Best XI of now-defunct IPL teams

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, the thirteenth edition of the league is getting ready to kickstart from September 19 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). All the eight franchises which are a part of this year’s tournament are looking forward to lift the trophy.

Started in 2008, this cash rich league has witnessed 13 teams so far. While a few quit and others were taken over, and now only eight teams are going to fight for the championship in 2020. The remaining five teams namely Deccan Chargers (DC), Kochi Tuskers Kerla (KTK), Pune Warriors India (PWI), Gujarat Lions (GL) and Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) left IPL for various reasons.

Now let us try to pick the best 11 from the players who played for those inactive franchises when they were active. The selection is purely based on the performance of the players while they played for these defunct teams.

Here is the best XI of players from defunct IPL teams: –

Adam Gilchrist (WK, C)

Adam Gilchrist was picked by the Deccan Chargers in 2008 a few months after his retirement from international cricket. After his team’s worst performance in the inaugural edition of the league, he was made captain of the team in IPL 2009. He led his team to victory and was the architect of the triumph by scoring 495 runs at a rate of 152.30

He played three years for the franchise and scored 1,220 runs at a strike rate of 148.54 with the help of one century and seven 50s to his name. He also has 13 stumpings and 25 catches while playing for the Hyderabad based franchise.

He was released for the 2011 auction and was picked by KXIP and he continued to play and lead the Punjab team for 3 more years. The match against Mumbai Indians became the final match of his competitive career where he picked a wicket off the only ball he bowled in T20 cricket.

Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane, who had been part of Rajasthan Royals in 2015 when they got banned for two years, was picked by the Pune based franchise RPS. Although his team couldn’t make into the playoffs that year, he was the leading scorer of the team with 480 runs at an average of 43.64 in 2016. With Gilly and Ajinkya at the top it can be an apt combination of class and technique.

He played a crucial role to take the team to finals in the next edition. He played a total 30 matches in the franchise and scored 862 runs at an average of 33.15 and also took 14 catches.

Later he joined back Rajasthan Royals camp in 2018 and lad his team to playoffs that edition. Despite being consistent at the top of the order he was traded to Delhi Capitals before the auction of 2020. We will continue to see the class of this man in the coming IPL.

Robin Uthappa

Robin Uthappa, Karnataka’s dashing batsman, can be a good choice for any team due to his attacking nature. After playing the finisher’s role for RCB in 2010 he was bought by PWI for 2011 IPL where he finished as the top-scorer for the franchise ever.

Despite the team’s poor performances, he became the team’s lead batsman and scored as many as 1,103 runs in 46 matches for the now defunct franchise.

After PWI left IPL he was bought by KKR for IPL 2014 where he bagged the Orange Cap with 660 runs and played a crucial role in winning the second trophy for the team. Due to his poor form in last year’s IPL he was released by KKR and was bought by the Rajasthan Royals.

Suresh Raina (VC)

There will be no questions raised for Suresh Raina’s inclusion in the list as he is called as Mr.IPL and is the second highest run getter of the league. He played a very crucial role in the success of CSK and moved to GL when the former team got banned for two years.

He was made captain of the team and led his team to the playoffs in 2016. He was also the best performer of the team with 841 runs in 29 matches played for the Gujarat based franchise. He is a part time bowler and also a very good fielder. His inclusion can be a great bonus for any team.

He was back to CSK in 2018 and played a pivotal role in winning the cup. He recently retired from international cricket and left IPL 2020 due to personal reasons. Anyways he might be back for the next year’s IPL.

Andrew Symonds

The Queensland’s allrounder was the second expensive buy of the first IPL when Deccan Chargers bought him for US$ 1,350,000. Symonds missed the majority of the second edition of the IPL because of international commitments. Nonetheless, he played a crucial role in the victory of his team towards the end of the tournament.

In the 28 matches he played for the Deccan team he scored 839 runs at an average of 36.47 with a strike of 143 and also took 19 wickets. His innings of 117 of 53 balls against the Royals in 2008 remains as one of the best knocks in the league.

