Millions of Cricket fans all over the world are holding their breath and ticking the dates off the calendar as the D-Day approaches. April 7, 2018, will mark the kick-off of the eleventh season of the grand cricketing tournament. The Indian Premier League (IPL). A tournament that&#8217;s the perfect amalgamation of glitz, glamour, passion, and competition.

A league that hosts the best in the world with the same grace as it harnesses the talented youngsters onto the nation&#8217;s shoulders. A series that has mesmerized us time and again with its unending flow of runs, blistering centuries, jaw-dropping dismissals and stunning catches.

The first season of the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/category/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IPL</strong></a> was played back in 2008 and since then, it has snowballed into one of the most popular sporting tournaments in the world. Over the years, we&#8217;ve witnessed great players in action and exciting raw talent develop into future superstars, in this very league.

With two months of exciting Cricket that sports the tagline of &#8216;Best versus Best&#8217;, just a few days away, how about a compilation of the best in the game? An IPL team that it had taken the field, the opposition would have stood no chance and the crowds would have had a gala of a time watching them play. From veterans to current players, this list will feature the Most Formidable XI to have ever played in the IPL.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-206640" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Chris-Gayle-1.jpg" alt="Chris Gayle" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-206640" class="wp-caption-text">Chris Gayle. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

No all-time T20 team is ever complete without the towering presence of this Caribbean batsman opening the innings. Chris Gayle is synonymous with the shortest format of the Cricket in the purest way possible. The 38-year old not only holds the record of the highest individual score (175*) in the history of the IPL but is also the 7th highest run-getter in the tournament in the span of 2009-2017, with 3626 runs to his name, along with 6 centuries and a whopping strike rate of 151.20.

What makes the left-handed opening batsman stand out from the lot is the ability to convert any ball to a boundary, while exercising an unflinching ease that rattles the bowler to the very core. Gayle&#8217;s abundant exposure to the format from the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) makes his case even stronger. The mighty Jamaican also boasts of 1589 runs in just 55 T20Is, with a highest score of 117.<br>

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-121879" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Sachin-Tendulkar-IPL-MI.jpg" alt="Sachin Tendulkar IPL MI" width="640" height="436" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-121879" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Bringing the left hand- right hand opening combination of this team to a full-circle will be the &#8216;God of Cricket&#8217; himself. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar may have retired, but the void he&#8217;s left in the cricketing world is so large that his inclusion in any fictitious team gives it the strength it would otherwise lack. Dissecting the legacy Tendulkar has gifted the game with, the man has played 78 games in the IPL for the Mumbai Indians in the period of 2008-13, where he scored 2334 runs at an average of 34.83 and a respectable strike rate of 119.81. His lone century in the tournament came off just 66 balls against Kochi Tuskers in the 2011 season.

The sheer presence of Sachin Tendulkar in a team is nothing short of an adrenaline shot in the arm for the side. If he were to take the field, his impeccable timing and cricketing genius, coupled with his tons of experience would be a major factor in steering his team towards victory. Thus, the Master Blaster would be the obvious choice to open the batting for this side, along with Gayle.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-146054" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Virat-Kohli-RCB-2017.jpg" alt="Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli in the IPL" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-146054" class="wp-caption-text">Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

The current Indian skipper is widely regarded as one of the world&#8217;s greatest batsmen to have ever taken the field, more so in the limited overs format. 29-year old, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/fake-fb-wall-virat-kohli-wants-to-know-who-are-the-members-of-steve-smiths-leadership-group/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Virat Kohli</strong></a> started off his IPL career with the Royal Challengers Bangalore and has stuck to the side through thick and thin. Apart from having captained his side to the finals in the 2016 edition of the tournament, Kohli has 4 IPL centuries to his name in a single season, out of which one came from him batting with 9 stitches in his left hand owing to a split webbing, which is no mean feat. His batting firepower, along with his prowess at shepherding his troops ably makes him the ideal candidate to captain the team.

