17 years since it’s inception, the Indian Premier League has taken world cricket by storm. Today we reflect upon the best IPL players to have ever played in the league.
Over a hundred players were considered in this rankings. Suresh Raina edges MS Dhoni for the top spot with AB de Villiers, Sunil Narine, David Warner, and Virat Kohli following closely.
Top 15 Greatest IPL Cricketers of All-Time: Undisputed Legends of the League
Notable Achievements: First Player to 5000 IPL Runs, 7 consecutive seasons with 400+ runs, has scored the most runs in IPL playoffs
For the first decade of the tournament, Suresh Raina was synonymous with the tournament. Mr. IPL, as he was often called, he took the tournament by force.
If you want to understand the impact Suresh Raina had on the IPL, just watch his 87 (25) against KXIP, which he scored during the Powerplay. ‘Chinna Thala’ to CSK fans, he kept the batting line up together for the Haydens & Husseys up top and the Dhonis & Jadejas to follow.
A handy spinner at the Chepauk and one of the best fielders India ever produced.
Notable Achievements: Most Number of Sixes Between 16-20 Overs, Second Most Wins as IPL Captain
When the IPL began way back in 2008, not many would have anticipated MS Dhoni to be as closely associated as we now know it. The boy from Ranchi is the ‘Thala’ to CSK fans.
MS Dhoni can finish games with his monstrous sixes, transform Shardul Thakur to become the Lord, take a dad’s army and win the IPL, and can win matches by ‘bits and pieces’ players.
He may be one of the best hitters of the IPL, but he is most definitely, the best captain the IPL has ever produced.
Notable Achievements: In IPL 2016, ABD scored 687 runs at 52.84 average and an astonishing SR of 168.79, which included one century and six fifties
AB De Villiers’ assault against Dale Steyn is perhaps the most eye catching batting in the IPL.
Countrymen, both at their peaks, battled against each other in a close game. AB de Villiers was the clear winner, sweeping & reverse swatting Steyn. In that game, de Villiers went from a great batter to a legendary one.
One of the few overseas players loved across all of India.
Notable Achievements: MVP IPL 2018, Best SR in 2018 (189.89), Economy Rate of 6.74, IPL career batting SR of 160.79
The cricket world has not seen as versatile of a player as Sunil Narine.
The first mystery spinner to consistently be a threat across multiple seasons, his economy rate suffocated the opposition.
Second highest wicket taker in IPL 2012 & 2014, Narine was one of the central cogs to KKR’s IPL triumphs.
After being called for illegal action in international cricket, Narine’s effectiveness temporarily decreased. However, he bounced off as a pinch hitter and a decent bowler. The 105-run partner with Chris ‘LynnSanity’ Lynn in the Powerplay is one of the iconic moments in all the IPLs.
Notable Achievements: Orange Cap Winner (2015, 2017, 2019). Boasts an average of 41.51 in IPL cricket
After arriving at Sunrisers Hyderabad, David Warner was a completely different beast.
From 2014 onwards, Warner scored 528, 562, 848, 641, 692, and 548 runs respectively in consecutive season.
Leading Sunrisers Hyderabad to a victory in 2016 having to go through the Eliminator, Qualifier, and the Finals has to be the highlight of his IPL career. He scored 93*(58) in the Qualifier and 69 (58) in the Final.
Unfortunate in the way he was removed from SRH after creating a lasting legacy.
Notable Achievements: Purple Cap (2011). Took 28, 22, and 20 in IPL 2011-13 respectively as well as 24 wickets in 2015.
In a world starting to love the six fest in T20 cricket, Lasith Malinga made pace, yorkers, and dot balls sexy.
One of the moments of the tournament was the IPL 2019 Final. 9 needed in the final over, Malinga kept it tight before delivering a slower yorker to outfox Shardul Thakur and win the tournament for the Mumbai Indians yet again.
Notable Achievements: Leading Run Scorer in all of the IPL, Most Hundreds in the IPL (7), Orange Cap Winner (2016) and scored the most runs in a single IPL season ever (973)
Virat Kohli’s 2016 season is the single greatest individual performance in any cricket league around the world.
