New Delhi: Charismatic Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on Sunday named the captain of the greatest Indian Premier League (IPL) team of all time. The team was selected to celebrate the success of the world’s most popular T20 league, which was launched in 2008.On February 20, 16 years of the first IPL auction will be completed. To make this occasion memorable, IPL’s television broadcaster ‘Star Sports’, with the help of former legendary cricketers and about 70 journalists, selected the greatest IPL team of all time. Its selection panel included legendary former cricketers like Wasim Akram, Matthew Hayden, Tom Moody and Dale Steyn.
Australia’s aggressive David Warner and India’s great Virat Kohli have been selected as opening batsmen while ‘universal boss’ Chris Gayle has been given the number three position in the batting order.Suresh Raina, AB de Villiers, Suryakumar Yadav and Dhoni have been included in the middle order, while Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja and Kieron Pollard are the three all-rounders in the 15-member team. Rashid Khan, Sunil Narine and Yuzvendra Chahal have been selected as spin bowlers while Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah are the two fast bowlers.
Former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn told Star Sports, “It was certain to agree on Dhoni’s name for captaincy.He has won every title. World Cup, IPL, ICC Champions Trophy. He has natural captaincy qualities and has handled things brilliantly on and off the field.” Former Australian cricketer and coach Tom Moody emphasized Dhoni’s remarkable achievement. He said, “Dhoni has won the title not only with a good team but also with an average team. This tells about his captaincy qualities.” He said, “Rohit Sharma is also a good captain but Mumbai Indians have always had great players.”
Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden said that Dhoni also has the ability to become the coach of the team. “It’s a clear choice, there’s no debate here,” he said. This is like a consensus among the entire Indian community. Of course, hitman Rohit Sharma is also a great captain but I will also choose Dhoni as captain and coach. He said, “Dhoni started as captain in 2008, at that time Shane Warne was the captain of Rajasthan Royals. And he was the coach, he made the team a champion. I think MS Dhoni can also be a coach.”
IPL all-time team: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, David Warner, Suresh Raina, AB de Villiers, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kieron Pollard, Rashid Khan, Sunil Narine, Yuzvendra Chahal, Lasith Malinga. And Jasprit Bumrah.