Coming down to numbers, Kohli has played in 57 T20s for his country, where he has made 1983 runs at a formidable average of 50.84. The IPL, in particular, has been a favorite hunting ground for the star batsman as he&#8217;s churned out 4418 runs in the last 10 seasons, including 382 boundaries and 159 6&#8217;s. The modern-day legend&#8217;s ability to take the onus entirely on himself to guide his team out of the direst of situations into victory is what makes him the perfect No.3 for the team.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-66579" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/AB-de-Villiers-1.jpg" alt="AB de Villiers Royal Challengers Bangalore" width="600" height="413" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-66579" class="wp-caption-text">Mohali: Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman AB de Villiers in action during an IPL match between Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on May 9, 2016. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

How can we forget Mr. 360° when it comes to the shortest format of the game, more so the IPL? Very few in the game have as all-encompassing knowledge about the game and an ability to bamboozle the bowler ball after ball as AB de Villiers does. Be it a classical cover drive, a powerful inside-out shot or an innovative switch-hit, this man has every shot in the book at his fingertips. He began his campaign in the IPL with a short stint for the Delhi Daredevils side, before being affiliated to the Royal Challengers Bangalore, a team he&#8217;s been with since 2011.

In the 101 matches that he&#8217;s played for the RCB, he&#8217;s played the role of a top-order or middle-order batsman as and when required, to perfection. He has accrued 1672 runs in the 78 T20s he has played for his nation. 129 IPL matches have seen him put up 3473 runs at an average of 38.16 along with 3 centuries. De Villiers&#8217; exceptional reflexes on the field and his ability to keep the wickets only earn him further brownie points.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-123911" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Suresh-Raina-CSK-IPL.jpg" alt="Suresh Raina CSK IPL" width="600" height="448" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-123911" class="wp-caption-text">Suresh Raina(Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Although Suresh Raina has been out of action for the national side for quite some time in the past, it&#8217;s a known fact that having him in one&#8217;s T20 team is as valuable as it can get. The 31-year old has been a part of the <strong>Chennai Super Kings</strong> since the inception of the IPL and his all-round capabilities are the reason why CSK leaped at the chance of retaining him on their return to the trophy in 2018. Raina is not only an explosive middle-order batsman, but also a handy part-time spinner and armed with exquisite fielding abilities, especially in the blink-and-miss region of the slip cordon and the cover-point area.

Raina has played 161 matches in the IPL in which he has contributed the highest number of runs by any player in the tournament (4540) with the bat and scalped 25 wickets with his right-arm off-break bowling. His batting average is a healthy 139.05 which is a witness to his hard-hitting abilities. Having Raina in a side not only brings the much-needed left-hand balance into the team, but also strengthens the middle-order due to the presence of a calm mind that possesses knowledge and prowess in T20 Cricket.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-232968" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-3.jpg" alt="MS Dhoni" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-232968" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

&#8216;Captain Cool&#8217; is like good wine; the more he ages, the finer he gets! He&#8217;s arguably one of the finest minds that the sport has ever seen and definitely one of the best pair of gloves to have manned the wicket over the ages. Dhoni&#8217;s IPL career speaks volumes about his ability to finish off in style. His franchise, Chennai Super Kings have won the title twice under his leadership and in the 157 matches that he&#8217;s played for his team, Dhoni has amassed 3561 runs at a strike rate of 136.75, making him the 9th highest run-getter of the title.

The 36-year old&#8217;s keeping records are nothing short of impeccable. With 102 dismissals to his name, Dhoni holds the record for the second highest number of dismissals. What makes Dhoni an indispensable part of any T20 unit is his sheer ability to hold his nerves in pressure situations, hit the crucial boundaries, run the needed singles with zeal and guide his teammates with an amazing clarity. Further, his quippy advice to his bowlers from behind the wickets and jaw-dropping accuracy in calling the Decision Review System (DRS) are all handy bonuses!

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-15658" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ravichandran-Ashwin-Chris-Gayle-IPL.jpg" alt="Ravichandran Ashwin CSK" width="640" height="446" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-15658" class="wp-caption-text">Ravichandran Ashwin CSK. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Ravichandran Ashwin first garnered recognition owing to his IPL stints even before he debuted for India. Quite naturally, he comes in as the perfect pick for the lower-middle order as a dependable batsman as well as a masterful spinner. The right-arm offbreak bowler has a knack for picking up regular wickets while constricting the flow of runs for the batting side that makes him extremely dangerous in the IPL, especially in the death overs. Ashwin has played for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) for a cumulative total of 111 matches.

