Retired IPL XI of the decade

It is the Indian Premier League (IPL) that generates the maximum excitement above all other sporting events in franchise cricket. The inception of IPL back in 2008 acted as one of the biggest steps in turning around the landscape of cricket for the years to come. The marquee event facilitated the participation of even the internationally retired cricketers who notched up the competition with their tons of experience. 

But, as the years went by, the veterans couldn’t live up to the rigours of the two-month-long tournament. Hence, the franchises had little trouble in filling the void of these veterans. Post their retirement, some players decided to take up a role as a coach or a talent scout. As this decade is on the brink of a close, we have compiled a crew of best eleven players who quit playing the tournament in this decade.

We take a look at those players who cracked their way to the best retired playing eleven:

Sachin Tendulkar

The little master or the master blaster as they call him, Sachin Tendulkar has etched his name as the icon of the sport. When it comes to international cricket, none have been able to match his longevity and the unparalleled contributions he made. The Mumbai batsman literally ruled the world cricket for more than two decades.

Tendulkar is the most capped player in ODIs and Tests, having also mustered the most runs and centuries in both the format. Even though the right-hander played only one T20 game for India, he flourished in the competition for Mumbai Indians. As a captain of the franchise for four seasons, his best record was leading Mumbai Indians to the final in the yar 2010. 

In that same season, he also won the Orange Cap for scoring 618 runs in 15 games. The 46-year old played his last season of the IPL in 2013, finishing with 2334 runs in 78 IPL matches. When he called it quits from IPL, Tendulkar was the fifth highest-run getter in the history of the tournament. The veteran, with his average of nearly 35, will open the innings.