IPL 2021: Aakash Chopra picks his best XI of the season

The IPL 2021 concluded with the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings lifting their fourth trophy. However, now the former India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has picked his best XI of IPL 2021. In his selected squad, there were only four players from team India’s T20 World Cup squad.

For the opening, Chopra went with the pair of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis. Both of them were instrumental in CSK’s success as they provided the team with steady starts. Gaikwad was awarded the Orange cap for having scored 635 runs at an average of 45.35 from 16 matches.

“Let me start with the two openers who lifted the trophy – Ruturaj with Faf. The special thing about Ruturaj is that he has the skills, temperament, maturity beyond his age. Along with him is Faf – cometh the hour, cometh the man. They have the setting that if one gets out, the other scores runs,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Chopra then picked KL Rahul as the wicketkeeper-batter at the number three position. The Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell made his list at the number four spot. Maxwell had impressed everybody with his explosive form with the willow in IPL 2021. The former cricketer highlighted the performances of Maxwell against the lethal bowling attacks and credited him for RCB’s success.

Aakash Chopra picks Rahul Tripathi ahead of Rishabh Pant

For the fifth spot, Chopra selected Tripathi ahead of Pant. The KKR batter produced some splendid performances for the team. He looked dominating with the bat, chipping in crucial runs for the team.

“I have taken a punt at No.5. I was thinking about Rishabh Pant but his strike rate has been very low this time. I am not going with reputation, I am going with Rahul Tripathi. He played very well, plays everywhere, I like him a lot and he is a very big reason for KKR playing the final,” Chopra added.

He further stated that it was a toss-up between Pollard and Hetmyer for the sixth spot. But considering the strike rate of Hetmyer in this season, he was included in the side. Chopra heaped praises on Ravindra Jadeja whilst picking him as the bowling all-rounder.

Taking into account their good form in the UAE leg, Yuzvendra Chahal and Varun Chakravarthy made it to Chopra’s cut as the spinning options. The purple cap winner Harshal Patel and India’s ace speedster Jasprit Bumrah made their way into the fast-bowling unit.

Aakash Chopra’s best XI of IPL 2021: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, KL Rahul (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Rahul Tripathi, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshal Patel, Jasprit Bumrah