In the 111 matches that he&#8217;s played, Ashwin has maintained a strike rate of 96.25 with the bat. With the ball, he&#8217;s scalped a perfect 100 wickets for an average of 24.99. His track record in the T20s for India has been exemplary as well with 52 wickets in 46 matches and best bowling figures of 8/4. The 2018 season of the tournament will see him don the jersey for the Kings XI Punjab side.

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-15779" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Bhuvneshwar-Kumar-in-IPL-SRH.jpg" alt="Bhuvneshwar Kumar SRH" width="640" height="435" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-15779" class="wp-caption-text">Bhuvneshwar Kumar SRH. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

This lanky, young man has been spearheading the Indian pace attack for the last 5 years and his importance in a quality side is undeniable. Bhuvneshwar Kumar stepped into the foray of IPL in 2011 and has been a part of three major franchises, namely, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pune Warriors and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively. In the 90 IPL games that he&#8217;s been a part of, Kumar has 111 wickets to his name, at an economy of 7.08; figures that place him at the 6th position in the list of highest wicket-takers in the championship.

To assess Kumar&#8217;s credibility as the indispensable pacer in a side, one can reflect on the match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kings XI Punjab in Hyderabad on April 17, 2017. While conceding a mere total of 19 runs, the 28-year old picked up 5 wickets in his quota of 4 overs, making it his best ever performance in the IPL. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the perfect mixture of pace, aggression and accuracy, making him the perfect match to the word &#8216;formidable&#8221;.

<img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-65669" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Zaheer-Khan-celebrates-the-wicket-of-Mccullum-IPL.jpg" alt width="640" height="459" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-65669" class="wp-caption-text">Rajkot: Brendon McCullum of Gujarat Lions gets dismissed during an IPL match between Gujarat Lions and Delhi Daredevils in Rajkot on May 3, 2016. (Photo: Twitter)</figcaption>

Veteran pacer, Zaheer Khan may have retired from international Cricket but oh, what we&#8217;d do to see him mark his run-up again! A fast bowler who has saved India from more than one pickles in the face of the greatest of oppositions, Khan is undoubtedly one of the best pacers the country has ever produced. His prowess at picking up seed and bowling the crucial yorkers in the death overs made him all the more lethal, especially in a format as short as the T20s.

Zaheer Khan&#8217;s T20I figures read 17 wickets in 17 matches, with best figures of 19/4. In the 100 matches that he&#8217;s played in the IPL, he has impressive figures of 100 dismissals to his name. In addition to that, his average of 27.27 and a decent economy hovering around 7 only adds to his repertoire. Every team needs a frontline pacer and the inclusion of Khan would mean just that on this side.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-142956" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Lasith-Malinga-MI-IPL-10.jpg" alt="Lasith Malinga of Mumbai Indians in action" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-142956" class="wp-caption-text">Lasith Malinga of Mumbai Indians in action. (Photo: Twitter)</figcaption>

The third overseas player of the &#8216;Most Formidable IPL XI&#8217; would be the deadly Lasith Malinga! The Sri Lankan pacer took International Cricket by a storm in his early days and maintained the cutting-edge sharpness to his bowling over the years consistently. Malinga has been exceptionally successful for his country in the shorter formats of the game, be it the ODIs or the T20s. In particular, he has 90 wickets to his name off 68 T20Is.

