IPL 2024 Retained Players Best Playing 11 Ranking for all Teams

Mumbai Indians, the best team on paper as we look at the ranking and rating of the best IPL 2024 retained players best playing 11 for all 10 teams.

We are in the first week of December 2023, and the talk of the town seems to be all about IPL 2024 Auction. The Mini Auction as it will be called this time will see teams competing against each other not on the ground, but at the Auction table with a purse of INR 100 Cr. It’s a historic occasion for IPL as this is the first time that the teams’ Auction purse has touched INR 100 Cr. 

Given the excitement surrounding the Auction, the teams aren’t far behind too. All teams have retained their core group of players, which would almost confirm 8-9 members in their starting 11. Moreover, except for Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals, all other 8 teams have released players in length; thus giving them a solid purse to target new players. 

So, with the players that are retained by the teams currently, how about we evaluate the current best playing 11 for all 10 teams for IPL 2024? Well, the IPL 2023 base and the performance of players in the last year should be enough for us to evaluate the best playing 11. Additionally, this will also help us analyze the gaps for all 10 teams, and what strategy could they adopt for the IPL 2024 Auction. 

IPL 2024 Retained Players Best Playing 11 Ranking

#10: Punjab Kings – 8.182

At number 10, we have Punjab Kings, who do have a good starting 11, but it is the fragile middle-order that reduces their rating considerably. The team has a fantastic opening combination in the form of Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow, but what follows next is a major worry. The team currently has the inexperience of Prabsimran Singh and Atharva Taide in the middle-order, and they would need to look for good options in the Auction. 

IPL 2024 Retained Players Best Playing 11 for Punjab Kings (PBKS):

Shikhar Dhawan (c), Jonny Bairstow, Prabsimran Singh, Atharva Taide, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sam Curran, Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar & Arshdeep Singh.

#9: Royal Challengers Bangalore – 8.183

It’s unfortunate, but even after trading in Cameron Green, we have RCB at the number 9 position. Well, technically, RCB have a solid top 6 making their batting the strongest. However, it is the inexperience in bowling that is a big letdown. The team currently relies on Mohammed Siraj, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Reece Topley, and Karn Sharma with Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green fulfilling the fifth bowling option. 

IPL 2024 Retained Players Best Playing 11 for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB):

Faf du Plessis (c), Cameron Green, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Mahipal Lomror, Reece Topley, Karn Sharma, Vyshak Vijaykumar & Mohammed Siraj

#8: Rajasthan Royals – 8.295

At number 8, we have Rajasthan Royals, who have a solid top 5, but it is the All-rounders area where they lack big time. The team currently has two make-shift all-rounders in the form of Riyan Parag and Ravichandran Ashwin. On paper, they may be all-rounders, but practically, neither Riyan can bowl well nor Ashwin can bat well. With a good bowling attack and a strong batting lineup, all they need is a good overseas pace all-rounder. 

IPL 2024 Retained Players Best Playing 11 for Rajasthan Royals (RR):

Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c&wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Avesh Khan, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna & Yuzvendra Chahal

#7: Delhi Capitals – 8.311

Coming to number 7, we have Delhi Capitals, who will see the return of their main captain, Rishabh Pant. On paper, Delhi Capitals lack mostly in a fragile lower-order. The team has a solid top 4 in the form of Warner, Shaw, Marsh, and Pant. But beyond that, the team would need good replacements for Yash Dhull and Lalit Yadav. Aside from that, Delhi Capitals have a potent bowling lineup. 

IPL 2024 Retained Players Best Playing 11 for Delhi Capitals (DC):

David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (c&wk), Yash Dhull, Axar Patel, Lalit Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Mukesh Kumar & Lungi Ngidi  

#6: Sunrisers Hyderabad – 8.326

Number 6 sees Sunrisers Hyderabad, who are the only team with an overseas captain. SRH’s first-choice 11 looks solid on paper, and it may not change. However, it is the form of players where they lack a lot. Be it Rahul Tripathi, Mayank Agarwal, T. Natarajan, or Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the team would need these guys to perform well. Overall, SRH do not need any new player in the starting 11, but backups are what the team shall focus on.

