|| India Correspondent ||
Former South Africa captain and Royal Challengers Bangalore's star batsman AB de Villiers has recently named his all-time Indian Premier League (IPL) XI, where seven Indian cricketers and four overseas players have been added ahead of IPL 2021.
AB de Villiers, who plays under the leadership of Virat Kohli for Royal Challengers Bangalore, picked up Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni as its captain. The veteran also chose his captain and Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma in the playing XI as well.
De Villiers kept himself in his all-time playing XI as one of the four overseas players but kept himself as one of the three options at No. 4 as well.
"Last night I was thinking that if I pick my IPL XI and I include myself, how bad would that look. So, opening the batting, I would pick someone whom I started with at Delhi, Viru (Virender Sehwag) at 1 and someone who I think has played some of the best cricket in the world in the last five years, Rohit at No. 2," AB de Villiers told Cricbuzz in an interaction.
"Then obviously Virat at No. 3, followed by I’d say either Williamson, or Smith, or myself these are the two replacements. Ben Stokes at 5, MS at six as captain, and at No. 7, I’d put Jaddu, Mr. Jadeja. Rashid Khan at 8, Bhuvi at 9, Kagiso Rabada at 10 and Bumrah at 11," he further added.
However, AB de Villiers didn't go for the swashbuckling batsman Suresh Raina, who is also the second-highest run-scorer in the history of the cash-rich league. He also dropped the legendary Lasith Malinga, who is currently the highest wicket-taker in the championship as well.
Here's his playing XI:
Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson/Steve Smith/AB de Villiers, Ben Stokes, MS Dhoni (C and WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kagiso Rabada, Jasprit Bumrah