As for in the IPL, Malinga&#8217;s name finds a place in every possible bowling record. With 154 wickets in 110 games at an average of 19.01, Malinga is top wicket-taker in the history of the tournament. The 2011 IPL will forever be etched in the minds of Cricket lovers as Malinga&#8217;s best tournament, where he clinched the Purple Cap with 28 wickets in just 16 games. His mind-numbing accuracy, toe-crushing yorkers and expertise at toying with the batsman&#8217;s mind by being able to anticipate the shot he wants to play, form the concoction that makes Malinga so dexterously unplayable.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-68966" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Faiz-Fazal.jpg" alt="Faiz Fazal, Indian players" width="600" height="435" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-68966" class="wp-caption-text">Shane Warne (L) of the Royals celebrates with teammate Faiz Fazal after his team&#8217;s victory. (Photo by Hamish Blair-IPL 2010/IPL via Getty Images)</figcaption>

Last but not the least, comes in the magician of spin! Shane Warne is regarded by the entire cricketing fraternity as one of the best spinners to have ever tread the field. The leggie has played for the Rajasthan Royals in the period of 2008-11, where he participated in 55 matches for his side. The first season of the IPL is a gleaming testament to the class of Warne as he picked up 19 wickets in just 15 games of the 2007/08 season at an average of 21.26.

Interestingly, Warne has not played a single T20 game for his country, <strong>Australia</strong>. However, the IPL has witnessed him lap up 57 wickets in the 55 matches he took part in, with an economy of 7.27 and best bowling figures of 21/4. He has also contributed 198 runs with the bat, 34 being his best score. A mind as richly experienced in the ways of cricket and a spirit endowed with the gift of cricketing genius, Shane Warne is a must-have in the &#8216;Most Formidable IPL XI&#8217; of all time.