IPL 2024 Retained Players Best Playing 11 for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH):

Abhishek Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaassen (wk), Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar, Marco Jansen, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Markande & T. Natarajan

#5: Lucknow Super Giants – 8.371

At number 5, we have Lucknow Super Giants with a rating of 8.371. LSG have a solid first-choice 11 on paper, but it is the form of Deepak Hooda, Devdutt Padikkal, and Yash Thakur that shall be crucial for the team. They are the only weak links in the squad, and if they can bring their A game, there’s no stopping LSG. Overall, LSG shall focus on a good Indian pacer and finisher to add to their ammo. 

IPL 2024 Retained Players Best Playing 11 for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG):

KL Rahul (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Mark Wood & Yash Thakur. 

#4: Kolkata Knight Riders – 8.470

At number 4, we have Kolkata Knight Riders with a rating of 8.470. KKR retained only 13 players, but 11 of those players form a good playing 11. With Shreyas Iyer coming back, and the Impact player rule in place, KKR only need good backups to make sure they have a solid starting 11. While the playing 11 looks good for spin pitches, KKR need 2-3 good pacers to make it the strongest 11.  

IPL 2024 Retained Players Best Playing 11 for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR):

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Jason Roy, Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Harshit Rana, Suyash Sharma & Varun Chakravarthy

#3: Gujarat Titans – 8.621

At number 3, we have Gujarat Titans, whose ranking gets dented due to the loss of Hardik Pandya. With Pandya not there, GT have a fragile middle-order even with Kane coming in. Overall, GT have solid match-winners, but they shall need good replacements for Abhinav Manohar and Joshua Little to make it a complete playing 11. Also, it would be interesting to see how Shubman Gill projects himself as a captain. 

IPL 2024 Retained Players Best Playing 11 for Gujarat Titans (GT):

Shubman Gill (c), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Sai Sudarsan, Kane Williamson, David Miller, Abhinav Manohar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma & Joshua Little. 

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ALSO READ: IPL 2024: All 10 Team Complete Retained Squad and Players List

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#2: Chennai Super Kings – 8.682

At number 2, we have the IPL 2023 champions, Chennai Super Kings. CSK would have proudly been number 1, but with the addition of Hardik to the MI squad, MI get a marginal edge. Overall, CSK shall see the return of Mukesh Choudhary to their bowling ammo alongside Deepak, Pathirana, Theekshana, Jadeja, and Moeen. They once again have a solid 11 on paper, and the impact player rule only makes them stronger.  

IPL 2024 Retained Players Best Playing 11 for Chennai Super Kings (CSK):

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Devon Conway, Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c&wk), Deepak Chahar, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana & Mukesh Choudhary 

#1: Mumbai Indians – 8.818

Finally, at numero uno, we have Mumbai Indians with a playing 11 rating of 8.818. MI arguably have the best top 7 with the likes of Rohit, Kishan, Dewald, Tilak, Surya, Hardik, and Tim David. In addition, MI have the benchmark Middle-order, Suryakumar Yadav, Benchmark All-rounder and Finisher, Hardik Pandya, and benchmark pacer, Jasprit Bumrah. With so many match-winners, all MI need is a good one good Indian pacer, and a good overseas pace duo in place of Shephard and Behrendorff. 

IPL 2024 Retained Players Best Playing 11 for Mumbai Indians (MI):

Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Dewald Brevis, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Tim David, Romario Shephard, Piyush Chawla, Jason Behrendorff & Jasprit Bumrah 

So, that’s about the ranking and comparison for the IPL 2024 Retained Players playing 11 for all 10 teams. 

Thanks for reading! Looking at the IPL 2024 retained players playing 11 for all 10 teams, which team feels the strongest? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com

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