AB De Villiers recently revealed his All Time IPL XI. The swashbuckling South African is easily one of the best players to have ever played in the IPL. So one would assume that his place in any All time IPL XI would be a given. However, AB De Villiers was a little hesitant in keeping himself as one of the four overseas players on the team. However, he did end up choosing himself as the fourth player on the squad.
Here’s what AB De Villiers said about it during an interview:
“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.”
The third spot on the XI belongs to RCB captain and run machine Virat Kohli. Kohli is the highest run getter in IPL history with 5878 runs including five centuries at 39 fifties. The two candidates de Villiers has considered for the No. 4 spot along with himself are Steve Smith and Kane Williamson. These players were going to be his replacements if needed. He chose “Captain Cool” Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the captain and wicket keeper of the team. Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar are two of the three frontline fast bowlers.
“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,” de Villiers said.
Also known as Mr. 360, de Villiers explained the reason behind Stokes’ inclusion over any other option. “I’d put Stokes because obviously we know what he can do with the bat, but also considering that extra seaming option. Got the two spinners and then Bumrah, Rabada and Bhuvi as fast bowlers. So that pretty much covers everything,” de Villiers added.
This is the All Time IPL XI as chosen by AB De Villiers:
- Virender Sehwag
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Kane Williamson/Steve Smith/AB de Villiers (replacements)
- Ben Stokes
- MS Dhoni (C and WK)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Rashid Khan
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Kagiso Rabada
- Jasprit Bumrah
