Mandeep Singh, a veteran of 14 IPL seasons and domestic cricket stalwart, recently shared his all-time IPL XI in an exclusive interview. The 33-year-old right-handed batter, who last appeared in IPL 2023, has played 111 IPL games and three T20Is for India. He notably led Punjab to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy victory in 2023, ending a 30-year title drought for the state. Last season, he captained Tripura across formats, though the team failed to advance beyond the group stage. His carefully selected XI features legendary names including MS Dhoni as captain, opening pair Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and middle-order stars. Interestingly, his lineup excludes IPL's leading wicket-taker Yuzvendra Chahal and three-time Orange Cap winner David Warner, despite their outstanding tournament records.
Mandeep's Star-Studded XI and Notable Omissions
Mandeep chose MS Dhoni as captain with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli opening. Suresh Raina, known as Mr IPL, occupies the crucial number three position. The middle order features AB de Villiers, Ravindra Jadeja, and Dhoni, while Hardik Pandya provides all-round balance. The bowling attack includes the formidable Mumbai Indians duo of Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah, alongside spinners Rashid Khan and Sunil Narine. Chris Gayle, the 'Universe Boss' holding records for most sixes (357) and highest individual score (175 not out), was named Impact Player. Surprisingly absent are Yuzvendra Chahal, IPL's highest wicket-taker with 221 scalps, and David Warner, the only three-time Orange Cap winner with the second-most half-centuries.
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