New Delhi: Aussie spin legend Shane Warne has unveiled his Indian Premier League (IPL) All-time XI as the world's most watched T20 cricket league marked its tenth edition this season.
Warne, 47, who famously helped Rajasthan Royals to win the inaugural edition of IPL, announced his team on Saturday through a Facebook post in response to a question.
Here's my all time #IPL team over the last 10 yrs what's yours @KP24 @MichaelVaughan @robkey612 ?@ProCricketLive https://t.co/bzraIIAoLJ
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) April 22, 2017
The criteria for selection was, overseas players quota is only four players as in real IPL matches.
Assembling the who's who of IPL, Warne made Mahendra Singh Dhoni captain of the side. Besides being India's most successful captain, Dhoni also helped Chennai Super Kings to back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011.
But the team has no place for other Indian legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. Other notable Indian missing from the list is Suresh Raina – the tournament's leading scorer.
The team, however, has Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh and Umesh Yadav.
They are joined by Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum, Jaques Kallis and Lasith Malinga — all legends of the game. Notable international players missing from the list is AB de Villiers.
Gayle and McCullum will open for the dream team, followed by Kallis at one down. Kohli, Rohit and Yuvi followed, before Dhoni, who comes at seven.
Harbhajan and Jadeja will spearhead the spin attack, with Yuvi contributing with odd overs. In pace department, Malinga and Umesh will be backed by Kallis.
And soon, reactions started pouring in, mostly complaining about Raina and de Villiers' double omission.
@ShaneWarne @KP24 @MichaelVaughan @robkey612 @ProCricketLive Raina is the best No.3 in the history of the IPL + leading run scorer ... shocking that there is no place for him! He is Mr IPL!
— Manish Pandey (@_ManishPandey) April 22, 2017
@ShaneWarne @bhogleharsha @KP24 @MichaelVaughan @robkey612 @ProCricketLive No bhuvi,raina I'm surprised to see yadav
— Eldo Jacob (@eldoj28) April 22, 2017
@ShaneWarne @KP24 @MichaelVaughan @robkey612 @ProCricketLive You gotta make more changes buddy. Ashwin for Harbhajan, ABD for Kallis
— Ram (@Ram_Murthy5) April 22, 2017
@ShaneWarne @KP24 @MichaelVaughan @robkey612 @ProCricketLive Kallis a better T20 player than AB?
— Selwyn (@selwyn1310) April 22, 2017
IPL was started in 2008, and has since emerged as the undiputed T20 league of the world with players from all over the world plying their trade in it.