<p>Millions of Cricket fans all over the world are holding their breath and ticking the dates off the calendar as the D-Day approaches. April 7, 2018, will mark the kick-off of the eleventh season of the grand cricketing tournament. The Indian Premier League (IPL). A tournament that&#8217;s the perfect amalgamation of glitz, glamour, passion, and competition.</p>
<p>A league that hosts the best in the world with the same grace as it harnesses the talented youngsters onto the nation&#8217;s shoulders. A series that has mesmerized us time and again with its unending flow of runs, blistering centuries, jaw-dropping dismissals and stunning catches.</p>
<p>The first season of the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/category/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IPL</strong></a> was played back in 2008 and since then, it has snowballed into one of the most popular sporting tournaments in the world. Over the years, we&#8217;ve witnessed great players in action and exciting raw talent develop into future superstars, in this very league.</p>
<p>With two months of exciting Cricket that sports the tagline of &#8216;Best versus Best&#8217;, just a few days away, how about a compilation of the best in the game? An IPL team that it had taken the field, the opposition would have stood no chance and the crowds would have had a gala of a time watching them play. From veterans to current players, this list will feature the Most Formidable XI to have ever played in the IPL.</p>
<h3>Chris Gayle</h3>
<figure id="attachment_206640" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-206640" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-206640" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Chris-Gayle-1.jpg" alt="Chris Gayle" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-206640" class="wp-caption-text">Chris Gayle. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>No all-time T20 team is ever complete without the towering presence of this Caribbean batsman opening the innings. Chris Gayle is synonymous with the shortest format of the Cricket in the purest way possible. The 38-year old not only holds the record of the highest individual score (175*) in the history of the IPL but is also the 7th highest run-getter in the tournament in the span of 2009-2017, with 3626 runs to his name, along with 6 centuries and a whopping strike rate of 151.20.</p>
<p>What makes the left-handed opening batsman stand out from the lot is the ability to convert any ball to a boundary, while exercising an unflinching ease that rattles the bowler to the very core. Gayle&#8217;s abundant exposure to the format from the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) makes his case even stronger. The mighty Jamaican also boasts of 1589 runs in just 55 T20Is, with a highest score of 117.<br>
</p>
<h3>Sachin Tendulkar</h3>
<figure id="attachment_121879" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-121879" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-121879" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Sachin-Tendulkar-IPL-MI.jpg" alt="Sachin Tendulkar IPL MI" width="640" height="436" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-121879" class="wp-caption-text">(Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Bringing the left hand- right hand opening combination of this team to a full-circle will be the &#8216;God of Cricket&#8217; himself. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar may have retired, but the void he&#8217;s left in the cricketing world is so large that his inclusion in any fictitious team gives it the strength it would otherwise lack. Dissecting the legacy Tendulkar has gifted the game with, the man has played 78 games in the IPL for the Mumbai Indians in the period of 2008-13, where he scored 2334 runs at an average of 34.83 and a respectable strike rate of 119.81. His lone century in the tournament came off just 66 balls against Kochi Tuskers in the 2011 season.</p>
<p>The sheer presence of Sachin Tendulkar in a team is nothing short of an adrenaline shot in the arm for the side. If he were to take the field, his impeccable timing and cricketing genius, coupled with his tons of experience would be a major factor in steering his team towards victory. Thus, the Master Blaster would be the obvious choice to open the batting for this side, along with Gayle.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>Virat Kohli (C)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_146054" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-146054" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-146054" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Virat-Kohli-RCB-2017.jpg" alt="Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli in the IPL" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-146054" class="wp-caption-text">Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The current Indian skipper is widely regarded as one of the world&#8217;s greatest batsmen to have ever taken the field, more so in the limited overs format. 29-year old, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/fake-fb-wall-virat-kohli-wants-to-know-who-are-the-members-of-steve-smiths-leadership-group/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Virat Kohli</strong></a> started off his IPL career with the Royal Challengers Bangalore and has stuck to the side through thick and thin. Apart from having captained his side to the finals in the 2016 edition of the tournament, Kohli has 4 IPL centuries to his name in a single season, out of which one came from him batting with 9 stitches in his left hand owing to a split webbing, which is no mean feat. His batting firepower, along with his prowess at shepherding his troops ably makes him the ideal candidate to captain the team.</p>
<p>Coming down to numbers, Kohli has played in 57 T20s for his country, where he has made 1983 runs at a formidable average of 50.84. The IPL, in particular, has been a favorite hunting ground for the star batsman as he&#8217;s churned out 4418 runs in the last 10 seasons, including 382 boundaries and 159 6&#8217;s. The modern-day legend&#8217;s ability to take the onus entirely on himself to guide his team out of the direst of situations into victory is what makes him the perfect No.3 for the team.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>AB de Villiers</h3>
