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CSK All-Time XI: Dad’s Army Most Consistent

CSK All-Time XI, let us start with the obvious. MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina – the twin retirements that shook the world. Now that international cricket is off their mind, who knows they might play even better!

In the All-Time CSK XI, Thala and chinna thala are the two pillars of CSK, but who else is a guarantee?

Even after the two year exodus, CSK has come back with the ‘Dad’s Army’ and won it in style. How long can do they with these old stars? Only time will tell.

CSK has ALWAYS made it to the playoffs—they are just that good. When the odds are in their favor, they win. When the odds are not in their favor, they definitely win.

Anyway, VOTE BELOW AND SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

Meanwhile, here is our All-Time CSK XI.

*Note: CSK were banned between 2016-2017, so these players played for other teams then.

The Catch

  • In slow turning Chennai pitches, Ashwin, Jadeja, Jakati, and Harbhajan have all played monumental roles – can you fit all four of them in?
  • At the top of the order, it seems CSK have a revolving door of Australians – Matthew Hayden made way for Mike Hussey, who was eventually replaced by Shane Watson (there is a Faf in the mix too). Who do you pick?

The Highlights

  • 2010, 2011, 2018 – (Champions), 2008, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019 (Runners Up), 2009, 2014 (3rd)

MY CSK All-Time XI

  1. Mike Hussey (2008-2015)
  2. Murali Vijay (2009-2013, 2019)
  3. Suresh Raina (2008-2019)
  4. Ambati Rayudu (2018-2019)
  5. MS Dhoni (2008-2019) – Captain/WK
  6. Subramaniam Badrinath (2008-2013)
  7. Ravindra Jadeja (2012-2019)
  8. Albie Morkel (2008-2013)
  9. Dwayne Bravo (2011-2019)
  10. Ravichandran Ashwin (2009-2015)
  11. Imran Tahir (2018-2019)

Honorable Mention: Shane Watson (2018-2019), Deepak Chahar (2018-2019), Shadab Jakati (2009-2012), Faf du Plessis (2012-2019)

Audience Poll – CSK All-Time XI

  • Pick 11 players from the list – with 4 foreign players maximum.
  • You need to have a wicketkeeper and at least 5 bowling options.

[yop_poll id=”4″]

Thank y’all for voting! Share with your friends, comment below on your XI, and subscribe to the blog/ follow our social media pages!

For other IPL All-Time XIs, check this page out.

Sources: Cricinfo StatsCricinfo IPL All-Time XI

Image Courtesy: Ravindra Jadeja – Amrapahal Pahanswan / CC BY-SA 4.0; MS Dhoni – Pulkitsinha / CC BY-SA 2.0; Albie Morkel – YellowMonkey/Blnguyen / CC BY-SA 4.0; Matthew Hayden – Eva Rinaldi / CC BY-SA 2.0; Suresh RainaNAPARAZZI / CC BY-SA 2.0

IPL All-Time XI: RR and KKR

Well, well, well, the IPL is here. It is that time of the year. Okay not quite, 2020 is weird. Anyway, six months delayed, but IPL-13 is finally here.

Cricket has restarted and England has done their part in hosting West Indies, Pakistan, and Australia. Now it is time to jump ship across to the U.A.E. for the Indian Premier League.

ESPNCricinfo recently did a series on all-time IPL XI teams. Although we agree on some players, I have a different take on most teams. So for the next few days, we will be doing IPL All-Time XI, 2 teams each day.

Why not start with the teams that inspired the IPL craze? Yes, I am talking about the winners of the 1st IPL, Rajasthan Royals, and Kolkata Knight Riders for whom Brendon McCullum blazed 158 in the first game of the IPL.

All-Time XI – Rules

First, we will first give you a chance to vote on who you think should be in the All-Time XI and then display our All-Time XI.

  • Limit to 11 players per team (you can play around with the balance of the team)
  • Maximum of 4 foreign players in the XI
  • Needs to be able to field a team (a wicket-keeper and 5 bowling options at least)

Note, with major auctions every three years, several players may be in multiple All-Time XI teams.

Rajasthan Royals

Highlights: 2008 (Champions), 2013 (3rd), 2015, 2018 – (4th)

My Rajasthan Royals – XI

Here is my Rajasthan Royals XI. I picked several players from their 2008 winning campaign.

Note: The foreign players are in bold.

