IPL 2021: Aakash Chopra picks his best Overseas playing XI

Former Indian cricketer and present commentator Aakash Chopra has picked his best Overseas playing XI from the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). According to Chopra, Faf du Plessis and Jos Buttler will open the batting in his overseas XI.

Chopra opined that du Plessis has batted in a consistent fashion, and has scored runs at a good pace. The former Indian cricketer also added that Jos Buttler will open with du Plessis and stated that Buttler’s real form was seen when he smashed 124 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) side.

Chopra added that Buttler had blown hot and cold in the IPL before his century, but was still scoring runs as well.

“I have picked Faf du Plessis first. He has batted amazingly well, scored runs consistently, and at a good pace. I think with him will be Jos Buttler. His real form was seen in the 124-run knock against SRH. He was a little hot and cold before that but it was not that he was getting out for five runs. He scored a few forties and the century came after that,” said Chopra on his YouTube Channel.

Moeen Ali and Glenn Maxwell bag the No.3 and No.4 Slot in Aakash Chopra’s playing XI

The men who will occupy the No.3 and No.4 slot in Aakash Chopra’s overseas playing XI are Moeen Ali and Glenn Maxwell. Chopra opined that Ali has made good contributions at No.3 and has scored at a fast pace. The 43-year-old Chopra added that Glenn Maxwell’s shot selection was better and he also gave himself more time out in the middle.

“I have kept Moeen Ali at No.3. He made good contributions when he was sent to bat at No.3. He did not score the seventies, eighties or hundreds but the fifties he scored were scored at a fast pace. At No.4, I have got Glenn Maxwell. RCB started to play him at No.4. We thought he will get stuck on the Chennai pitch but he batted well. His shot selection was better than before and he gave himself some time,” added Chopra.

The former Indian cricketer picked AB de Villiers and Kieron Pollard to bat at No.5 and No.6.Chopra added that de Villiers scored runs wherever he batted, and Kieron Pollard became the lord of the Kotla.

“At No.5, I have kept AB de Villiers. He is not your No.5 but when RCB kept him there, we all were surprised. AB said he will score runs wherever you bat him. He has played a couple of dangerous innings, one in Chennai and another in Ahmedabad. At No.6, the start was slow, there was a knock of 40-odd but then the 87 against CSK, Kieron Pollard became the lord of the Kotla,” said Chopra.

Chopra then picked Andre Russell and Chris Morris at No.7 and No.8. Chopra opined that Russell demolished the CSK bowling attack when the Kolkata side was reeling at 31/5. Chopra also mentioned that Morris has performed well whenever the Rajasthan Royals (RR) have won an IPL match.

“At No.7, I have got Andre Russell. His bat did not fire because he did not get that much batting. His number was coming too low down the order. One day when they were 31/5, he demolished the attack. He took wickets as well and even took five wickets in an innings against Mumbai. After that, I have kept Chris Morris. Whichever encounters Rajasthan won, his performance has been good, somewhere wickets and runs at other times. They were important runs. It might have been a short knock but a match-winning one,” said Chopra.

Chopra added that he was confused about whether to pick Pat Cummins or Sam Curran, but went with Curran because of the value for money that he brought to the table. The final two slots in Aakash Chopra’s overseas playing XI were bagged by Rashid Khan and Trent Boult.

“I was confused between Pat Cummins and Sam Curran, I am going with Sam Curran for the simple reason that he is value for money. He does better than his abilities. At No.10, I have got Rashid. I thought about Narine and didn’t find any other good spinner in the overseas contingent. In the end, I have kept Trent Boult,” concluded Chopra.

Aakash Chopra’s Overseas IPL playing XI: Faf du Plessis, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Chris Morris, Sam Curran, Rashid Khan, Trent Boult