Former India bowlers Zaheer Khan and Mohit Sharma recently picked an all-time combined playing XI of Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings ahead of IPL 2026. The selection created discussion among fans because Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya was not included in the team.
Both experts chose players who had a long impact for the two franchises and played important roles in their IPL success over the years.
Experts Pick Tendulkar and Rohit as Openers
Zaheer Khan and Mohit Sharma selected Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma as the opening pair.
Tendulkar was one of the early stars of Mumbai Indians and scored 2,334 runs in 78 IPL matches for the franchise. Rohit Sharma has been one of the most successful MI players and captains, scoring more than 5,800 runs in the IPL since joining the team in 2011.
| Player | IPL Record |
|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | 2,334 runs in 78 matches for MI |
| Rohit Sharma | 5,876 runs in 227 IPL matches |
Strong Middle Order Dominated by CSK and MI Stars
For the number three position, Suresh Raina was selected because of his consistent performances for Chennai Super Kings over many seasons.
Ambati Rayudu was chosen for the number four position. The experts discussed other names like Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya, but Rayudu’s contributions to both MI and CSK gave him the edge.
Kieron Pollard was placed at number five. The former MI all-rounder was known for finishing matches and playing big innings in pressure situations.
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Dhoni Named Captain and Wicketkeeper
MS Dhoni was selected as both wicketkeeper and captain of the all-time XI. Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings to five IPL titles and remains one of the most successful leaders in IPL history.
Although Dhoni handed over the CSK captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad before IPL 2025, he was still chosen to lead this combined all-time team.
All-Rounders and Bowling Attack
Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo were selected as the two main all-rounders in the team. Both players played important roles for CSK for many years.
The bowling attack includes Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga as the main fast bowlers, while Harbhajan Singh was chosen as the specialist spinner.
| Role | Player |
|---|---|
| All-rounder | Ravindra Jadeja |
| All-rounder | Dwayne Bravo |
| Fast bowler | Jasprit Bumrah |
| Fast bowler | Lasith Malinga |
| Spinner | Harbhajan Singh |
Other Players Who Were Considered
Zaheer Khan and Mohit Sharma also mentioned several international stars who could have been included in the lineup.
These names included Shane Watson, Matthew Hayden, Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith. All of them had strong performances for either MI or CSK during their IPL careers.
Zaheer Khan also said he intentionally did not include his own name in the team even though he had played for Mumbai Indians.
All-Time MI vs CSK Combined XI
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Opener | Sachin Tendulkar |
| Opener | Rohit Sharma |
| No.3 | Suresh Raina |
| No.4 | Ambati Rayudu |
| No.5 | Kieron Pollard |
| WK / Captain | MS Dhoni |
| All-rounder | Ravindra Jadeja |
| All-rounder | Dwayne Bravo |
| Spinner | Harbhajan Singh |
| Fast bowler | Jasprit Bumrah |
| Fast bowler | Lasith Malinga |
IPL 2026 will begin on March 28, and both Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will once again be among the most followed teams in the tournament. The all-time XI chosen by Zaheer Khan and Mohit Sharma reflects players who made a major impact for these franchises over many seasons.
