IPL deep-dive: Underrated XI of IPL history; Balaji, Marsh, Yusuf, Rayudu and who else?
In our first content of the 'IPL Deep-Dive' series, we tried to build the most underrated XI in the Indian Premier League history with players like Shaun Marsh, Ambati Rayudu, Yusuf Pathan and Balaji.
Last Updated: 05.38 PM, Mar 21, 2026
Welcome to the first content of IPL Deep-Dive, a new series where we at OTTplay strip away the flamboyance of the "Hall of Famers" to look at the underrated stars of the league. In this series, we will explore the stats, the overlooked heroes, and the strategic anomalies that define the Indian Premier League. Today, we are building the IPL Underrated XI. These aren't the players whose jerseys you see every second person wearing at the stadium, but they are the ones who kept fighting for their team's success without earning the tag of the 'greatest ones' to play in the league.
IPL Deep-Dive: The all-time underrated XI
Now, how have we come to this list?
To qualify for this list, a player must have maintained success over several seasons but rarely features in the "Greatest of All Time" discussions during the IPL season or after it.
The openers (Shaun Marsh & Chris Lynn)
For the opening slot, I have gone for the 'OG' Shaun Marsh, the first-ever Orange Cap Winner in IPL history, and Chris Lynn, the destructive Australian opener.
Marsh in 2008 showed the world 'how to bat as an opener' in T20 cricket with proper cricketing shots and then take the game deep. In 71 IPL matches, Marsh scored 2477 runs at a strike rate of 132.74. Although his stats declined during the later stages of his career, a prime Shaun Marsh was a treat to watch.
Now, we have a contracting partner for Marsh. If Marsh looked to find the gaps, Chris Lynn wanted to launch bowlers out of the park. The Aussie opener was lethal at the top of the order for the Kolkata Knight Riders. In the 2017 season, he scored 295 runs at an average of 49.16 and a strike rate of 180.98, which was the highlight season of his IPL career.
The middle order (Rahane, Rayudu, Yusuf)
Now, in the middle order, we need stability and strike rate as well. Moreover, we need some Indian players who can play spin very well because often we have seen that in the middle overs, teams tend to bring on the spinners.
That is why I have Ajinkya Rahane, who is one of the most experienced players in IPL history and has over 5000 IPL runs. If a quick wicket falls during the powerplay, Rahane can stabilise as well as tonk the spinners in the middle overs. And yes, Rahane would be my captain of this team.
At number four, I will have Ambati Rayudu, the only player other than Rohit Sharma to win six IPL titles. Rayudu was the ultimate utility man. He can open for you; he can finish the games for you; he can even keep wickets as well. 4348 impactful runs for teams like the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings, and he is perhaps the most underrated Indian batter in IPL history.
At number five, I will have the big-match specialist Yusuf Pathan. He will be my sixth bowling option as well. His 37-ball century in 2010 and his three IPL titles prove that he was the premier finisher of the first decade of the league. With a career strike rate of 142.97, he was the ultimate basher in the middle overs. Pathan won 16 Player of the Match awards during his time, the second most in his era.
The lower middle order
To support Yusuf in the slog overs, I'll have Dinesh Karthik. He scored 4842 runs at a career strike rate of 135.36.
Longevity was Dinesh Karthik's greatest statistic. He played for six teams and was one of the most reliable crisis men and finishers during his time. Although I had the option of Wriddhiman Saha as well, who is one of the most underrated wicketkeepers in IPL history. But since I wanted someone to bat at six or seven, I went for Dinesh Karthik.
Before Andre Russell, there was Albie Morkel. For that dominant CSK side of the early 2010s. Albie Morkel was the guy who could bowl four overs of a tight spell and hit 28 runs of the final over with the bat. You can ask Virat Kohli about it when he did it in 2012.
He will be my third seam bowling option.
The bowling unit
Since I have already used three foreigners, I can only have one overseas player in the bowling unit.
In the spin department, I'll have Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra.
While the spinners like Yuzvendra Chahal and Sunil Narine get the headlines, Bhajji's 150 wickets with an economy rate of 7.07 and his ability to bowl in the power play for the Mumbai Indians and CSK made him a tactical goldmine for his captain. Moreover, we all know that Bhajji would give you some runs with the bat as well.
There is nothing that needs to be said about Amit Mishra. He's the only player with three IPL hat-tricks, and despite being the second most successful leg spinner in the league's history, he really doesn't get the GOAT status afforded to others. 174 wickets with an economy rate of 7.37, I don't think you need more validation.
In the pace department, I'll have Laxmipathy Balaji, and I have definite reasons for that. Two-time IPL winner, Balaji, is the most underrated IPL cricketer ever.
He was the first bowler to get an IPL hat-trick. He could give you tight spells in the power play and can bowl pinpoint accurate yorkers along with his slower deliveries in the death. Most importantly, his back-of-the-hand slow balls for CSK and KKR were unplayable during his time.
Balaji had an economy rate of 5.40 in the 2012 season when KKR lifted the trophy.
Along with Balaji, I will have Trent Boult to share the new ball. It is almost criminal that Boult is underrated, but in a world of Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah, his record of 29+ wickets in the first over of an innings often goes uncelebrated.
And whether you agree or not, he is the undisputed king of the new ball in IPL.
The bench
12th Man: Manish Pandey – As much as I wanted Manish Pandey to be in that middle order, I couldn't find a place, so he will be my 12th man. Manish Pandey was the first Indian to score an IPL century, and he is a middle-order anchor who has saved countless collapses for KKR in the past.
13th Man: Krunal Pandya – On the bench, along with Manish, there would be Krunal Pandya, and I think he's another player who goes under the radar more often than not.
He has been a clutch player for the Mumbai Indians in three finals and also for RCB in their historic title-winning campaign in 2025. He is effective with both bat and ball and can be used in any period of the match, which makes him invaluable.