Follow UsFormer South Africa captain Graeme Smith picked three players each from Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings alongside three greats of Royal Challengers Bangalore for his all-time IPL XI.
Smith, who won the inaugural 2008 IPL with Rajasthan Royals, picked seven Indian and four overseas players in his team, with MS Dhoni as the captain.
For the opener's roles, Smith picked West Indies legend Chris Gayle, who has been a mainstay for Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore. The southpaw has scored 4,965 runs from 141 innings, including six hundreds and 31 fifties in the competition. The Jamaican, who hit 357 sixes, also holds the record for most sixes in the IPL.
The former Rajasthan Royals opener picked Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma to partner Gayle at the top. Rohit has led MI to five IPL titles and is the only player to have won six IPL titles, including the 2010 win with Deccan Chargers.
For the No.3 and No.4 slots, Smith picked Royal Challengers Bangalore greats Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers.
Kohli, who stepped down from his role as the captain this year, amassed 6,411 runs from 208 innings at an average of 36.43. The former Indian captain enjoyed a stunning 2016 as he scored 973 runs from 16 innings which include four hundres and seven fifties.
De Villiers, who played for RCB from 2011-21, scored 4,491 for the side at an average of 41.2 at a sensational strike rate of 158.6.
At No.5, Smith pick Chennai Super Kings legend MS Dhoni who has led them to four titles and nine IPL finals, making them the most consistent team in history.
"I made a controversial pick to promote Dhoni to No.5 because of what he can do. He will be my captain," Smith told Cricket.com.
For the No.6 spot, Smith went with IPL's top wicket taker Dwayne Bravo. The former West Indies international has 181 scalps to his name from 156 innings. Bravo has also scored 1,547 runs from 111 innings at a strike rate of 130.2.
Smith picked current CSK captain Ravindra Jadeja for his allrounder skills. Jadeja, a three-time IPL champion, has three four-wicket hauls and fifer to his name.
For the second spinner role, Smith opted for former Indian offspinner Harbhajan Singh. Harbhajan, who represented CSK, MI and KKR between 2008-21, has claimed 150 wickets from 160 innings.
For the three fast bowlers in his side, Smith picked SRH's pace spearhead Bhuvneshwar Kumar and MI duo Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga.
Malinga had held the record for most wicket in IPL before Bravo with 170 wickets from 122 innings.