IPL 2021: Strongest Playing 11 of all teams

IPL Playing 11: All eight teams are more than ready for the mega event. While the teams like MI and SRH decided to retain majority of their core for one more year, teams like RCB and Punjab Kings decided to revamp the bulk of their squad. But with some big purchases in the recently concluded auction, all teams look evenly matched on paper. With eight top quality overseas stars and some fine domestic talents in each squad, the task of choosing the best possible IPL 2021 playing XI seems to be a herculean task for every management.

Playing 11 for IPL 2021

Here we have managed to put forward the strongest possible Playing 11 for IPL 2021.

1. Mumbai Indians

The defending champions are the most well-balanced team out of all teams. Their playing eleven was already sorted out in IPL 2020. Instead of James Pattinson they have secured the services of Adam Milne. Either he or Coulter Nile will play as the third seamer. Veteran leg spinner Piyush Chawla will be the backup for Rahul Chahar.

Best Possible MI Playing 11: Rohit Sharma(C), Quinton de Kock(wk), Surya Kumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Nathan Coulter Nile/ Adam Milne, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah

2. Chennai Super Kings

CSK now has the luxury of bringing in Moeen Ali in place of Ngidi if additional spin is needed. Either of Gaikwad or Uthappa is expected to partner Faf du Plessis at the top.

Best Possible CSK Playing 11: Ruturaj Gaikwad/ Robin Uthappa, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni(c & wk), Sam Curran, Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir

TOP 10 buys at IPL Auction 2021

3. Royal Challengers Bangalore

Both big buys- Glenn Maxwell and Kyle Jamieson are sure starters for RCB. With the likes of Virat, ABD and domestic spinners locking their places permanently only one of Philippe/ Sams can make it to the eleven.

Best Possible RCB Playing 11: Devdutt Padikkal, Josh Philippe/ Mohammad Azharuddeen, Virat Kohli(c), AB de Villiers(wk), Glenn Maxwell, Washington Sundar, Harshal Patel/ Daniel Sams, Kyle Jamieson, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammad Siraj.

4. Kolkata Knight Riders

KKR are expected to field a similar playing eleven as that of last year. But now, they have two quality backups for Narine and Russell in Shakib and Ben Cutting.

Best Possible KKR Playing 11: Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan(c), Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik(wk), Sunil Narine, Pat Cummins, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav/Varun Chakravarthy, Kamlesh Nagarkoti

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5. Sunrisers Hyderabad

Best Possible SRH Playing 11: David Warner(c), Wriddhiman Saha(wk), Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Priyam Garg/ Abhishek Sharma, Abdul Samad, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, T Natarajan

6. Delhi Capitals

Prithvi Shaw’s lack of form has to be the sole reason why DC went for Steve Smith in this auction. This move helps them to push Rahane back to the opening slot with Smith occupying the number three spot. One of Ishant or Umesh will accompany Rabada and Nortje in the pace bowling department.

Best Possible DC Playing 11: Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Steve Smith, Shreyas Iyer(c), Rishabh Pant(wk), Marcus Stoinis, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel/ Amit Mishra, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Ishant Sharma/ Umesh Yadav

Top 5 costliest Buys in IPL Auction History

7. Rajasthan Royals

The addition of two allrounders Chris Morris and Shivam Dube, the Rajasthan Royals seems to have a balanced lineup. They are at their best when Buttler opens the batting. Either of Vohra or Jaiswal will accompany him in the opening slot with both Jofra and Morris taking care of the death bowling.

Best Possible RR Playing 11: Jos Buttler(wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal/ Manan Vohra, Sanju Samson(c), Ben Stokes, Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Chris Morris, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Kartik Tyagi

Most expensive player in IPL Auction History

8. Punjab Kings

With some big buys in their bags, Punjab have the luxury of tinkering with their overseas quota. They can either go for an all overseas middle order or can bring in Fabian Allen as a finisher by benching out either of Pooran or Malan for Mandeep Singh.

Best Possible Punjab Kings Playing 11: KL Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Dawid Malan, Nicholas Pooran, Shahrukh Khan/ Deepak Hooda, Murugan Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Jhye Richardson, Mohammad Shami