With four centuries and 973 runs, Kohli lead RCB to the finals only to come agonizingly short by 8 runs in a high score chase.
A constant fixture for RCB over the years, forming great partnerships with Gayle, de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, and Maxwell, Kohli established himself as the premier Indian batter in the competition.
Notable Achievements: Purple Cap Winner (2013, 2015)
Constantly competing with his friend, Kieron Pollard, for the most T20 franchise wins in history, Bravo developed his skill as a canny medium pacer in the IPL.
He could bowl at the death or the middle overs and was a handful with his batting cameos as well.
One of the few players to win the IPL for both the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings.
Notable Achievements: 5-Time IPL Winning Captain, Has a Hat-Trick in the IPL
Emerging Player award winner of IPL 2009 with DC, Rohit Sharma would fulfill his potential as a batter and as a captain.
Changed the trajectory of the MI franchise, created a legacy, and was the ideal opener till 2017.
Although the runs have dried up in the last seven years, he remains as shrewd as ever as a leader in the side. Will be interesting to see how he performs under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya.
Notable Achievements: MVP (2011), Orange Cap (2011, 2012), Most Sixes in a Season (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015), Most IPL Sixes of All-time (357), Highest Individual Score (175*)
An injury substitute changed the history of RCB forever. In 2011, Gayle came as a substitute and became the orange cap holder.
With Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers, RCB formed one of the great IPL top orders.
It is safe to say that Chris Gayle took the IPL to another level.
Notable Achievements: MVP (2015, 2019), Most Sixes in IPL 2019. The best IPL strike rates in all of IPL (175.55). Dre Russ has hit more sixes (200) than fours (153)
Muscular built like a NFL superstar, Andre Russell has changed power-hitting in cricket. Even mistime hits go into the second tier.
Dre Russ is the complete package as a boundary rider and a death bowling specialist. KKR has preserved him (and Narine) even though his knee doesn’t function every now and then.
Teams: Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings
Years Played: 2008-2020
IPL Wins: 2008, 2018
Notable Achievements: MVP (2008), Player of the Final (2018)
Shane Watson was one of the first international stars of the IPL. Out of favor from the international side, Watson’s 2008 all-round performance took RR to the inaugural win.
At the end of his career with CSK, his playoff and finals performance in IPL 2018 was one of IPL’s most memorable stories.
Notable Achievements: Part of the most IPL winning campaigns
Ambati Rayudu was the backbone of the middle order (and sometimes as an opener) for both the great IPL franchises, Mumbai Indians & Chennai Super Kings.
MI provided Rayudu the opportunity to bounce back after his ICL ban, while CSK provided the perfect farewell after he was no longer considered in international cricket.
Teams: Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pune Warriors India, Sunrisers Hyderabad
Years Played: 2011-
IPL Wins: 2016
Stats: 162 Matches, 170 Wickets, 32 Catches
Notable Achievements: Purple Cap Winner (2016, 2017)
The only bowler apart from Dwayne Bravo to win two Purple Caps in the IPL.
SRH showed the world that strong bowling wins tournaments, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar lead this effort for them. At the height of his IPL career, Bhuvneshwar spearheaded both the swing department and the death bowling.
Known for his leadership, Gambhir led from the front in 2012 with 590 runs. Along with Robin Uthappa & Manish Pandey, formed a top order to take KKR to great heights.
Back at Delhi after KKR stint, he took the courageous decision to drop himself midway through the IPL after a patch of poor form.
KKR has still not reached the heights that Gambhir took them to all these years later.
Teams: Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pune Warriors India, Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings
IPL Wins: 2014, 2021
Stats: 205 Matches, 4952 Runs
Notable Achievements: Orange Cap Winner (2014)
If Gambhir scored the bulk of the runs in KKR’s 2012 triumph, it was Robin Uthappa who was a class apart in 2014.
It took Uthappa a while to find his feet in the IPL with different teams, but he had three brilliant phases.
In IPL 2010, he was the finisher of the tournament. Then he scored lots of runs at KKR, and finally ended his career at CSK after playing a couple of eye-catching innings.
