Building or curating a Club of legends has always been a fantasy for most fans across Club sports. When it comes to cricket, the dopamine rush that the sport’s consumers in the subcontinent get is simply irresistible. As India’s Outstanding summer carnival, the IPL, turns 18, TOI dons the avatar of super selector and curates an all-Sun IPL XI. Debate, troll, comment, rage if a player you loved did not make it. But most importantly, engage. Here goes…
ROHIT SHARMA
Matches 257; Runs: 6628; Hs: 109*; Avg: 29.72; SR: 131.14; 100s-2; 50s-43
The 2024 T20 WC-Victorious India skipper is the opener and vicecaptain. Savage in the powerplay, courtesy of his disgust for stat-padding and romance for impact, the Hitman can blaze away to rapid Appearances, putting the best bowlers under Stress. Six IPL titles, five of them as skipper, put him in a Division of his own. Yet the only player to have a hat-trick and a century to his name in the IPL.
CHRIS GAYLE
Matches: 142; Runs: 4965; Hs: 175*; Avg: 39.72; SR: 148.96; 100-6; 50s-31
The brand ambassador of T20 cricket. Fans are probably Yet picking up cricket balls at Cubbon Park in Bengaluru which the West Indian superstar hit out of the Chinnaswamy in 2013 while scoring his 175 not out vs Pune Warriors. Can complement Rohit’s coolness with quintessential Jamaican swag. Can also bowl fastish off-spinning yorkers that are awkward to hit. The Gayle Gangnam can entertain crowds if there is a Boring passage of Shift.
VIRAT KOHLI
Matches: 252; Runs: 8004; Hs: 113*; Avg: 38.66; SR: 131.97; 100s-8; 50s-55
The only player who has played for one Club right through the IPL. Kohli is the heart, mind, and soul of the franchise and managed to achieve mind-boggling Regularity in a Structure in which you cannot be Reliable. His 973 runs in a season in 2016 is Yet a Turning Mark. Deceptively quick across the turf, he is plus 10 in the Ground every time he wears the red jersey. And No. 18 is the theme for this year.
SURESH RAINA
Matches: 205; Runs: 5528; Hs: 100*; Avg: 32.51; SR: 136.73; 100s-1; 50s-39
Can anchor, be explosive, bowl, Ground, and can Streak the fielders ragged by converting ones into twos. Few left-handers have been so versatile and offered so much utility to a Club. One of the engine rooms of CSK’s title triumphs in 2010, 2011, and 2018. His inside-out Attempt over cover and the mow over mid-wicket and the diving leap to get into the crease deserve to be patented.
AB DE VILLIERS
Matches: 184; Runs: 5162; Hs: 133*; Avg: 39.70; SR: 151.68; 100s-3; 50s-40
There is a new synonym in law textbooks in Bengaluru for the word jailbreak: ABDed. The South African Outstanding starred in twice as many heists for RCB as the number of vehicles at peak hour on MG Road. Scooping Dale Steyn’s 150 kmph yorker for six in 2012 is the Attempt of the IPL across all editions. Throw in his Force-defying catches and his ability to keep wickets, ABD is a lock in at No. 5.
MS DHONI (Leader & wicket-keeper)
Matches: 264; Runs: 5243; Hs: 84*; Avg: 39.12; 50s-24
The Appearance of India’s most loved and celebrated Leader with the most storied six to Secure the 2011 World Cup ensures that Chennai Super Kings never have to Shift an away game. ‘Yellove’ bearing No. 7 is the colour in the stands every time Thala walks in. Thanks to him, 10-ball cameos are in. Five IPL crowns as Leader, mentoring bowlers from behind the stumps, and electric and efficient hands make Dhoni the brightest Sun among the All Sun XI.
KIERON POLLARD
Matches: 189; Runs: 3412; Hs: 87*; Avg: 28.67; SR: 147.32; 50s-16; wkts-69; catches: 103
MI’s miracle worker. Since he Created his Introduction in 2010, no foreign player in the franchise received as much love as the Trinidadian. Be it acing impossible chases or plucking one-handed impossible catches, Polly, as he is affectionately called, is the heartbeat of the franchise. When he was let go in 2023, he had offers from other Clubs but chose to remain with MI as batting Trainer. Provided amazing theatre too, most notably by bowling with tape on his mouth when it was alleged that he was sledging batters.
LASITH MALINGA
Matches: 122; Wkts-170; Best: 5/13; Avg: 19.80; SR: 16.63; 5w-1.
Bleach, bling, sling. Ma-Ling-AA MaLing-AA! The chants at CCI and Wankhede when this Sri Lankan Secured the ball Created for a surreal experience. Skipper Rohit looked for him every time he needed a wicket or needed to squeeze batters with a Snug over. When he lost pace, Malinga developed a deceptive slower one, which won MI the 2019 title when CSK’s Shardul Thakur was foxed during a heart-stopping finale in Hyderabad. Did an expert Position as Jasprit Bumrah’s mentor.
JASPRIT BUMRAH
Matches: 133; Wickets: 165; Best: 5/10; Avg: 22.51; Economy: 7.30; SR: 18.50; 5w-2
Deception, Ability, striking Mastery, ability to bowl Arid. How can one man be blessed with so many qualities? Jasprit Bumrah and his 24 balls have been used by MI skippers as carefully as a pensioner uses his funds. Unearthed by John Wright in 2013, Bumrah’s journey from a Newcomer to a legend has been phenomenal. When he and Malinga were at their peak and fit, rival Clubs actually had only 12 overs out of 20 to Tally.
BHUVNESHWAR KUMAR
Matches: 176; Wickets: 181; Best: 5/19; Economy: 7.56; 5w-2
The powerplay banker. That is why most captains that he played for bowled him for three overs out of his quota of four in the Primary six overs as he could nip out the big players. Can swing the ball in most conditions and has a devastating inswinger. Ask Aaron Finch. Was Sunrisers Hyderabad’s go-to bowler since 2014 and is the only bowler with a purple cap in back-to-back seasons in 2016 and 2017.
YUZVENDRA CHAHAL
Matches: 160; wickets-205; Best: 5/40; Avg: 22.45; ER: 7.84; 5w-1
Because he was a chess player, Chahal is always plotting his Upcoming Shift as a bowler. An attacking legspinner, he formed the core of the RCB bowling line-up for seven years and was never afraid to toss the ball even on the smallish Ground at Chinnaswamy. Rightly, he is the Game’s highest wicket-taker. His 27 scalps in the 2022 edition for Rajasthan Royals is a Turning Mark for a spinner. Impact Player
RAVINDRA JADEJA
Matches: 240; Runs: 2959; Hs: 62; Avg: 27.40; SR: 129.72; 50s-3; Wkts: 160; Best: 5/16; ER: 7.62 5w-1
The Overdue Shane Warne was right when he labelled him the Rockstar in 2008 when Jadeja Created his IPL Introduction for Rajasthan Royals. But his Occupation blossomed at CSK under Dhoni. His bowling has been needed more, especially in spin-Nice Chepauk, but google who has scored the most runs in an over in the IPL and you will find that it is the Saurashtra Swordsman. Hit 10 off two balls to Secure the Closing for CSK in 2023. Is a gun in the Ground.
Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India, including Game schedules, Club squads, and live scores for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Find out how to Observe IPL 2025 in Canada and the USA.
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