He was bought by Mumbai Indians in for the fourth edition but due to his poor show with both bat and ball he was dropped from the team. He bade adieu to cricket in 2012.

Dinesh Karthik

It is difficult to pick DK ahead of MS Dhoni but his consistent performances for Gujarat Lions made him to the list. He played a vital role in his team reaching the playoffs in 2016. He was the lone performer for his team other than his skipper and won many games for his team in his tenure of two years.

In his 30 appearances for the team he scored 696 runs at a strike rate of 132.5. He also had 19 catches and three stumpings to his name in those two years. With his unorthodox gameplay he can change the result of the game in a very short span.

Later in 2018 he was bought by KKR and was made the skipper of the team where he led his team successfully to playoffs and he also started getting regular opportunities in the Indian team. He is ready to lead his team in IPL 2020.

Ben Stokes

Be it batting, bowling or fielding he will be an asset added to the team. His contribution to RPS in 2017 made into this list. His innings of 103 off 63 balls vs GL is one of the highlights of the tournament. It was even more important as he came to bat while team was standing at 10 for 3 and won the match for his team.

Although he played only 12 matches in the league, he scored 316 runs at a rate of 142.98 and took 12 wickets. He missed the final stage of the tournament due to his international commitments. Experts said that had he been in the final RPS would have easily won the championship.

Later in 2018 he was bought by Rajasthan Royals. Despite not having a good IPL in 2019, he won a World Cup for his nation and been the best allrounder in recent times. He might miss this year IPL due to family reasons.

Amit Mishra

This Haryana attacking right-arm leg-break bowler can be a perfect fit to the team in subcontinent conditions. He played for Deccan chargers in the years 2011 and 2012 and been the one of the best bowlers in the league.

In 2011 he picked 19 wickets at an economy of just 6.71 and has been a match winner for his team. But later in 2012 he took only 11 wickets and leaked runs at an economy rate of 8.02.

Later he become the first and only player to have three hattrick’s in IPL and is now the second leading wicket tacker in IPL with 157 scalps to his name. He will be playing for Delhi Capitals in this IPL and is expected to lead the spin attack for his team in UAE conditions.

RP Singh

The purple cap winner of IPL 2009, where he led pace attack of his team which won the title in South Africa, will make into this list without any discussion. The left-arm pacer can swing the ball in both directions and can trouble the batsman as much as he can.

He played 44 matches for the franchise, picking 54 wickets with an average of 23.59. He was one of the best performers with the ball during the early days of the IPL.

He was later bought by MI, RCB, KTR and RPS but due to lack of performances he was left out of the team and the later had played his last IPL match in the year 2016 playing for RPS.

Jaydev Unadkat

This might be a surprising selection ahead the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Sreesanth but his performances for RPS in IPL 2017 where he was the second-highest wicket-taker of the tournament, make him to the list ahead of Bhuvi and Sreesanth.

He picked 24 wickets in 12 matches played that year at an economy of 7.02. He can trouble the batsman with his variations, his slower-balls and knuckle-ball, being his weapon.

Due to his performance in IPL 2017 he was bought for a whopping 11.5 crores in the next IPL but due to lack of performances he was kept out of the XI most of the times. He is again bought by RR for three crores in 2020 auction but it is tough scenario for this bowler to make it into the XI this time.

Dale Steyn

The South African speed gun is a fearless bowler and bowls at 140 plus kmph constantly. He was a part of Deccan Chargers in 2011 and 2012 and led the pace-attack for those two years. Along with his perfect line and length he actually tortured the batsman with his speed.

In 24 matches he played for the franchise he took 34 wickets at an average of 18.5. His signature out swinger away from the leg-stump line and hitting the top of the off-stump will be an awesome thing to watch.

Later he played for Sunrisers team where his top performances came before moving out to GL. Last year he played 4 matches for RCB before ruling out due to injury. He will again play for RCB, who rely on him to get the trophy home.

~ Written by Uday Gurugubelli