Former South African batting star AB de Villiers has named his all-time IPL XI, featuring a mix of current stars and legends of the game, with MS Dhoni chosen as captain and wicketkeeper.
De Villiers' lineup includes Rohit Sharma and Matthew Hayden as openers, followed by Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, and de Villiers himself. Hardik Pandya
The bowling attack comprises Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga as the pace duo, with Yuzvendra Chahal and Daniel Vettori forming the spin partnership. This balanced team combines the explosive batting of current stars with the experience and skill of former IPL greats.
De Villiers' selection of Dhoni as captain reflects the respect he holds for the veteran leader and his significant contributions to the IPL.
“De Villiers picked the inspirational MS Dhoni as his wicketkeeper and captain. The 44-year-old will bat at No. 7 in de Villiers' lineup.”
Players with the most matches played in IPL history
| Rank | Player | Team | matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | CSK | 278 matches | |
| #2 | MI | 272 matches | |
| #3 | RCB | 267 matches | |
| #4 | CSK | 254 matches | |
| #5 | CSK | 221 matches |
Analysis of the most experienced players by age in IPL 2025
| Rank | Player | Team | age |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | CSK | 44 years | |
| #2 | DC | 41 years | |
| #3 | CSK | 39 years | |
| #4 | MI | 38 years | |
| #5 | KKR | 38 years |
