Best all-rounders in IPL history: The top 10 ever

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Dwyane Bravo is the best all-rounder in IPL history, thanks to his skills with the bat, the ball and in the field.

Most dangerous Indian Premier League all-rounders ever

An individual that can contribute with the bat, the ball and in the field is a priceless asset in any format of the game. But, more so in T20 cricket, where the game can change in a matter of seconds. The most successful sides in the format have had world-class all-rounders more often than not. Think back to the West Indies team that won the 2016 World T20. Mumbai Indians with the Pandya brothers. Chennai Super Kings with Bravo, A Morkel and Jadeja. In this article, we will specifically be focusing on the best all-rounders in IPL history.

Statistics have played a big part in this selection but match-winning abilities are the main element in choosing the top 10. Ability to close out the game with the bat or the ball is vital and hence the defining factor.

So, who makes the top 10?

10. Ben Stokes

Rajasthan Royals batsman Ben Stokes during the practice session ahead the Indian Premier league IPL 2019 match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Jaipur,Rajasthan,India on Thursday, April 04,2019.(Photo By Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto via Getty Images) IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE (Photo by Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Ben Stokes is number 10 on our list of “Best all-rounders in IPL history. He was player of the tournament at IPL 2017, in his debut season in the T20 league. Since then, he has regressed considerably but has produced some clutch performances with both bat and ball in the last few years. His century last year against the Mumbai Indians was a great example.

9. Shakib Al Hasan

A very steady all-rounder, who has quietly performed well for his various franchises. Shakib Al Hasan scored the winning runs during the 2012 IPL final for the Kolkata Knight Riders. His bowling has outperformed his batting in the tournament. 61 wickets in 65 games at an economy rate of 7.45 represent a very good return for a left-arm spinner.

8. Krunal Pandya

HYDERABAD, INDIA – MAY 12: Krunal Pandya of the Mumbai Indians celebrates taking the wicket of Faf Du Plessis of the Chennai Super Kings during the Indian Premier League Final match between the the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium on May 12, 2019 in Hyderabad, India. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Krunal Pandya perhaps hasn’t had as much impact as his younger brother in the IPL but he has contributed when it mattered most. His 47 in the 2017 final against the Rising Pune Supergiants helped the Mumbai Indians win the match by just 1 run. A solid left-arm spinner who is a street-smart bowler.

7. Chris Morris

Chris Morris’s skills have been in high demand for a number of years in T20 cricket. This has resulted in him being aggressively bid for in IPL auctions by franchises. The great thing is that Morris has often been able to repay that faith. His death-bowling qualities are up there with the very best, only going at 7.85 an over overall with the ball. Morris strikes at 157 with the bat and is a very safe fielder, making him a great asset for any franchise to have.

 

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6. Jacques Kallis

Jacques Kallis has won 2 IPL titles with KKR and as a result is one of the best all-rounders in the history of the tournament.
Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Jacques Kallis plays a shot during the IPL Twenty20 cricket final match between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on May 27, 2012. RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. MOBILE USE WITHIN NEWS PACKAGE. AFP PHOTO/Dibyangshu SARKAR (Photo credit should read DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/GettyImages)

Despite not having a combative batting style, Jacques Kallis was the bedrock of the Kolkata Knight Riders’ batting line-up for a number of years. He helped the franchise win two IPL titles – in 2012 and 2014. In the 2012 final, he scored an important half-century. Kallis has also picked up 65 wickets with the ball.

5. Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya’s rise in the IPL has helped the Indian National Team considerably and as a result he features at number five on our list of “Best all-rounders in IPL history.” As a batsman, he is among the most destructive towards the back-end of the innings. In the last few years, he has formed a deadly partnership with Kieron Pollard, as both have the ability to score rapidly against all types of bowling. In both 2018 and 2019, he bowled very well for the Mumbai Indians, giving them a solid sixth bowling option.

4. Ravindra Jadeja

Deccan Charges’ Daniel Christian (L) looks at Chennai Super Kings’ Ravindra Jadeja as he delivers a ball during the IPL Twenty20 cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Deccan Charges at The M.A.Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on May 4, 2012. AFP PHOTO / SESHADRI SUKUMAR – RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. MOBILE USE WITHIN NEWS PACKAGE (Photo credit should read SESHADRI SUKUMAR/AFP/GettyImages)

The “Two million dollar man” has been a very consistent performer for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. On spinning pitches in Chennai, he is almost impossible to play because of his accuracy and consistency. With the bat, he has become a fantastic lower-order batsman. He has won titles with both CSK and RR in the IPL. Add his sensational fielding into the mix and he becomes the perfect package.

3. Andre Russell

Andre Russell is number three on our list of “Best all-rounders in IPL history.” He has the highest IPL strike rate by any player to have scored over 500 runs in the tournament. His strike rate of 180 is quite ridiculous because he tees off from ball one, without giving himself much time to get set and adapt to the conditions. Russell’s long levers and strength allow him to hit the ball miles. He has also picked up 67 wickets at an economy rate of below 9.

 

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2. Shane Watson

Shane Watson has been the man for the big occasion, right throughout his IPL career. He blitzed 117 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2018 final to help CSK to their third title. Against the best bowling attack in the tournament, he delivered a sensational performance. He also played a big part in RR’s only IPL triumph, in 2008, scoring 472 runs and picking up 17 wickets.

1. Dwyane Bravo

VISAKHAPATNAM, INDIA – MAY 10: Dwayne Bravo of the Chennai Super Kings celebrates taking the wicket of Axar Patel of the Delhi Capitals during the Indian Premier League IPL Qualifier Final match between the Delhi Capitals and the Chennai Super Kings at ACA-VDCA Stadium on May 10, 2019 in Visakhapatnam, India. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Dwyane Bravo is number one on our list of “Best all-rounders in IPL history.” In his absolute peak, his death-overs bowling was second only to Lasith Malinga. A fantastic yorker and a dipping slower ball meant that batsmen found it very difficult to pick Bravo towards the end of the innings. With the bat, Bravo has the ability finish off the innings with a flurry of boundaries and he is a world-class fielder. Bravo is well known for plucking out catches that seem tough.

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