Gujarat Titans player Sai Sudharsan had a fun discussion with senior spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on his YouTube channel. Sudharsan aimed to create an IPL Playing XI using only players from before the T20 era, needing to pick seven Indian players and four International players, plus one substitute as per IPL rules.
He built an exciting team featuring iconic players from Cricket history.
Kapil Dev Heads the All-Time XI
For his All-Time IPL XI of Pre-T20 legends, Sudharsan appointed India’s World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev as the captain. He also included the legendary Don Bradman at number four.
For his opening pair, Sudharsan chose Kris Srikkanth and Navjot Singh Sidhu, combining aggressive and steady batting. Wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer was placed at number three.
The middle order featured strong all-rounders, including former India coach Ravi Shastri, South Africa’s powerful hitter Lance Klusener, and Kapil Dev.
The bowling lineup looked formidable. Sudharsan picked Pakistan’s Wasim Akram, Australia’s Jeff Thomson, and India’s Venkatesh Prasad for pace, while the spin bowling duties were handled by the legendary Bishan Singh Bedi. As a backup, he included Robin Singh.
Sudharsan’s team selection reflects his respect for cricket history while demonstrating his understanding of building a balanced team.
Sudharsan’s All-Time XI of Pre-T20 Greats: Kris Srikkanth, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Farokh Engineer (WK), Don Bradman, Ravi Shastri, Lance Klusener, Kapil Dev (C), Wasim Akram, Venkatesh Prasad, Bishan Singh Bedi, Jeff Thomson. (Sub: Robin Singh)
Sudharsan Resumes Training for IPL 2026
While choosing his dream XI was a light-hearted task, Sudharsan is now focused on preparing for the upcoming IPL season. He had sustained a rib fracture during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, which raised concerns about his fitness, but he’s back to training.
In domestic cricket, Sudharsan performed well in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scoring 192 runs with a strike rate of 152.38. He has been seen training with Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill.
After a successful domestic season, Gujarat Titans will look to Sudharsan for quick scoring as they pursue the IPL championship in 2026.