<figure id="attachment_66579" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-66579" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-66579" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/AB-de-Villiers-1.jpg" alt="AB de Villiers Royal Challengers Bangalore" width="600" height="413" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-66579" class="wp-caption-text">Mohali: Royal Challengers Bangalore batsman AB de Villiers in action during an IPL match between Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on May 9, 2016. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>How can we forget Mr. 360° when it comes to the shortest format of the game, more so the IPL? Very few in the game have as all-encompassing knowledge about the game and an ability to bamboozle the bowler ball after ball as AB de Villiers does. Be it a classical cover drive, a powerful inside-out shot or an innovative switch-hit, this man has every shot in the book at his fingertips. He began his campaign in the IPL with a short stint for the Delhi Daredevils side, before being affiliated to the Royal Challengers Bangalore, a team he&#8217;s been with since 2011.</p>
<p>In the 101 matches that he&#8217;s played for the RCB, he&#8217;s played the role of a top-order or middle-order batsman as and when required, to perfection. He has accrued 1672 runs in the 78 T20s he has played for his nation. 129 IPL matches have seen him put up 3473 runs at an average of 38.16 along with 3 centuries. De Villiers&#8217; exceptional reflexes on the field and his ability to keep the wickets only earn him further brownie points.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>Suresh Raina</h3>
<figure id="attachment_123911" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-123911" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-123911" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Suresh-Raina-CSK-IPL.jpg" alt="Suresh Raina CSK IPL" width="600" height="448" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-123911" class="wp-caption-text">Suresh Raina(Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Although Suresh Raina has been out of action for the national side for quite some time in the past, it&#8217;s a known fact that having him in one&#8217;s T20 team is as valuable as it can get. The 31-year old has been a part of the <strong>Chennai Super Kings</strong> since the inception of the IPL and his all-round capabilities are the reason why CSK leaped at the chance of retaining him on their return to the trophy in 2018. Raina is not only an explosive middle-order batsman, but also a handy part-time spinner and armed with exquisite fielding abilities, especially in the blink-and-miss region of the slip cordon and the cover-point area.</p>
<p>Raina has played 161 matches in the IPL in which he has contributed the highest number of runs by any player in the tournament (4540) with the bat and scalped 25 wickets with his right-arm off-break bowling. His batting average is a healthy 139.05 which is a witness to his hard-hitting abilities. Having Raina in a side not only brings the much-needed left-hand balance into the team, but also strengthens the middle-order due to the presence of a calm mind that possesses knowledge and prowess in T20 Cricket.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>MS Dhoni (WK)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_232968" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-232968" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-232968" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/MS-Dhoni-3.jpg" alt="MS Dhoni" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-232968" class="wp-caption-text">MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>&#8216;Captain Cool&#8217; is like good wine; the more he ages, the finer he gets! He&#8217;s arguably one of the finest minds that the sport has ever seen and definitely one of the best pair of gloves to have manned the wicket over the ages. Dhoni&#8217;s IPL career speaks volumes about his ability to finish off in style. His franchise, Chennai Super Kings have won the title twice under his leadership and in the 157 matches that he&#8217;s played for his team, Dhoni has amassed 3561 runs at a strike rate of 136.75, making him the 9th highest run-getter of the title.</p>
<p>The 36-year old&#8217;s keeping records are nothing short of impeccable. With 102 dismissals to his name, Dhoni holds the record for the second highest number of dismissals. What makes Dhoni an indispensable part of any T20 unit is his sheer ability to hold his nerves in pressure situations, hit the crucial boundaries, run the needed singles with zeal and guide his teammates with an amazing clarity. Further, his quippy advice to his bowlers from behind the wickets and jaw-dropping accuracy in calling the Decision Review System (DRS) are all handy bonuses!</p>
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<h3>Ravichandran Ashwin</h3>
<figure id="attachment_15658" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15658" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-15658" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Ravichandran-Ashwin-Chris-Gayle-IPL.jpg" alt="Ravichandran Ashwin CSK" width="640" height="446" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-15658" class="wp-caption-text">Ravichandran Ashwin CSK. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Ravichandran Ashwin first garnered recognition owing to his IPL stints even before he debuted for India. Quite naturally, he comes in as the perfect pick for the lower-middle order as a dependable batsman as well as a masterful spinner. The right-arm offbreak bowler has a knack for picking up regular wickets while constricting the flow of runs for the batting side that makes him extremely dangerous in the IPL, especially in the death overs. Ashwin has played for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) for a cumulative total of 111 matches.</p>
<p>In the 111 matches that he&#8217;s played, Ashwin has maintained a strike rate of 96.25 with the bat. With the ball, he&#8217;s scalped a perfect 100 wickets for an average of 24.99. His track record in the T20s for India has been exemplary as well with 52 wickets in 46 matches and best bowling figures of 8/4. The 2018 season of the tournament will see him don the jersey for the Kings XI Punjab side.</p>
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<h3>Bhuvneshwar Kumar</h3>
