From AB de Villers To MS Dhoni: The Most Dangerous Batsman in IPL Ever
MS Dhoni, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and Chris Gayle (Twitter)
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a professional Twenty20 cricket league in India. Introduced in 2008 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), it has since become one of the most popular and lucrative sports leagues in the world. The league consists of eight teams representing various cities in India, and each team is owned by different franchisees.
The IPL has a unique format where teams compete in a round-robin tournament followed by playoffs. The league has attracted some of the best cricket players from around the world, and it has become a platform for emerging talent in India to showcase their skills.
Despite the controversies, the IPL continues to attract millions of fans and is considered one of the biggest sporting events in India and even all the world. It has given the platform to numerous players to put their best foot forward and showcase their talent.
On that note let's take a look at the 5 most dangerous batters that IPL has ever seen:
#5 Mahendra Singh Dhoni
MS Dhoni (IPLT20.com)
It is impossible to overlook MS Dhoni when discussing the most dangerous batsman in the IPL. As a captain, he has been incredibly successful in the T20 format and has led two franchises, Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiants.
Under his captaincy, Chennai Super Kings won four IPL titles, with his exceptional batting being a crucial factor in their success. Dhoni is widely considered the best finisher in world cricket and has scored 4978 runs in 234 IPL matches at an average of 39.72, including 24 half-centuries. His IPL strike rate is 135.2, and his highest score is 84*.
Dhoni is not only the best captain, wicketkeeper, and finisher in world cricket but also a highly lethal batsman in the IPL, hitting the most sixes in the last few overs.
#4 Kieron Pollard
Kieron Pollard (Twitter)
Kieron Pollard was a crucial player in Mumbai Indian's middle-order batting lineup and also contributed as a part-time bowler. His aggressive batting style and incredible striking power make him a highly formidable and destructive batsman, capable of clearing boundaries with ease on any ground.
Pollard made his debut with Mumbai Indians in the IPL back in 2010 and has played exclusively for the franchise ever since. He has played an instrumental role in his team's numerous victories, including all five IPL titles won by Mumbai Indians. With an impressive strike rate of 147.32, Pollard has scored 3412 runs in 189 IPL matches.
He possesses the ability to single-handedly change the course of the game with his powerful striking. His highest score in the IPL is 87*, and he has scored 16 fifties in the tournament, with an average of 28.67. However, he announced his retirement last year, marking the end of his era with MI.
#3 Andre Russell
Andre Russell (Twitter)
Andre Russell has been a valuable player for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, having previously played for Delhi and Kolkata. He is known for his impressive batting skills, particularly his powerful strokeplay which has captivated audiences in the IPL.
His remarkable strike rate of 177.88 is one of the reasons why he is considered the most dangerous batsman in the tournament. Russell's aggressive batting style is capable of turning the game around, and he also contributes to the team with his bowling skills, taking important wickets.
#2 Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle (Twitter)
Chris Gayle, a renowned T20 player, holds several IPL records, including the most centuries, fastest century, and most sixes. He has played for three IPL teams - Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Kolkata Knight Riders, and has been considered one of the most dangerous batsmen in the tournament, even at the age of 41.
Gayle had his best IPL performances while playing for RCB, scoring an unbeaten 175 runs in just 66 balls, the highest score ever in IPL history, and hitting the fastest century off only 30 balls against Pune Warriors India in 2013. Overall, Gayle has amassed 4965 runs in 142 IPL matches, with an average of 39.72 and a strike rate of 148.96. He has scored six IPL centuries and 31 half-centuries and holds the record for hitting the most sixes in the tournament, with 357 to his name.
#1 AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers (Twitter)
Although at the start of his IPL career, AB De Villiers played for Delhi Daredevils, which is now Delhi Capitals. He didn't perform well with the team. It was when he was bought by the Bangalore franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore in the auction, that his fortunes turned around. Known as Mr. 360 in world cricket, De Villiers is one of the most destructive players in the IPL, capable of single-handedly changing the game. He is considered a nightmare for bowlers and is one of the best IPL finishers for the RCB team. The No.1 spot in the list belongs to no one else but AB de Villiers.
De Villiers has scored 5162 runs in 184 IPL matches, with a striking rate of 151.69, which is a testament to his destructive batting skills. He has hit three centuries and 40 half-centuries in the tournament, with an average of 39.71. His highest score in the IPL is 133*.
De Villiers and Virat Kohli have also set world records with their partnerships, and their partnerships hold the first and second positions in the list of highest partnerships in IPL history. It is no surprise that they are considered two of the most dangerous batsmen in the tournament and dominate the first and second positions on this list.
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