No Rohit Sharma & Kohli, Pandya To Lead; IPL 2024's Strongest Combined XI

Shubman Gill will lead GT in IPL 2024 (x.com)Shubman Gill will lead GT in IPL 2024 (x.com)

Before the caravan for the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) rolls on from March 22, we at 'OneCricket' tried to arrive at the best possible combined playing XI for the toughest T20 league. 

Keeping in mind the form that several players have exhibited over the past 2-3 seasons, which gives us a decent sample size of matches to judge the performances, we have enlisted a strong unit, including prominent overseas names and incredible Indian stars part of the 10 franchises. 


Best Combined XI Ahead Of IPL 2024

Top-Order (1-3): Buttler, Gill, Suryakumar

Suryakumar Yadav has been a volatile batter for MI (x.com)Suryakumar Yadav has been a volatile batter for MI (x.com)

At the top, we have Rajasthan Royals (RR) maverick Jos Buttler opening the innings with Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper Shubman Gill. The two prolific batters have been in tremendous form in the IPL over the last two editions, with Gill even donning the 'Orange Cap' for the 2023 season. 

Since the start of IPL 2022, Gill has made 1,373 runs in 33 innings at a strike-rate of 147.8 while Buttler, who is also our wicketkeeper, has smashed 1,255 runs at 145.8. 

In the same period, our No.3 and Mumbai Indians (MI) maverick Suryakumar Yadav has retained wood on opposition's throat and plundered his 908 runs at a strike-rate of 167.50. 


Middle-Order (4-7): Maxwell, Rinku, Pandya, Jadeja

Hardik Pandya is back in Mumbai colours for IPL 2024 (x.com)Hardik Pandya is back in Mumbai colours for IPL 2024 (x.com)

We have two game-changers batting for us at No.4 and No.5 in the middle-order, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) power-hitters - Glenn Maxwell and Rinku Singh walking in at the two critical spots. 

Maxwell and Rinku have been stunning as end-overs hitters for their teams and made their runs at strike-rates of 177 and 149.3, respectively, in the last two editions of the IPL. 

For their unmatched utility and influential presence, MI's new skipper Hardik Pandya - who will lead this team - and CSK's veteran spin allrounder Ravindra Jadeja deserve the No.6 and No.7 spots. 

While Pandya has made 833 runs at 134 and taken 11 wickets, including a spell of 3/7 in the 2022 final for the Titans, Jadeja was the one who hit the winning runs for CSK in the IPL 2023 final to cap off a two-year period where he made runs at a strike-rate above 132 and scalped 25 wickets. 


Bowling Attack (8-11): Kuldeep, Chahal, Bumrah, Starc

Bumrah is undoubtedly emerged as MI's best best for IPL 2024 (x.com)Bumrah is undoubtedly emerged as MI's best best for IPL 2024 (x.com)

They may no longer form a strong, impactful pairing for the Indian team but spin twins Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal are part of our bowling attack in the combined IPL 2024 playing XI. 

The pace attack is led by ace speedster Jasprit Bumrah, who retains an unmatched class and command over the bowl at all stages of an innings. 

To round off the team, we have given preference to comeback man Mitchell Starc, who will be playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after an eight-year absence in the league.


Impact Player: Cameron Green

Green is the only second RCB player on this list (x.com)Green is the only second RCB player on this list (x.com)

RCB's new all-rounder Cameron Green has been made the 'Impact Player' in our playing XI, with the rules allowing for an overseas player to act as the tactical substitute if a team fields only three foreign cricketers in the first XI. 

Green scored a whopping 560 runs at a strike-rate of 161 in IPL 2023 for MI but was released controversially by the famous franchise. 


IPL 2024 Strongest Combined XI

Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Glenn Maxwell, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell Starc, Yuzvendra Chahal (Impact sub: Cameron Green).