Rahul Chahar named the all-time IPL Xi and sprung a major surprise by dropping the iconic match-winners of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Andre Russell and Sunil Narine. The Indian lti-spinner is instead stacked with proven top-order stars and t20 bowlers.
Rahul Chahar picks an IPL XI ahead of the 2026 season
At the top, Rohit Sharma and Brendon McCullum form an explosive right-hand opening pair with Chris Gayle at the top or No.3, Chris Gayle’s slip. Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav offer top-pace scoring with consistency and medium pace, while Hardik Pandya adds the dual value of big hitting and seam-bowling. Having Ms. Dhoni at No.6 or No.7 provides both finishing power and unparalleled leadership and game awareness.
Rashid Khan heads the Spin department next to him Yuzvendra ChahalGiving captain Dhoni two elite wicket-taking options in the middle overs. Among the pacers, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar play the new ball and death overs, offering both control and penetration.
The 2026 IPL season is scheduled from March 15 to May 31, after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Rahul Chahar always has no place for Andre Russell or Sunil Narine in IPL XI
Chahar’s biggest talking point from the XI was widely acknowledged as the KKR legend and Sunil Narine, both among the biggest impact players in IPL history. Their exclusion suggests that Chahar, in recent form, is a bowler who looks at particular opponents with consistency and his own comfort. It also highlights how franchises and players build credibility across seasons rather than isolated explosive campaigns.
Read: Andre Russell’s IPL Salary Since Debut – 2012 to 2025 to 2025
Abandoning Russell, Chahar opted for stability over a boom-or-bust batsman who can win single games but has also been injured and struggled with consistency in recent years. Narine’s inactivity, meanwhile, highlights the depth of spin options available in IPL history, with names such as Rashid and Chahal leading the way with their economy, consistency and current efficiency.
Rahul Chahar’s all-time IPL Xi
Rohit Sharma, Brendon McCullum, Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dhoni, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Yasprit Bumrah.
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