Aakash Chopra Names His Best XI Of The IPL 2021

Former India batsman Aakash Chopra has announced his best IPL 2021 eleven. Interestingly, he picked only 3 overseas players, which also indicates the huge amount of success Indian players had in the tournament.

The Chennai Super Kings reigned supreme again as they clinched their fourth IPL title, defeating Kolkata Knight Riders in the final on Friday in Dubai by 27 runs.

Unsurprisingly, the opening pair for Aakash Chopra is of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis. The young Indian opener finished as the highest run-scorer in the tournament, scoring 635 runs, with the South African just two runs behind him. Faf was Man of the Match in the final.

Punjab Kings captain KL Rahul, who amassed 626 runs in the season, is the wicket-keeper in Aakash Chopra’s eleven and bats at number 3. He then opted for the middle-order of Glenn Maxwell, Rahul Tripathi, and Shimron Hetmyer.

Maxwell was instrumental in RCB’s run to the playoffs, scoring 513 runs at a strike rate of 144, while Tripathi’s strike rate of 140 was key to KKR’s run flow in the middle-overs. Hetmyer played the finisher’s role for the Delhi Capitals, smashing at a strike rate of 168 while also averaging 34.

Ravindra Jadeja takes the all-rounder’s role in Aakash Chopra’s team. The CSK all-rounder averaged 75 with a strike rate of 145 with the bat, while managed to nip out 13 wickets.

Harshal Patel, the Purple Cap winner with 32 scalps, was a no-brainer in any eleven of the season, and he’d be supported by Jasprit Bumrah (21 wickets), the only Mumbai Indians player in this line-up.

Finally, the 44-year-old commentator went with Varun Chakaravarthy (18 wickets), Yuzvendra Chahal (18 wickets) in the spin department.

Aakash Chopra’s best IPL 2021 XI:

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis. KL Rahul, Glenn Maxwell, Rahul Tripathi, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshal Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah

My IPL-XI for #IPL2O21

1. Ruturaj
2. Faf ✈️
3. KL Rahul (wk)
4. Maxwell ✈️
5. Tripathi
6. Hetmeyer ✈️
7. Jadeja
8. Harshal
9. Varun C
10. Chahal
11. Bumrah

How’s your team looking?

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 17, 2021

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