrist's all-time IPL XI comprises seven Indian players, along with one player each from Sri Lanka and Australia, and two players hailing from the West Indies. The pace attack of this formidable side will be spearheaded by the legendary Lasith Malinga, with the dynamic duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar providing further depth and quality.
Notably, Gilchrist has opted not to include a specialist spinner in his lineup, instead entrusting the spin duties to the all-round capabilities of Sunil Narine and Ravindra Jadeja. The team features a strong contingent of all-rounders, with Kieron Pollard, Narine, and Jadeja all providing valuable contributions with both bat and ball. The opening pair for Gilchrist's dream team will be the explosive combination of Rohit Sharma and David Warner, with the dependable Suresh Raina anchoring the crucial No. 3 position. The middle order will be in the capable hands of Suryakumar Yadav and Kieron Pollard, while the iconic captain and wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni will provide the finishing touches and strategic brilliance to this ultimate IPL side.
Here's Adam Gilchrist's all-time IPL XI:
MS Dhoni (C), Rohit Sharma, David Warner, Suresh Raina, Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Lasit Malinga, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.