What If These 6 Dream Duos Joined Forces in the IPL?

But there are a few dream duos which the fans definitely wanted to see as they also had the potential to dominate in the tournament. In this blog, we will be taking a look at the top six dream duos in the IPL, who could dominate with their aggressive batting, all-around experience, or lethal bowling.

1. Rohit Sharma & David Warner

Talking about the most explosive openers of the Indian Premier League, Rohit Sharma and David Warner are one such duo which fans wanted to see perform together in the tournament. Along with their batting skills, both of these players have also been successful IPL captains, as Rohit Sharma won the title for Mumbai Indians five times and David Warner also won for Sunrisers Hyderabad once in 2016. Rohit Sharma’s elegant strokes and the ability to play as an anchor could help to stabilise the opening partnership of the team. On the other hand, David Warner could take up the responsibility to play aggressive shots, which will also open up ways for Rohit to boost the scoring rate of the team.

Rohit Sharma has scored an impressive total of 6636 runs in 259 matches in the IPL, which also includes 43 half-centuries and 2 centuries. Also, his strike rate stands at 131.09, which has improved considerably over the past few seasons. 

On the other hand, David Warner has been a record-setter in the IPL as an opener. He has scored 6565 runs in 184 matches with 4 centuries and 62 half-centuries, showcasing his brilliance in the tournament. Additionally, Warner also stands at a strike rate of 139.77 and an average of 40.52 in the IPL. It will be a nightmare for the bowlers if Warner and Sharma come together to open at the Wankhede Stadium.

2. Virat Kohli & Steven Smith

Virat Kohli and Steven Smith are already among the two players in the Fab 4, and they are also among the only ones to have maintained their presence in the T20 format of the game. Kohli will be going off with his aggressive shots along with the classical playing style, as Steven Smith will continue with his effective and unorthodox technique to make it challenging for the opponent bowlers to take wickets. Even if the opening batters fail to score well, the duo of Steven Smith and Virat Kohli will be able to take up the responsibility well and step up for the team. Kohli has also been among the top captains in the IPL, leading RCB to the finals, as Smith also led RPS to the finals by being the captain in a few games.

Virat Kohli is the top run scorer in the history of the IPL, having scored 8094 runs in 254 matches. He has also scored 8 centuries and 56 half-centuries, all while being a part of the same team throughout. Holding an average of 38.91, he has also won the Orange Cap two times, in 2016 and 2024, respectively. Steven Smith has scored 2485 runs in 103 IPL matches, at an average of 34.51 runs.

He also has scored one century and 11 half-centuries, but his last IPL season was in 2021. However, his performances in other T20 leagues have been good, as Smith scored 173 runs at a strike rate of 182.10 in the 2024-25 edition of the Big Bash League. He also dominated in the Major League Cricket 2024 edition, scoring 336 runs in 9 matches with 3 half-centuries, at an average of 56. The bowlers will be having a hard time if Kohli and Smith come out together to bat at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

3. MS Dhoni & AB de Villiers

MS Dhoni and AB de Villiers are among the best finishers which a team could ever have in the IPL history. Coming out to bat in the middle overs, they are able to dominate the bowlers easily to boost the run rate and even hit massive scores. Dhoni is known for his ability to maintain calmness even under pressure, which has helped him to play various match-winning knocks. Along with him, AB de Villiers is also known for his versatile shot selection, which is why he is also known as Mr 360 Degree. Dhoni has also been a successful captain in the IPL, leading Chennai Super Kings to five title wins.

In his IPL career, MS Dhoni has played 267 matches, scoring 5273 runs at an average of 39.35 runs per inning. He has also not been out in 97 innings, having scored 24 half-centuries, as his strike rate stands at 137.68. Dhoni has also smashed an impressive total of 366 fours and 254 sixes in the IPL history. On the other hand, AB de Villiers has scored 5162 runs in 184 IPL matches, at an average of 39.71 and a strike rate of 151.69. Showcasing his batting strength, he has also scored 3 centuries and 40 half-centuries and smashed 413 fours and 251 sixes in IPL history. With Dhoni and de Villiers coming out in the middle order, there would be no target that seems impossible to chase.

