Sunrisers Hyderabad captain David Warner doned the selectors hat to pick up T20 stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Mitchell Starc in his all-time IPL XI. However, the explosive SRH opener surprises many as he did not have a place for proven performers like Yuvraj Singh, his former Australia teammate Shane Watson and Mumbai Indians duo Kieron Pollard and Lasith Malinga in his dream team.
In an interview with commentator Harsha Bhogle for Cricbuzz, Warner chose himself and Rohit to open the innings in his powerpacked team. Kohli comes into bat at no.3 while CSK stalwart Suresh Raina slots into the no.4 position.
There is plenty of firepower at no.5 and no.6 with big hitting all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Glenn Maxwell. CSK skipper M.S. Dhoni is Warner's frontline wicket-keeping batsman in at no.7 .
Warner's Australia teammate Mitchell Starc comes in at no.8 while MI fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah comes next. Warner then selected Ashish Nehra at no.10 and couldn't choose between wrist spin duo Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal for the no.11 spot.
Warner also spoke about the similarities he seems to share with Kohli on the show. "I can't speak for Virat, obviously, but it's almost like we got this thing in us when we go (out to the middle) we need to prove people wrong, prove someone wrong," Warner said.
"If you're in that contest, and if I'm going at him for example, you're thinking, 'Alright, I'm going to score more runs than him, I'm going to take a quick single on him'.
"You are trying to better that person in that game. That's where the passion comes from," he added.