Constructing an all-time Indian Premier League (IPL) XI is a near-impossible exercise, especially when you consider the depth of talent that has made an impact across the competition’s 19-year journey. Still, Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Jos Buttler has attempted the challenge—and his selections have come with a few eye-catching calls. Partnering with England’s fellow powerhouse Stuart Broad on the “For The Love Of Cricket” podcast, Buttler named what he believes is his strongest IPL side.
Buttler’s bold selection choices
While putting together his dream lineup, Buttler made decisions that stood out immediately. The most striking omissions were from the Mumbai Indians (MI) camp: Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya were all left out of his XI.
Another surprise was Buttler’s approach to the overseas-player balance. He did not follow the common guideline of restricting the playing XI to no more than four international players, instead selecting what he considered the best available combination for his all-time team.
- Omitted MI stars: Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya
- Did not limit his XI to a maximum of four overseas players
- Selected the XI with Stuart Broad on the “For The Love Of Cricket” podcast
Batting core and wicket-keeping role
Buttler opted for an explosive opening partnership by naming Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle at the top. The pair, of course, bring history from their time together at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), where they formed a productive stand for a number of seasons.
For the middle order, Buttler went with Suresh Raina at No. 3, highlighting the former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star’s stature by giving him the label “Mr. IPL.” At No. 4, he selected South Africa’s AB de Villiers, ensuring the lineup had both finesse and finishing power.
MS Dhoni was picked as the wicket-keeper for the XI, giving Buttler’s side a proven leader behind the stumps.
- Openers: Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle
- No. 3: Suresh Raina, referred to as “Mr. IPL”
- No. 4: AB de Villiers
- Wicket-keeper: MS Dhoni
Overseas firepower, spin, and pace
Buttler then loaded the team with West Indies match-winners, selecting Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, and Sunil Narine as a powerful trio. To add further variety to the bowling attack, he followed them with Rashid Khan — an Afghanistan spin specialist and a GT teammate of Buttler.
For pace, Buttler chose two front-line fast-bowling options: Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah, rounding off a bowling unit built to challenge batters in every phase of an IPL contest.
- West Indies trio: Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine
- Spin option: Rashid Khan
- Fast bowling: Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah
Where Buttler’s own career fits into the XI
Notably, Buttler did not pick himself for the top order, nor did he select Australia great David Warner at the top. Instead, his XI is built around other big names and a mix of roles that, on paper, covers batting, finishing, wicket-keeping, spin control, and death-over pace.
Buttler’s choices also reflect his own journey through the league. Now with GT, he previously spent successful stretches with MI and RR, winning the “Most Valuable Player” and “Orange Cap” awards in 2022.
Across his IPL career so far, Buttler has turned out in 129 matches, accumulating 4,390 runs at an average of 39.90, with a strike rate close to 150.
Jos Buttler’s all-time IPL XI
Jos Buttler’s selected XI reads: Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, Suresh Raina, AB de Villiers, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, MS Dhoni (wk), Sunil Narine, Rashid Khan, Lasith Malinga, Jasprit Bumrah.
