Who are the best South African players at IPL 2021?
South African players have historically been excellent for the IPL and 2021 looks to be no different. There are a plethora of quality players from the country, divided into various franchises.
In the past, players such as Hashim Amla, Robin Peterson and Jacques Kallis have delivered in the IPL for their respective franchises.
With the number of players from South Africa who are in the IPL growing every year, we thought it would be a good idea to look at the top players.
So, who are the top 5 best South African players at IPL 2021?
5. Faf Du Plessis
Faf Du Plessis has been excellent for the Chennai Super Kings in the last decade. Despite the “Men In Yellow” failing to make the play-offs in IPL 2020, for the first time in their history, Faf recorded his best-ever IPL season.
He scored 449 runs in just 13 games at a batting average of 41 and at a strike rate of 141. Towards the end of the tournament, he shared in fantastic opening partnerships with Ruturaj Gaikwad and could do so at IPL 2021 again.
He is an excellent player of spin in limited-overs cricket and can attack in the powerplay to get the innings running. However, he is versatile and can also bat in the middle-order. With Raina back for CSK this season, if he and Du Plessis both have quality seasons, the “Yellow Army” might dominate with the bat.
Faf Du Plessis is number five on our list of top 5 South African players at IPL 2021.
4. Chris Morris
Chris Morris recently became the most expensive signing in IPL history. The Rajasthan Royals acquired his services for a huge fee of 16.25 crores. However, Morris is one of the few players that can actually repay such a price tag, because he excels in batting, bowling and fielding.
Morris was excellent last season for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and it was his injury which cost them in the play-offs. In 9 games, he picked up 11 wickets at a bowling average of 19 and at a economy rate of 6.63.
A Jofra Archer-Chris Morris pairing looks deadly on paper for the Rajasthan Royals, who will be looking to put in a better performance in this years IPL.
Also, Read – The top 5 best death bowlers in the world
Chris Morris is number four on our list of top 5 South African players at IPL 2021.
3. Quinton De Kock
Quinton De Kock was the most consistent batsmen for the Mumbai Indians in both the 2019 and the 2020 IPL. He scored 529 and 503 runs respectively in those two seasons. His strike rates of 133 and 141 both meant that he was getting the team off to a fast start, taking the pressure off Rohit Sharma – whom often likes to start slowly and then build his innings.
Also, a very flexible and athletic wicket keeper. Quinton De Kock has pulled off some stunning catches behind the stumps in recent times. He has improved versus spin bowling off late and capped it off with a century in India in 2019. The Mumbai Indians will be hoping that he can come to the fore again to help the franchise win their third IPL title in a row.
Quinton De Kock is number three on our list of top 5 South African players at IPL 2021.
2. Kagiso Rabada
In the last two seasons, Kagiso Rabada has been near-perfect for the Delhi Capitals. For him to repeat such feats, would be almost impossible. Yet, it seems as if he is only beginning to establish his mark on this tournament.
He took 25 wickets in just 12 games and constantly bowled the difficult overs and saw out games for the Delhi Capitals in 2019. In 2020, he went one better and helped the franchise reach their first final since 2009, picking up 30 wickets in just 17 games.
A bowling average of under 18 and an economy rate of just over 8 are excellent numbers for someone who bowls with the new ball and at the death. He has all the traits to perform to a standard to the last two seasons.
Armed with a deadly yorker, a sharp bouncer and genuine pace, Kagiso Rabada is among the best fest bowlers of his generation. His super over to Andre Russell is undoubtedly the greatest bowling display in a super over in the history of the IPL. A middle-stump yorker to uproot Andre Russell’s stumps and haul the Delhi Capitals to victory.
Kagiso Rabada is number two on our list of top 5 South African players at IPL 2021.
1. AB De Villiers
AB De Villiers is unarguably one of the greatest foreign batsmen to have ever played in the IPL. His record in the tournament is insane. 4849 runs at a batting average of 40.40 and a strike rate of 151.91. Mr 360, as he is fondly known, is a destructive and beautiful batsman to watch.
He has scored three breath-taking centuries in the IPL and has formed part of two double-century partnerships with Virat Kohli. Such records are unmatched in T20 history. He has assaulted even the greatest bowlers in the world. Lasith Malinga. Dale Steyn. Sunil Narine. No one has been spared of his power. Not for long anyway.
His finishing abilities are almost second-to-none and no game is finished as long as AB De Villiers is still at the crease. As a fielder, De Villiers is both athletic and eye-catching. Incredibly safe hands and he makes difficult catches look easy. Easily among the top 5 fielders in the history of the IPL.
Also, Read – The All-Round Genius Of AB De Villiers
AB De Villiers’s fortunes with both the bat and in the field will be perhaps the greatest factor in deciding how the Royal Challengers Bangalore will fare in the 2021 IPL.
AB De Villiers is number one on our list of top 5 South African players at IPL 2021.
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