IPL 2019: Anil Kumble Picks His Dream XI, Names MS Dhoni as the Skipper

The ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has reached its business end with two more games left. Mumbai Indians have already sealed a spot in the finals of the tournament and Delhi Capitals will clash against Chennai Super Kings later today to book the second spot in the finals. As another season marches towards its end, former India skipper Anil Kumble has picked his dream XI for this edition.

In a recent video chat with CricketNext, Anil Kumble has named a star-studded XI considering the performance in the 2019 IPL. The two factors taken into consideration while picking the team are –  Kumble can pick only four foreign cricketers and can only consider the performance of the league stages.

The former Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper has gone with the two highest run-scorers – David Warner (692 runs) and KL Rahul (592 runs) for the opening slot. Both of them have been in scintillating form in the tournament for their respective franchise followed by Delhi Capitals skipper Shreyas Iyer at number 3. Iyer has led the team from the front which has seen Delhi book a playoff spot after six long years.

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Dhoni to lead Kumble’s dream XI

Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, and Andre Russell will form Anil Kumble’s middle-order. Pant has shown his class time and again and once again played a blistering knock against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator.

On the other hand, Hardik Pandya and Andre Russell have been a revelation in IPL 2019. The duo has hit better than anybody in the tournament and will slot in anybody’s playing XI. MS Dhoni will don the captaincy hat who can chip in with a few strikes when in need.

Imran Tahir and Shreyas Gopal will be the two spinners while Kagiso Rabada and Jasprit Bumrah will be two fast bowlers. Rabada who bowed out of the tournament due to a back injury is still the Purple Cap holder while Bumrah is the best in the business. On the other hand, Tahir and Gopal have been the best spinner in the tournament and deserves to be in Anil Kumble’s dream XI.

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Team: David Warner, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni (wk & c), Hardik Pandya, Andre Russell, Shreyas Gopal, Imran Tahir, Kagiso Rabada, Jasprit Bumrah.