JP Duminy, the former South African middle-order batsman, recently picked his all-time IPL [Indian Premier League] XI, and his choices or the lack of it, is sure to ruffle a lot of feathers.
Duminy, who retired from international cricket post-South Africa’s disastrous 2019 World Cup campaign, named the ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle as one of the openers in his all-time IPL XI. Gayle, who has featured for sides like Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab, has been one of the leading lights of the cash-rich league since its inception.
But, surprisingly, Australian swashbuckling opener and Sunrisers Hyderabad captain David Warner, who has been a run-making juggernaut in the past 4-5 seasons of the Indian Premier League did not find a place in Duminy’s all-time XI. In fact, the former Proteas batsman went for Warner’s compatriot Adam Gilchrist as Gayle’s partner at the top. Gilchrist, who led Deccan Chargers to title glory in 2009, also represented Kings XI Punjab during his IPL career.
Also Read: Sreesanth Names Five Indians In His All-Time ODI XI
No Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni in JP Duminy’s all-time IPL XI
Suresh Raina, who has been one of the cornerstones of Chennai Super Kings success in the IPL does not find a place in JP Duminy’s all-time IPL XI with Rohit Sharma talking up the one-down position in the batting line-up followed the leading run-scorer in the history of the competition, Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Virat Kohli, who quite incredibly has been named as the captain, despite the presence of 4-time IPL winner Rohit Sharma being in the playing XI.
With Adam Gilchrist already in the set-up, JP Duminy reckoned MS Dhoni as surplus to his demands and instead went for two West Indian all-rounders in Andre Russell and Kieron Pollard.
As far as the bowling unit is concerned, Amit Mishra and Harbhajan Singh- the second and third-highest wicket-taker in the history of the competition- do not find a place in Duminy’s all-time IPL XI as he went on to choose Muttiah Muralitharan and Imran Tahir. Brett Lee and the all-time leading wicket-taker in the IPL Lasith Malinga round off JP Duminy’s all-time IPL XI.
Also Read: Riyan Parag Could Be Next ‘MS Dhoni’: Robin Uthappa
JP Duminy’s all-time IPL XI:
Chris Gayle, Adam Gilchrist [WK], Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli [C], AB de Villiers, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Brett Lee, Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga, Imran Tahir.