In every cricket team, an all-rounder is arguably the most valuable player. When a team adds a pair of all-rounders to their starting XI, the dynamics of the team change dramatically. Players that can bat and bowl well provide a captain with a wide range of choices. Any player with several talents helps his captain to make more aggressive decisions in the centre.
Captains eventually realised that in order to win every T20 match or competition, they needed to have quality all-rounders in their lineup as soon as T20 cricket became famous. In T20 cricket, players who can bowl a couple of overs for their captain and also score runs quickly are nearly unbeatable.
Over the course of its 13 seasons, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen some incredible all-rounders. When the 14th season approaches, it’s a good time to take a look back to see who has been the most productive with both the ball and the bat for their teams in the cash-rich league.
4 best all-rounders in the IPL :
1. Kieron Pollard
Kieron Pollard first rose to prominence in 2009, when he represented Trinidad and Tobago in the inaugural Champions League T20 tournament. The Mumbai Indians selected him ahead of the 2010 IPL season. Pollard has not worn any other IPL jersey except the Blue and Gold since then. The fact that the Mumbai Indians have declined to let him go only goes to show how important he has been to the team’s core formation over the years.
It will take a long time to list all of the top Mumbai Indians batsman’s knocks. To recap, there are a few stats that set him apart from a lot of other players. He has scored 3023 runs with an average of 29.93 in 164 matches. His strike rate is 149.87 percent. These figures are enough to get every batter into the lineup, but the Big West Indian still has some bowling credentials.
In the IPL, he has 60 wickets, but his bowling has deteriorated significantly over the years. He does, however, have a knack for picking crucial wickets, and Rohit Sharma has paid more attention to the West Indian when the situation called for it. Mumbai Indians have considered him for captaincy roles on occasion, and he has replied.
2. Dwayne Bravo
Dwayne Bravo was one of the first international players to make an impact in 2008. For the first three seasons, the West Indian all-rounder was with the Mumbai Indians. He was acquired by Chennai Super Kings for the 2011 IPL season and quickly found success under MS Dhoni’s captaincy. He was used as a bowling all-rounder, with Albie Morkel and Ravindra Jadeja, who joined in 2012, already in the team.
Dhoni made strong use of Bravo to get the most out of him. The West Indian batted third in the order and was often used as a finisher. Bravo’s effective slower balls and variations in bowling helped him to elude the batsmen during the death overs. CSK got great results from this strategy of using him in death overs.
Bravo twice won the Purple Cap, which is given to the player who takes the most wickets in a season. In 2013 and 2015, he won the award after CSK qualified for the final both times, only to lose to Mumbai Indians. Bravo has 1490 runs at a strike rate of 128.22 in 140 IPL matches. He still has 153 wickets to his credit. He had also represented Gujarat Lions during CSK’s two-season ban.
3. Ravindra Jadeja
Jadeja joined the Rajasthan Royals after becoming a member of the U-19 World Cup-winning squad in 2008. About the fact that the Royals didn’t have many stars, Shane Warne referred to Jadeja as his “rockstar.” The young all-rounder made frequent contributions to his team with both the ball and the bat.
He was acquired by the now-defunct Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011, where he continued to perform his roles flawlessly. When he moved to Chennai Super Kings in 2012, however, he made a complete 180. He has been with the franchise since then, with the exception of the two seasons where they were banned. He was a member of the Gujarat Lions for the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
In 184 IPL matches, he has scored 2159 runs at a strike rate of 126.47. By bowling with an economy of 7.67, he has also taken 114 wickets. In the last few years, his batting has improved dramatically, and he has become more successful with the ball. We are, without a doubt, in the midst of Jadeja’s professional height.
4. Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya’s development as a cricketer exemplifies how the IPL assists in the development and shaping of a young cricketer’s career. The Mumbai Indians scouted the Baroda all-rounder and decided to sign him for the 2015 season. Pandya has consistently improved as a cricketer since his debut season. In four of the franchise’s five titles, he has been a central member of the roster.
In 2015, the 27-year-old made headlines when he smashed an 8-ball 21 against Chennai Super Kings in a tight run chase that seemed to be heading against his side. He kept up his good form by hitting a 61 against Kolkata at the Wankhede, demonstrating his ability to strike the ball hard and score runs quickly.
Since then, Pandya has increased his offerings by a factor of two with each new season. He’s matured into a late-order batsman who’s often bowled vital spells when his captain needed them. Hardik has a strike rate of 159.26 and has scored 1349 runs in the league so far. He already has 42 wickets to his name. He played as a pure batter last season, but he recently began bowling again, so he will be expected to play as an all-rounder in the 2021 season.