Wisden’s all-time overseas IPL XI

While a usual IPL XI only has four overseas players per side, this XI is made up entirely of the finest overseas performers of all-time.

David Warner

5,449 runs @ 41.59, S/R 139.96, HS 126, 4 hundreds, 50 fifties

To this day Warner is still one of the most destructive openers in T20 cricket. He has the highest runs among overseas players in IPL history and has always tended to score at a brisk pace. The fact that he played a crucial role in Australia’s World Cup campaign meant that there’s still life in the old dog yet, and he should fetch a big pay day in the upcoming auction.

Chris Gayle

4,965 runs @ 39.72, S/R 148.96, HS 175*, 6 hundreds, 31 fifties

The Jamaican legend has more than 14,000 runs in T20 cricket, almost 5,000 of which have come in the IPL.  He formed an enviable trio of batting superstars along with AB de Villiers, and Virat Kohli while the RCB, the same franchise where he scored his mammoth 175* back in 2013.

Shane Watson

3874 runs @ 30.99, S/R 137.91, HS 117*, 4 hundreds, 21 fifties, 92 wickets @ 29.15

Watson’s transformation in international career (from a middle-order allrounder to an opener) was also seen in the IPL. He started out with Rajasthan Royals, before moving to RCB, and eventually ending up with CSK. A reliable player because of his all-round skills, he was able to carve a special place for himself in IPL history. He won the IPL twice, the inaugural edition in 2008, and with CSK in 2018 where he scored 117* in the final. Watson was named player of the tournament in both 2008 and 2013.

Faf du Plessis

2935 runs @ 34.94, S/R 131.08, HS 96, 22 fifties

A CSK regular who briefly played for the Rising Pune Supergiants when the Chennai franchise was suspended from the league, du Plesssis has been a solid batter over several IPL seasons. He was the second highest run scorer in last year’s IPL, and should be highly sought after in 2022 given his experience and leadership capabilities.

AB de Villiers

5162 runs @ 39.7, S/R 151.68, HS 133*, 3 hundreds, 40 fifties

A South Africa great whose name became synonymous with the league. He started out with Delhi Daredevils before switching to RCB, where he spent most of his IPL career. He continued to serve his franchise long after his international retirement. De Villiers has a decent claim to being the greatest batter in the history of T20 and IPL cricket.

Kieron Pollard

3268 runs @ 29.98, S/R 149.77, 65 wickets @ 31.61

Since his first IPL campaign all the way back in 2010 Pollard has played a pivotal role in Mumbai Indian’s success. The 34-year-old was also retained by his franchise, showing how much value the allrounder brings to the side.

Andre Russell

1700 runs @ 29.31, S/R 178.57, 72 wickets @ 26.4

Even if Russell is an injury concern, his scintillating displays in the lower-middle order during death overs  (he has a strike-rate of 210.82 during death overs) mean that he remains an invaluable player for his side. He is yet another player who started with the Delhi franchise before becoming a regular at KKR.

Dwayne Bravo

1537 runs @ 22.94, S/R 130.25,  167 wickets @ 24.31, Bowling S/R 17.4

The second-most successful bowler in IPL history has featured for Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions, and CSK. He is a reliable batter down the order, but his most important contribution has been as a death bowler, where he has picked up 91 wickets at an average of 18.64.

Sunil Narine

954 runs @ 15.63, S/R 161.69, 143 wickets @ 24.53, Economy rate 6.74, Bowling S/R 21.8

Even if we had placed Narine at number seven in this batting order, it might have been a bit too low to some, for the Trinidadian has made a reputation for himself as a big-hitter in recent years, too. But it is his mystery spin which earns him a spot in this XI. Like Watson, Narine is a two-time player of the competition, doing so in 2012 and 2018.

Rashid Khan

93 wickets @ 20.55, BBI 3-7, Economy rate 6.33, Bowling S/R 19.4

The Afghanistan leggie has been a revelation ever since making his IPL debut for SRH. Khan will certainly set the next few seasons of the IPL alight with his new franchise, Ahmedabad.

Lasith Malinga

170 wickets @ 19.79, BBI 5-13, Economy rate 7.14, S/R 16.6

Another player who helped define the IPL. He was one of the senior heads in the Mumbai Indians setup and played a big hand in the side’s success in the league on a number of occasions.