The Best Five All-Rounder’s in IPL

Batting, bowling, and fielding are all essential skills in cricket. Others may focus on perfection in bowling, though some develop their skills with the bat in hand. Some people excel at both qualities but add their fielding or catching abilities to the existing skills of ball and bat. They are indeed rare commodities. With the intensity of the IPL, all-rounders like these are invaluable to any team’s chances of success. With the IPL’s lengthy history comes the inevitable question: who is the League’s best all-around player? It’s been 15 years since 2008, when it first began. Many have showcased their all-around abilities, but very few have been consistent. 

We present to you the ‘Select Five” in the passage below:

5. Ravindra Jadeja

Regarding steady performance, Ravindra Jadeja is a mainstay for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). However, he should thank Shane Warne, who mentored him during his stint with Rajasthan Royals in his initial years. MS. Dhoni harnessed the 34-year-old, and we saw the emergence of a ‘Rock Star”!.   Jadeja’s batting skills have improved greatly in recent years. He has also earned the tag of a ‘Finisher” alongside MS.Dhoni. Jadeja is trusted with the ball ne bowls his quota successfully.

He hails from the Indian State of Gujarat and has made quite an impression in the field in addition to his prodigious abilities with bat and ball. The Southpaw has the most run-outs by a player in IPL history with 23. Jadeja is the first player in IPL history with 2000+ runs and 100+ wickets. And justly so, as he is a top-tier performer in multiple aspects of the game in the IPL.

4. Andre Russell

 Andre Russell, originally from Jamaica, is a devastating cricket player. He is powerful enough to swing the game in his team’s favour at any point. Russell has the greatest batting strike rate, close to 180, among players who have scored more than 500 runs in the League. His amazing exploits eclipse his bowling prowess.

The West Indian all-rounder has twice won the IPL’s Player of the Tournament title. Russell had consistently shown himself to be a game-winning hero for the KKR, rescuing them from defeat when they seemed doomed. He has the all-around ability to get him a spot in the IPL’s all-time XI.

3. Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo has a stellar record in the IPL. The all-rounder from the Caribbean has a stellar track record and is a big reason why the CSK are so successful. He has scored over 1500 runs and taken183 wickets in the IPL. Third on the all-time list of most wickets taken in the Indian Premier League is Bravo.

In 2013 and 2015, he wore the Purple Cap. The 40 -year-old also has the record for the most wickets taken in a single IPL season. He broke the record for most wickets a bowler took in an IPL season with 32 in 2013. He is also one of the finest catches in the IPL, with 80 catches to his name.

2. Shane Watson

Among the top all-around players in the IPL, Shane Watson stands out as a clear frontrunner. The former Australian star was renowned for performing on the greatest stages during his outstanding IPL career. He played primarily for the RR and the CSK during his IPL career, ending with 3874 runs and 92 wickets. Watson also took home the trophy for the tournament’s MVP in the first season of the Indian Premier League in 2008.

In 2008, he was instrumental in the Rajasthan franchise’s upset victory over the odds. Watson assisted CSK to win their third IPL title in their big comeback of 2018 after scoring 472 runs and taking 17 wickets for Rajasthan in that season.

1. Kieron Pollard

If you look back at IPL history, Kieron Pollard’s impact as an all-around player stands out as the greatest of all time. He has been an integral part of the success of the Mumbai Indians, who have won the IPL five times in a row. In his 69 wickets, Pollard has amassed 3412 runs at a strike rate of 47.

And while he may not be the quickest fielder, he has taken  103 catches in the IPL and shown flashes of brilliance. The MI player is still very important to the series. The “Men in Blue” put a premium on the services of the seasoned veteran who has come through in the direst of situations. It wouldn’t be shocking if Pollard were remembered as the best all-around player in the IPL annals.