Last year when the coronavirus pandemic hit the world for the first time, a lot of former cricketers and experts picking a variety of different ‘XIs’, and the charge was headed by none other than Brad Hogg, who entertained fans with his analysis, insight, and humor on his YouTube channel. India is currently overseeing the second wave of the deadly virus and Hogg has now, rather fittingly, come back with another ‘Best XI’ video.
The former Australian wrist-spinner has named his ‘Best IPL 2021 XI’ and it is a team that has quite a few interesting omissions. Unsurprisingly, the Delhi Capitals opening duo of Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan has been included in Hogg’s XI. Dhawan and Shaw have, by some distance, be the best opening pair in the competition and both the batters placed in the Top 5 run-getters in the competition which prompted the 50-year-old topick the Capitals duo as the openers of his team.
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Brad Hogg had selected Sanju Samson at No.3 and the skipper of Delhi, Rishabh Pant, at No.4. What’s interesting about Pant’s selection is that the wrist-spinner has chosen the Delhite as the captain of his XI as well, despite there being the presence of several other senior figures. In his maiden season as captain, Pant ensured that Delhi topped the table when the tournament came to a halt.
At 5 and 6 in Hogg’s team are usual suspects AB de Villiers and Ravindra Jadeja and at 7, interestingly, is Sam Curran. The younger Curran failed to have a decent outing in IPL 2021 but he has still managed to slot into the side ahead of other match-winners like Glenn Maxwell, Moeen Ali, and Kieron Pollard.
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The ever-reliable Rashid Khan slots in at 8 in Hogg’s team, while Rahul Chahar joins Rashid as the second leg-spinner in the team. The fast bowling attack of Hogg’s XI is all-Indian, with the duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Avesh Khan completing the side.
Hogg’s Best IPL 2021 XI
Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, Sanju Samson, Rishabh Pant (wk & c), AB de Villiers, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Rashid Khan, Rahul Chahar, Avesh Khan, Jasprit Bumrah
