AB de Villiers names his all-time IPL XI, MS Dhoni picked as captain

AB de Villiers is one of the best overseas players to have competed in the Indian Premier League (IPL). But the coveted crown escaped him. The right-handed batsman is a Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) veteran, having played 11 seasons and scored around 5000 runs with a strike rate of 158.63.

The former South African cricketer has competed with and against some of the best players in IPL history. On the eve of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, de Villiers announced his all-time IPL XI, which included some intriguing selections.

De Villiers has picked Rohit Sharma and Matthew Hayden as his openers, with his long-time friend Virat Kohli slotting in at No. 3. Suryakumar Yadav, the current Indian T20I captain, is ranked fourth, ahead of de Villiers himself. Hardik Pandya is the only all-rounder in the team, batting at number six.

AB De Villiers chose the inspired MS Dhoni as his wicketkeeper and captain.

The 44-year-old will bat at number 7 in de Villiers’ lineup. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga will form a fast duo. During their tenure with the Mumbai Indians, they created a powerful partnership. Yuzvendra Chahal, the league’s all-time leading wicket-taker, is the sole Indian spinner in the squad. He will collaborate with current Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Daniel Vettori.

De Villiers’ roster has former legends such as Hayden, Malinga, and Vettori, as well as current superstars including as Kohli, Suryakumar, and Bumrah.

AB de Villiers’ All-Time IPL XI: Rohit Sharma, Matthew Hayden, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, AB de Villiers, Hardik Pandya, MS Dhoni (C & WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Lasith Malinga, Daniel Vettori.