  1. Jos Butler (2018-2019) – WK
  2. Rahul Dravid (2011-2013) – (C)
  3. Shane Watson (2008-2015)
  4. Ajinkya Rahane (2011-2015; 2018-2019)
  5. Sanju Samson (2013-2015; 2018-2019)
  6. Brad Hodge (2012-2014)
  7. Yusuf Pathan (2008-2010)
  8. Ravindra Jadeja (2008-2009)
  9. Shreyas Gopal (2018-2019)
  10. Sohail Tanvir (2008)
  11. Siddharth Trivedi (2008-2013)

Honorable Mentions: Steven Smith (2014-2019), Shane Warne (2008-2011), Swapnil Asnodkar (2008-2011), Stuart Binny (2011-2019)

Audience Poll – RR XI

The results are in! We received about 29 votes. Here is what the audience voted for:

  1. Rahul Dravid – Captain
  2. Shane Watson
  3. Ajinkya Rahane/Steven Smith (tie) [*Smith will not make it in because of the foreign quota of 4]
  4. Sanju Samson – WK
  5. Jos Butler
  6. Ben Stokes
  7. Ravindra Jadeja
  8. James Faulkner/Shane Warne (tie)
  9. Dhawal Kulkarni
  10. Munaf Patel
  11. Pravin Tambe/Shreyas Gopal (Tie)

*Note: Jofra Archer had more votes than Munaf Patel but because of the 4 foreign players quote, he lost to Faulkner/Shane Warne by one vote.

Missed out by Barest of Margins: Jofra Archer (the irony), Yusuf Pathan, Sohail Tanvir

Some Votes: Siddharth Trivedi, Shaun Tait, Stuart Binny, Krishnappa Gowtham

Less than 2 Votes: Johan Botha, Swapnil Asnodkar, Naman Ojha, Dishant Yagnik, Brad Hodge

Was there another player you would have liked to see? Comment Below!

Kolkata Knight Riders

Highlights: 2012, 2014 – (Champions), 2017, 2018 – (3rd), 2011, 2016 – (4th)

My KKR XI

Here is my KKR XI. Most of the players are from the 2012-2014 generation in which KKR won twice.

  1. Sunil Narine (2012-2019)
  2. Gautam Gambhir (2011-2017)
  3. Jacques Kallis (2011-2014)
  4. Robin Uthappa (2014-2019)
  5. Manish Pandey (2014-2017)
  6. Dinesh Karthik (2018-2019)
  7. Andre Russell (2014-2019)
  8. Piyush Chawla (2014-2019)
  9. Morne Morkel (2014-2016)
  10. Umesh Yadav (2014-2017)
  11. Kuldeep Yadav (2016-2019)

Honorable Mentions: Chris Lynn (2014-2019), Yusuf Pathan (2011-2017), Shakib Al Hasan (2011-2017), Manvinder Bisla (2011-2014)

Audience Poll – KKR XI

  1. Gautam Gambhir – Captain
  2. Manish Pandey
  3. Robin Uthappa
  4. Shakib Al Hasan/Morne Morkel (Tie)
  5. Jacques Kallis (Tie with 5.)
  6. Dinesh Karthik – WK
  7. Andre Russell
  8. Sunil Narine
  9. Umesh Yadav
  10. Kuldeep Yadav
  11. Piyush Chawla

*Note: Shakib, Morkel, and Kallis are tied so 2/3 can fill in the spots. (If it is a turning pitch, we will play Shakib; otherwise, Morne it is).

Missed out by the Barest of Margins: Brendon McCullum (irony #2 – had to be from New Zealand), Brett Lee, Chris Lynn, Ishant Sharma, Sourav Ganguly

Some Votes: Lakshmipathy Balaji, Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, Eoin Morgan, Shoaib Akhtar, Nitesh Rana, Yusuf Pathan

Less than 2 Votes: Manoj Tiwary, Manvinder Bisla, Ryan Ten Doeschate, Rajat Bhatia, Iqbal Abdulla

Please vote and share with your friends to see what their best XI is? PLEASE SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, AND COMMENT BELOW ON WHAT YOU THINK!

Next time we will analyze the Best XIs of DC and KXIP. Let the games begin!

For other IPL All-Time XIs, check this page out. For other World XIs, check this page out.

Sources: Cricinfo Stats, Cricinfo IPL All-Time XI

Image Courtesy: Shane Watson – NAPARAZZI / CC BY-SA 2.0; Shane Warne – Chris Brown / via CC 2.0; Jacques Kallis – Kolkata Knight Riders – Official / via CC 3.0; Dinesh Karthik – Dee03 / CC BY-SA 3.0; Sunil Narine – Kolkata Knight Riders – Official / via CC 3.0