4. Nicholas Pooran & Heinrich Klaasen

If we look at the most destructive wicketkeeper batters in T20 cricket, Nicholas Pooran and Heinrich Klaasen are among the top names, which scares almost every bowler. This could also help to make them a fearless duo in the IPL, as their power and impressive strike rates could help boost the team’s scoring rate to a great extent. Pooran will be using his left-handed batting skills to smash boundaries perfectly, as Klaasen on the other end will be looking at both spinners and pacers with his brutal striking abilities. This duo could accelerate in the middle overs and even provide a massive finish to the team’s total.

Nicholas Pooran has played 78 matches in the IPL, scoring 1914 runs at an average of 33.58 and a strike rate of 167.02, which showcases his power-hitting. With 11 half-centuries in the IPL, Pooran has smashed 125 fours and 140 sixes in his IPL career while not being out 18 times. On the other hand, Heinrich Klaasen is also known for his dominant batting style, having scored 1085 runs in 38 matches at an average of 37.41 and a whopping strike rate of 169.53. Klaasen scored one century and six half-centuries in the IPL while smashing 65 fours and 68 sixes combined. If both of these aggressive wicketkeeper batters come together, their partnership would be a nightmare for the bowlers as fans will turn into fielders, catching the ball in the stands.

5. Ben Stokes & Hardik Pandya

There have been a few all-rounders in the IPL who have dominated both with bat and ball. Ben Stokes and Hardik Pandya, two modern-day greats in all-round performances, could form a dominant duo in the IPL. Stokes can bat consistently well even in pressure innings, while Hardik Pandya is known for his aggressive mindset and explosive batting style. Additionally, both players are also known for providing crucial wickets to the team, helping with the bat and ball when it is much needed. Hardik Pandya has also been an IPL-winning captain, winning the first trophy in 2023 for Gujarat Titans.

Hardik Pandya has scored 2536 runs in 138 matches, at an average of 28.49 and a strike rate of 144.83, with 10 half-centuries. In bowling, he holds 66 wickets in his IPL career at an average of 33.02 and an economy rate of 9.07 runs per over. Ben Stokes, on the other hand, has scored 920 runs in 43 matches at an average of 25.56 and a strike rate of 134.50, with 2 centuries and 2 half centuries. With the bowl, he has taken 28 wickets at an average of 34.79 and an economy of 8.56. This dynamic duo would be able to dominate the game with both bat and ball at the Wankhede Stadium.

6. Jasprit Bumrah & Mitchell Starc

Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Starc are known as the most lethal bowlers across all formats in modern-day cricket, and they could also be a dominant IPL bowling duo. Bumrah’s exact yorkers, unplayable slow balls, death over experience, and Starc’s swing, raw pace, and ability to get rid of batters would make their duo extraordinary. This duo could dismantle any of the batting lineups in the IPL and maintain the run rate without any interruptions.

In 133 matches, Jasprit Bumrah has taken 165 wickets at an average of 22.51 and an economy of just 7.30 runs per over. He also holds two 4-wicket hauls and two 5-wicket hauls in his IPL career. Mitchell Starc, on the other hand, has taken 59 wickets in 43 games at an average of 20.58 and an economy of 8.31 runs per over. He also holds two 4-wicket hauls and one 5-wicket haul. It would be a nightmare even for the set batters if this duo comes out to bowl at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. 

Can Fans See These Dream Duos in Upcoming IPL Seasons?

Looking at these dream combinations is almost impossible in the IPL, as there are several players such as Ben Stokes, David Warner, Steven Smith, and AB de Villiers, who have not been a part of the tournament for a long time. On the other hand, there are chances for the fans to see the Starc-Bumrah and Pooran-Klaasen combination if the teams are looking forward to strengthening their batting or bowling in the upcoming seasons.