Sandeep Sharma picks his all-time IPL XI with MS Dhoni as captain

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Indian fast bowler Sandeep Sharma, who has been a consistent performer in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for nearly two decades, has revealed his all-time IPL XI. With 137 matches and 146 wickets to his name, Sandeep’s career reflects reliability and discipline, even though he could not cement a long run with the Indian national team. His years of IPL experience make his selection significant, as he has faced some of the biggest legends of the tournament.

At the helm, Sandeep, in a chat with crictracker, placed MS Dhoni as captain, a choice few would contest. Dhoni has amassed 5439 runs in the league and has guided Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to five titles, cementing his legacy as the most successful IPL skipper. His sharp wicketkeeping and finishing prowess remain unmatched.

Opening the innings, Chris Gayle and Rohit Sharma form a destructive duo. Gayle, known as the ‘Universe Boss’, is still regarded as the greatest six-hitter in IPL history. Rohit, meanwhile, is the second-highest run scorer with 7046 runs, and his leadership at Mumbai Indians brought them five titles.

Following them, Virat Kohli, the all-time leading run scorer with a staggering 8661 runs, takes his place at No. 3. Suresh Raina, who earned the title ‘Mr. IPL’, contributed 5528 runs and was the backbone of CSK’s batting. South African maestro AB de Villiers, with 5162 runs, added flair and innovation, making him one of the most feared batters in the league.

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Sandeep picked Hardik Pandya, who has been instrumental as a power-hitter and handy medium-pacer. Alongside him, Sunil Narine has proven his worth with both bat and ball, claiming 192 wickets while also providing explosive starts as an opener for KKR.

The pace attack includes two of the greatest ever in the league. Lasith Malinga, who picked up 170 wickets, was the master of yorkers and death overs. Partnering him is Jasprit Bumrah, India’s premier quick, with 183 wickets and unmatched consistency. Completing the attack is Yuzvendra Chahal, the leading wicket-taker in IPL history with 221 wickets, who has dominated middle overs with his spin.

Sandeep Sharma’s all-time IPL XI: Chris Gayle, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, AB de Villiers, MS Dhoni (captain), Hardik Pandya, Sunil Narine, Lasith Malinga, Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal

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