Most Dangerous Batsman in IPL History
The ultimate weapon for a team in the shortest format of the game is the batsmen. Like it or not, the T20 format is not meant for the steady batsmen, who takes time to set at the crease but for the batsmen who can trigger the gear right from the word go. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), the cricket world witnessed some breathtaking knocks over the years and batsmen often proved how dangerous they can be with the bat.
Most Dangerous Batsman in IPL
Let’s have a look at the top 5 most dangerous batsmen in IPL:
5. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli’s strike-rate must not be as high as the other dangerous batsmen in IPL, but his proper execution of the shots and outstanding consistency with the bat beats it all. Be it international cricket or the Indian Premier League, Kohli just keeps on scoring. Despite failing to win any IPL title, Kohli is the leading run-scorer in the history of IPL with 5412 runs in 177 games at an average of 37.84.
He is also the only Indian batsman, who scored 5 hundred in this tournament and the stats are enough to prove why he is regarded as one of the most dangerous batsmen in the history of IPL.
Virat Kohli enjoyed his best season in 2016. He led his side to the finals only to lose at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the summit clash. He amassed 973 runs in 16 games at an average of 81.08. His strike rate of 152.03 suggests how destructive he was during that season. In fact, Virat Kohli was the most dangerous batsman in IPL 2016. He scored a record 4 centuries in a single edition and seven half-centuries.
In this IPL’s most dangerous players list, King Kohli comes at number five.
4. David Warner
David Warner is another remarkable player, who managed to perform consistently throughout the years and proved to be a most dangerous batsman in IPL for the opposition every time he came to open the innings for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Along with his batting, he has also led Sunrisers Hyderabad to their maiden IPL title with his outstanding leadership skills.
Warner has a blistering strike-rate of 142.09 and has scored 44 fifties and 4 hundred. As much as he is dangerous with the bat, the consistency also speaks for him as he averages 43.17, which is one of the highest in the history of IPL.
David Warner and Destruction is often synonymous. Warner also wreaked havoc during 2016 IPL, in which he scored 848 runs in 17 games at an average of 60.57. David Warner is counted amongst the most dangerous batsmen in IPL. Overall, Warner has played 81 T20s, scoring 2265 runs at a strike rate of 139.
In this IPL’s most dangerous players list, Warner comes at number four.
3. Chris Gayle
The West Indies opener might have caught up with age, but he is undoubtedly the most lethal opener in the history of IPL. He has created havoc and made the bowlers’ life a nightmare over the years.
He has a mighty strike-rate of 151.02 and has an outrageous record of scoring 6 hundred and 28 fifties in this tournament. Chris Gayle has also scored 175* in a game against Pune Warriors now known as Rising Pune Supergiant, which is the highest-ever score in an innings in the history of IPL.
Will Gayle play in the next edition of the tournament is still a question, but his mighty records and the remarkable knocks will remain forever in the hearts of the IPL.
Unarguably, Chris Gayle is the epitome of destruction. The West Indies batsman has scored tons of runs in T20 cricket and is concerned as one of the most dangerous batsmen in IPL. Chris Gayle lit the inaugural edition of the IPL with a stellar century to his name and also boasts of the record of becoming the first person to hit a century in a T20 World Cup.
In this IPL’s most dangerous players list, Gayle comes at number three.
2. Suresh Raina
The other name of consistency is Suresh Raina when it comes to the IPL. He has played consistently good cricket over the years and has been an integral player for the Chennai Super Kings. Raina is the second leading run-scorer in the history of IPL with 5368 runs and has a strike-rate of 137.14. He has also played the most number of matches in the history of IPL.
Raina has scored 38 fifties and 1 hundred in 193 matches in this tournament. He is well in the race to become the all-time highest run-scorer in IPL when he comes to play again in the next edition of the tournament.
The southpaw, over the years, has played some of the finest innings in the history of IPL. A T20 specialist, Suresh Raina has been an integral part CSK since the inception of IPL. Ahead of the start of IPL 2020, Suresh Raina pulled out his name and went back home. Nevertheless, he stands as the second most dangerous player in IPL history.
In this IPL’s most dangerous players list, Raina comes at number second.
1. AB de Villiers
The former South African batsman tops the list for his blistering show in the IPL over the years for Royal Challengers Bangalore. It has been an uphill task for the bowlers to bowl against him as he has all the shots under his belt and can play shots at any corner of the ground. AB de Villiers is regarded as the most dangerous batsman in IPL history for his finishing capabilities with the bat.
He has a strike-rate of 151.23 in this tournament and has scored 3 hundred & 33 fifties. He also averages 39,95 with the bat and he is the 9th leading run-scorer in the history of the tournament.
An all-format player, AB de Villiers looks his absolute best in T20 cricket. While he has retired from International Cricket, he actively participates in the T20 franchise tournament around the world. With a strike rate of over 150, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that is regarded as the most dangerous batsmen in the history of IPL.