<figure id="attachment_15779" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15779" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-15779" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Bhuvneshwar-Kumar-in-IPL-SRH.jpg" alt="Bhuvneshwar Kumar SRH" width="640" height="435" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-15779" class="wp-caption-text">Bhuvneshwar Kumar SRH. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>This lanky, young man has been spearheading the Indian pace attack for the last 5 years and his importance in a quality side is undeniable. Bhuvneshwar Kumar stepped into the foray of IPL in 2011 and has been a part of three major franchises, namely, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pune Warriors and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively. In the 90 IPL games that he&#8217;s been a part of, Kumar has 111 wickets to his name, at an economy of 7.08; figures that place him at the 6th position in the list of highest wicket-takers in the championship.</p>
<p>To assess Kumar&#8217;s credibility as the indispensable pacer in a side, one can reflect on the match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kings XI Punjab in Hyderabad on April 17, 2017. While conceding a mere total of 19 runs, the 28-year old picked up 5 wickets in his quota of 4 overs, making it his best ever performance in the IPL. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the perfect mixture of pace, aggression and accuracy, making him the perfect match to the word &#8216;formidable&#8221;.</p>
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<h3>Zaheer Khan</h3>
<figure id="attachment_65669" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65669" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-65669" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Zaheer-Khan-celebrates-the-wicket-of-Mccullum-IPL.jpg" alt width="640" height="459" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-65669" class="wp-caption-text">Rajkot: Brendon McCullum of Gujarat Lions gets dismissed during an IPL match between Gujarat Lions and Delhi Daredevils in Rajkot on May 3, 2016. (Photo: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Veteran pacer, Zaheer Khan may have retired from international Cricket but oh, what we&#8217;d do to see him mark his run-up again! A fast bowler who has saved India from more than one pickles in the face of the greatest of oppositions, Khan is undoubtedly one of the best pacers the country has ever produced. His prowess at picking up seed and bowling the crucial yorkers in the death overs made him all the more lethal, especially in a format as short as the T20s.</p>
<p>Zaheer Khan&#8217;s T20I figures read 17 wickets in 17 matches, with best figures of 19/4. In the 100 matches that he&#8217;s played in the IPL, he has impressive figures of 100 dismissals to his name. In addition to that, his average of 27.27 and a decent economy hovering around 7 only adds to his repertoire. Every team needs a frontline pacer and the inclusion of Khan would mean just that on this side.</p>
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<h3>Lasith Malinga</h3>
<figure id="attachment_142956" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-142956" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-142956" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Lasith-Malinga-MI-IPL-10.jpg" alt="Lasith Malinga of Mumbai Indians in action" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-142956" class="wp-caption-text">Lasith Malinga of Mumbai Indians in action. (Photo: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>The third overseas player of the &#8216;Most Formidable IPL XI&#8217; would be the deadly Lasith Malinga! The Sri Lankan pacer took International Cricket by a storm in his early days and maintained the cutting-edge sharpness to his bowling over the years consistently. Malinga has been exceptionally successful for his country in the shorter formats of the game, be it the ODIs or the T20s. In particular, he has 90 wickets to his name off 68 T20Is.</p>
<p>As for in the IPL, Malinga&#8217;s name finds a place in every possible bowling record. With 154 wickets in 110 games at an average of 19.01, Malinga is top wicket-taker in the history of the tournament. The 2011 IPL will forever be etched in the minds of Cricket lovers as Malinga&#8217;s best tournament, where he clinched the Purple Cap with 28 wickets in just 16 games. His mind-numbing accuracy, toe-crushing yorkers and expertise at toying with the batsman&#8217;s mind by being able to anticipate the shot he wants to play, form the concoction that makes Malinga so dexterously unplayable.</p>
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<h3>Shane Warne</h3>
<figure id="attachment_68966" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-68966" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-68966" src="https://crictracker-admin-panel-08032022.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/media/attachments/Faiz-Fazal.jpg" alt="Faiz Fazal, Indian players" width="600" height="435" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-68966" class="wp-caption-text">Shane Warne (L) of the Royals celebrates with teammate Faiz Fazal after his team&#8217;s victory. (Photo by Hamish Blair-IPL 2010/IPL via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Last but not the least, comes in the magician of spin! Shane Warne is regarded by the entire cricketing fraternity as one of the best spinners to have ever tread the field. The leggie has played for the Rajasthan Royals in the period of 2008-11, where he participated in 55 matches for his side. The first season of the IPL is a gleaming testament to the class of Warne as he picked up 19 wickets in just 15 games of the 2007/08 season at an average of 21.26.</p>
<p>Interestingly, Warne has not played a single T20 game for his country, <strong>Australia</strong>. However, the IPL has witnessed him lap up 57 wickets in the 55 matches he took part in, with an economy of 7.27 and best bowling figures of 21/4. He has also contributed 198 runs with the bat, 34 being his best score. A mind as richly experienced in the ways of cricket and a spirit endowed with the gift of cricketing genius, Shane Warne is a must-have in the &#8216;Most Formidable IPL XI&#8217; of all time.</p>

An IPL team that if had taken the field, the opposition would have stood no chance and the crowds would have had a gala of a time watching them play.

IPL: Most Formidable XI of all time

The Indian Premier League (IPL). A tournament that's the perfect amalgamation of glitz, glamour, passion and competition. A league that hosts the