MS Dhoni Named Captain Of IPL's All-Time Greatest Team

MS Dhoni has led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to 5 IPL titles to date.

MS Dhoni has been named the captain of IPL's all-time greatest team picked by experts.

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In a celebration of the Indian Premier League's (IPL) monumental success since its inception in 2008, ex-India captain and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend MS Dhoni has been chosen to captain the all-time greatest IPL team. The selection panel, comprising former cricketers Wasim Akram, Matthew Hayden, Tom Moody and Dale Steyn, along with input from 70 journalists, finalised the 15-member squad.

The opening duo includes the explosive David Warner from Australia and India's run-machine Virat Kohli, while Chris Gayle occupies the crucial number three spot in the batting order. The middle-order boasts the likes of the Suresh Raina, AB de Villiers, Suryakumar Yadav along with Dhoni as the wicketkeeper-batter. The all-rounder slots are filled by the hard-hitting duo of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, accompanied by Kieron Pollard. The spin attack is spearheaded by the trio of Rashid Khan, Sunil Narine and Yuzvendra Chahal, while the pace department sees the inclusion of Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah.

The IPL, set to mark 16 years since its first-ever auction on February 20, 2024, has witnessed the rise Dhoni. Revered as one of the most successful captains in cricket history, Dhoni's leadership prowess has been a cornerstone of his illustrious career. On the 'Star Sports Incredible 16 of IPL' show, former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn lauded Dhoni as the epitome of leadership excellence, citing his impressive track record in winning various championships.

IPL: Expert Panel Picks Dhoni Over Rohit Sharma As Captain

Tom Moody, former Australia cricketer and coach, outlined Dhoni's remarkable feat of securing titles with both star-studded and average squads, underlining his ability to lead diverse talents to success. Matthew Hayden, another former Australia cricketer, expressed his unwavering support for Dhoni as both captain and coach.

"It's an obvious choice, it's not a debate over here. It's going to be unanimous amongst the entire Indian community," Hayden told Star Sports.

"Of course, Rohit Sharma, the Hitman, is such an incredible leader as well, so it's a tough choice, but I'm going to be bold and I'm going to pick Dhoni as a Captain and Coach as well.

IPL's All-time Greatest Squad: MS Dhoni (Captain), Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, David Warner, Suresh Raina, AB de Villiers, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kieron Pollard, Rashid Khan, Sunil Narine, Yuzvendra Chahal, Lasith Malinga, Jasprit Bumrah.