The IPL may not happen this year due to coronavirus pandemic. And fans are ruing the missed opportunity to watch their favourite cricket stars in action. Nevertheless, here’s an article that can help you live IPL altogether. Here’s a Dream IPL XI that could beat current defending champions and four-time winners, Mumbai Indians.
Please note: The players for Dream IPL XI have been selected from the pool of cricketers who would have played in IPL 2020 if it had happened this year.
Openers
David Warner (SRH) and KL Rahul (KXIP)
Last season, Warner was on a man of mission as he came into the IPL after serving a year ban for ball-tampering. He and his opening partner, Johnny Bairstow, had a great time in the middle as they raked up record-partnerships during the last season. He has been a great hit in IPL for SRH and is one of the most consistent openers in this tournament.
He gets to partner KL Rahul, who is having a form of his life in the shortest format, in this XI. He was the lone-man standing for KXIP in the last season. He and Warner would make a great opening pair who could take on Jasprit Bumrah of Mumbai Indians and score runs off him.
Middle-order
Virat Kohli (RCB) and Suresh Raina (CSK)
Kohli is most productive when he bats at No 3 in the shorter format as he could control the game at this position. He can either destroy an attack after a great partnership from the openers or resurrect an innings if there is a collapse. He is ideal No 3 in this XI.
Suresh Raina is the perfect No 4 in this Dream IPL XI. With loads of experience in IPL, Raina looks the best bet to steer the team to the finish line at this position.
Captain/Keeper
MS Dhoni (CSK)
No matter his waning form, Dhoni continues to be the best keeper-batsman-cum-captain in this format or in this tournament. He led CSK to last two finals as soon as the team was back in the tournament after serving a two-year ban.
His batting form in IPL goes to an altogether different level, while his keeping and leadership are always a few steps ahead of rivals. There is no one to don such a big responsibility than Dhoni in this Dream IPL XI.
Although Dhoni’s CSK lost to MI in the last season’s final, they were just one run behind defending their title.
All-rounders
Andre Russell (KKR), Ravindra Jadeja (CSK)
Andre Russell was the man of the tournament in the last season, as he won matches for KKR from impossible situations in more than a few occasions. His murderous batting at the depth was the reason for KKR managing a few wins under their belt in the last season.
Partnering him in the all-rounder’s spot is Ravindra Jadeja, who has developed into a dependable all-rounder in the last few years. He has better control over the ball and has become into a wicket-taking option rather than a containing bowler. Plus, his batting has the killer edge now and can win matches on his own.
Spinner
Rashid Khan (SRH)
The Afghanistan leg-spinner is the best slow bowler in the world currently. His doosra is still difficult to read and has the ability to break the partnership and be a strike bowler. Most opposition tries to play out his overs rather than risk losing their wickets and the game to him. It speaks highly of Rashid Khan who is just a few years old in international cricket.
Fast bowlers
K Rabada (DC), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (SRH), Deepak Chahar (CSK)
Deepak Chahar was an automatic choice in the XI after his exploits for CSK in the last couple of seasons. Plus, he has done exceptionally well in T20Is for India, taking a hat-trick in his 6/7 against Bangladesh in 2019.
Bhuvi has been one of the most consistent bowlers in IPL history. His slower balls, knuckleballs are still as lethal as it was used to be before. His line-and-length bowling can keep Mumbai Indians quiet and from scoring off runs easily.
Rabada is a champion bowler who won a match for Delhi Capitals last season, in the super over, bowling against the likes of Russell and Dinesh Karthik with just toe-crunching yorkers.
The three bowlers will make a great pair of fast bowlers in this XI and can stop Rohit and Co from running away with the game.
Dream IPL XI: David Warner (SRH) and KL Rahul (KXIP), Virat Kohli (RCB) and Suresh Raina (CSK), MS Dhoni (Captain/keeper), Andre Russell (KKR), Ravindra Jadeja (CSK), Rashid Khan (SRH), K Rabada (DC), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (SRH), Deepak Chahar (CSK)
