IPL 2020: Ashish Nehra Selects His Best XI Of The Tournament, Omits Virat Kohli, Kagiso Rabada

Former India pacer, Ashish Nehra has announced his best XI of the IPL 2020. Recently, Mumbai Indians won their fifth IPL title by defeating Delhi Capitals in the final in Dubai- unsurprisingly plenty of players from the MI team made into Nehra’s eleven.

While the orange cap winner, KL Rahul is in everyone’s team as an opener, Nehra chose David Warner over Shikhar Dhawan for his match-winning performances.

Talking to Star Sports, Ashish Nehra said, “You go just by the tournament performance, then my openers will be KL Rahul and David Warner.”

Ashish Nehra omitted his former national team captain, Virat Kohli for Mumbai’s Suryakumar Yadav, who had a thunderous season with the bat. Nehra said that though Kohli has also scored runs, he will go with Yadav for his impactful performance which helped MI win the title.

At number 4, the left-arm pacer had no qualms in naming AB de Villiers. Nehra will strengthen his middle-order with two MI stalwarts- Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya. Kishan will take up the wicket-keeping role, and Hardik displayed phenomenal power-hitting in the death overs.

Asish Nehra continued, “At No.3, I am not choosing Virat Kohli. It’s not that he has not scored runs but the impact runs were scored by Suryakumar Yadav, so I will keep him at No.3.

“There is no T20 team completed without AB de Villiers. So, he will be No.4. At No.5, I would say Ishan Kishan. I will also keep him as my wicket-keeper although AB de Villiers will also be an option. At No.6, Hardik Pandya.”

Ashish Nehra leaves out Kagiso Rabada

In the bowling department, two overseas superstars, Jofra Archer and Rashid Khan romp into Nehra’s eleven. Both can add batting depth as well, which forced him to take them over someone like Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje. Yuzvendra Chahal and Jasprit Bumrah are indisputable picks in any eleven.

For the last bowling spot, the 42-year-old said that he would go with either Mohammad Shami or Ravichandran Ashwin, depending on the conditions. If he needs an extra pacer, Shami comes in, or three spinners, then the off-spinner makes his way into the team.

“After that Jofra Archer and Rashid Khan, both can bat as well. And then Chahal and Jasprit Bumrah.

“My final pick will be one of Ravichandran Ashwin or Shami. If three fast bowlers are required, I will go with Archer, Bumrah and Shami. If only two are required, I will go with Bumrah and Archer and will play Ravichandran Ashwin instead of Shami,” Asish Nehra added.

The Delhi lad also wanted his World Cup-winning captain, MS Dhoni in his team. However, the CSK skipper has a disappointing season with the bat and hence couldn’t make the cut into Nehra’s team.

Ashish Nehra’s best IPL 2020 XI: KL Rahul, David Warner, Suryakumar Yadav, AB de Villiers, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Jofra Archer, Rashid Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin/Mohammed Shami.

Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami Unlikely To Play All ODIs, T20Is Against Australia: Report