Several Australian players have participated in the IPL over the years. Shaun Marsh, David Warner, Shane Watson, and Michael Hussey have all been standout performances for their respective teams. Hussey, Marsh, and Warner have all won the Orange Cap, with Warner winning it three times in his career. With successful careers in the cash-rich league, Australian cricketers have improved their status as worldwide stars.
The Indian Premier League relies heavily on Australian cricketers (IPL). Over the years, Australia has produced a multitude of cricketers who have put up outstanding performances in the T20 tournament and have helped their respective clubs win.
In this article, we look at the all-time best IPL xi made of only Australian cricketers:
1. David Warner
David Warner, the former Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain, is without a doubt one of the greatest foreign players in the Indian Premier League. With 5449 runs from 150 matches, the left-handed opening batsman is the greatest run-getter from outside India in the IPL. In the competition, the Australian star has won three Orange Caps, the most of any foreign player.
2. Adam Gilchrist (WK)
Adam Gilchrist captained the Deccan Chargers to the 2009 IPL championship before joining Kings XI Punjab in 2010. He’s has had two IPL centuries under his belt. In terms of his career statistics, he amassed 2069 runs (fourth-most by an Australian), two centuries, and 11 fifties while leading his side, Hyderabad, to the IPL title in 2009. He was also named Man of the Tournament.
3. Shaun Marsh
Shaun Marsh is another Australian batsman who has made a name for himself in the Indian Premier League. Marsh was the first to win the Orange Cap in the 2008 season while playing for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). His accomplishments with the bat aided his team’s progress to the semi-finals in 2008 and the finals in 2014.
4. Glenn Maxwell
Maxwell was at his best when the IPL season was played in the UAE in 2014. When Punjab reached the finals that season, he hit 552 runs but lost to KKR. Currently, he is a member of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team. With 16 wickets to his record, he can also be a useful off-spinner in the middle overs.
5. Shane Watson
In the Indian Premier League, Shane Watson has had a rollercoaster journey. The guy was instrumental in leading Chennai Super Kings to their third title in 2018, thanks to a spectacular final performance. The 40-year-old appeared in 145 games, hitting 3874 runs and taking 92 wickets. He’s also won two Man of the Tournament honours in his career.
6. Michael Hussey
With CSK, Hussey won two IPL titles. In the 2013 season of the IPL, he also earned an Orange Cap for his 733 runs, which was a record at the time. He is now the team’s batting coach. After a few seasons with the Mumbai Indians, he departed from the league in 2015.
7. James Faulkner
James Faulkner was once regarded as one of the gentleman’s game’s greatest all-rounders. The Australian batsman and bowler dominated the T20 Championship, putting up outstanding performances with both the bat and the ball. Aside from being the best power hitter in the game, the veteran also has a wide range of deliveries at his disposal, including slower ones and yorkers.
8. Shane Warne (captain)
Shane Warne, the greatest leg spinner of all time, will lead the Australia IPL XI. As captain-coach of a squad of complete nobodies, he won the inaugural edition of the IPL. He had a pool of raw, unknown talent that he turned into seasoned players, leaving behind teams that had paid millions at the auction. During his four-year IPL career, he took 57 wickets and established himself as the best leg spinner.
9. Mitchell Johnson
Mitchell Johnson, an Australian left-arm fast bowler, is regarded as one of the best seamers in the IPL. The 39-year-old dominated the T20 competition, taking an incredible 24 wickets to help Mumbai Indians win their first IPL title by 13 wickets. In 54 appearances, the left-hander has 61 wickets to his credit.
10. Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc’s IPL career was cut short. In the IPL, he only played two full seasons with RCB. He’s one of the few international cricketers who has opted for international obligations over the Indian Premier League.
11. Doug Bollinger
Doug Bollinger is the last member of Australia’s Playing XI. In the IPL, he took 37 wickets at an average of 18.73, the most among Australians with at least 30 wickets. In 2010 and 2011, the 40-year-old played a key role in helping Chennai Super Kings win the championship.
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