The IPL is one of the most popular sporting events in the world and surely the biggest cricketing event. In this event, the gentleman’s game changes into a huge adrenaline rush and screaming affair, with a huge number of viewers plus die-hard fans. Throughout the years, the IPL has seen several cricketing talents giving their absolute bests in the field of play. Despite having several talents, the question finally boils down to who is the King of IPL?
In this article, you will get to know of some of the best performers of the IPL that made several jaws drop and made the game more competitive. The various performances led by those players will make you want to find out who is the king of the IPL. These players not just perform exceptionally well for their respective teams but also bring the best out of their teammates. Apart from that, their performances also make the tournament much better. Hence, to learn about who is the king of IPL, read on through to the end.
Who Is The King Of IPL? The Best Players Of The IPL Ever
Before you take a look at who is the king of cricket in IPL, you need to understand how the rankings are carried out in the first place. The players are ranked in this article as per their statistics, including their contributions to the tournament. This includes the number of runs, number of wickets taken, batting average, bowling economy, fielding, as well as in-game presence.
The following are the best players ever that played in the IPL from its inception in 2008 until now, in 2023:
1. Virat Kohli
“Who is the king of IPL team Royal Challengers Bangalore?” It is surely the ‘King of Cricket’ – Virat Kohli. One of the best batsmen and fielders of the game, in all formats, Virat Kohli has been really impressed with his bat, fielding, and on-field aggression. With 7162 runs in 236 matches with his bat, he has been one of the best entertainers of the tournament and the highest run scorer ever.
However, unfortunately, he never won an IPL league title with his team. Despite that, there is no shortage of fan-following for Virat Kohli, as he proved on various occasions why he is one of the best ever to play the game.
2. Dwayne Bravo
The Trinidad star player looked as if he was created to shine in the IPL. He has been exceptional with his all-round performance with three different teams, viz., Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Gujarat Lions.
A classic example of a West Indian all-rounder, Bravo took 181 wickets in 158 matches and scored 4320 runs. He was one of the key players in Chennai Super Kings, where he played a huge role in making the team win multiple IPL titles. His deadly slow ball deliveries during the death overs made him an exceptional threat for batsmen.
3. Shikhar Dhawan
Who is the king of IPL 2021? Many say it is Shikhar Dhawan, while others might have different opinions. However, it cannot be denied that Dhawan has been one of the classiest batsmen in the IPL. He has been playing in the IPL since 2008 and remained a top-order batsman for all the six teams he played with.
He is the second-highest run scorer in the IPL, after Virat Kohli, and has scored 6548 runs in 212 matches. He even scored two centuries and has kept a strike rate of 127 at the moment. With spectacular performances from time to time and a calm demeanor, Shikhar Dhawan can be rightly considered one of the best to ever play in the tournament.
4. Rohit Sharma
In 239 matches overall, Rohit Sharma made 6131 runs in 233 innings. He even scored one century, where he made 109 runs. With a strike rate of 130.1 and an average of 25.65, the current captain of the Indian National Team justly makes his spot at the number 4 position. He has been one of the key players for Mumbai Indians with their five IPL title wins.
5. Lasith Malinga
One of the best fast bowlers to ever play the game, Lasith Malinga was known for his yorker balls and his ability to take early wickets and also took crucial wickets in the death overs. Like Sharma, he has also been one of the most key players for Mumbai Indians, as he rightly makes his spot to the number 5 position. He took a whopping 170 wickets in just 120 matches which is really exceptional.
6. David Warner
The Australian rockstar opener is a true entertainer of the game. He made a total of 6232 runs in 173 matches for three different teams. Throughout the years, Warner won many prestigious awards and won the orange cap in three different years.
7. Suresh Raina
He is one of the most underrated cricketers, not just in the IPL but also for his national side as well. Despite playing in the middle order, he made a lot of runs and was really good with his fielding performances. He made 5528 runs in 205 IPL matches with an average of 32.52.
8. AB De Villiers
One of the most loved players in the IPL ever, De Villiers was lethal with his middle-order batting performances, as well as his fielding. He was also quite handy with his bowling as well, despite starting out as a wicketkeeper. There was nothing in cricket he could not do. An absolute entertainer, De Villiers was also one of the most reliable IPL crickets.
Final Thoughts
Of course, someone can have a different opinion in terms of the rankings about who is the king of IPL. However, it cannot be denied that the aforementioned players had a huge impact on the tournament throughout the years. Furthermore, they are the ones that always pose a threat to the opposition in almost every game. Who do you think should have been included in this list as one of the best players of IPL? Share your opinions with us in the comments section below.