One of the most talented batters India has ever produced, KL Rahul is always among the runs. Yet he finds himself under scrutiny from time to time for his strike rate and captaincy.
Expect him to rise in the list and win trophies over the next decade.
Teams: Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians
Years Played: 2008-
IPL Wins: 2014
Stats: 183 Matches, 181 Wickets
Notable Achievements: 3rd Highest Wicket-Taker in IPL History
For 10 months, you forget that Piyush Chawla is younger than Kohli, Russell, Narine, DK, and whole lots of other players. Enter IPL time, Chawla is on another level, one of the most consistent wicket-taker of the league.
In 2023, he ended up picking 22 wickets, his highest haul in a season.
Notable Achievements: 3rd Highest Wicket-Taker in IPL History
Suryakumar Yadav has made the #4 position his own at the Mumbai Indians.
Started his career with quick cameos at KKR but has produced 300+ seasons every year since 2018. In 2023, he scored 605 runs at 43.21 average and an astonishing 181.14 SR.
Probably one of India’s greatest T20 finisher, Dinesh Karthik had to redevelop his game over the years.
His first success was with the MI, batting at #3. Later, he developed as a dependable #5 batter-captain-keeper at KKR before becoming a full-time finisher (and commentator) during his time at RCB.
Notable Achievements: Three 500+ run seasons (2019, 2020, 2022)
Honorable Mentions:
Those Who May Make This List in the Future: Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nicholas Pooran, Axar Patel, Venkatesh Iyer, Varun Chakravarthy, Shivam Dube, Prithvi Shaw, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, Anrich Nortje, Shimron Hetmyer
Unluckly to Miss Out: Kane Williamson, Saurabh Tiwary, Rahul Tripathi, Trent Boult, RP Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Glenn Maxwell, Brendon McCullum, Krunal Pandya, Manish Pandey, Harshal Patel, Sandeep Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Wriddhiman Saha, Parthiv Patel, Nitish Rana, Hashim Amla, Siddharth Kaul, R Vinay Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Kuldeep Yadav, Siddharth Trivedi, Rahul Dravid, Chris Morris, Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Virender Sehwag, Ben Stokes, Andrew Symonds, James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Mike Hussey, Matthew Hayden, Murali Vijay, Andrew Tye, Rahul Tewatia, Jonny Bairstow, Morne Morkel, Albie Morkel, Nitish Rana, Subramanian Badrinath, Rajat Bhatia, Dale Steyn, Manvinder Bisla, Yuvraj Singh, Sohail Tanvir, Laxmipathy Balaji, Kumar Sangakkara
Who are the most expensive IPL auction players of All-Time?
It is that time of the year again—Yep, you guessed it—The IPL Auction!
With the IPL 2024 Auction here, we bring to you the most expensive IPL auction players of all-time with a twist. Along with the auction prices, we also consider the dollar to rupee conversion at every IPL auction.
Key Takeaways – Most Expensive IPL Auction Players
Yuvraj Singh – 2015 ($2.56 Million), Gautam Gambhir – 2011 ($2.4 Million), Chris Morris – 2021 ($2.24 Million), Yuvraj Singh – 2014 ($2.24 Million), and Sam Curran – 2023 ($2.23 Million) are the most expensive IPL auction players of all-time.
In 2008, $1 = 39.25 INR. In 2023, $1 = 82.81 INR.
The Top 36 IPL auction buys ranged from $1.5 million (MS Dhoni, Mahela Jayawardene) to $2.56 Million (Yuvraj Singh). In Indian Rupees, the player salaries ranged from 5.88 Crore (MS Dhoni) to 18.5 Crore (Sam Curran).
Yuvraj Singh & Ben Stokes (3 times each) as well asGlenn Maxwell & Dinesh Karthik (twice each) feature on this list multiple times.
India (18), England (9), Australia (5), West Indies (1), New Zealand (1), South Africa (1), and Sri Lanka (1) make up the most expensive IPL players of all-time ($1.5 million or above).
The franchises that have spent the most money regularly in IPL auctions are: RCB (7), CSK, KKR, PBKS/KXIP (5), MI, DD (3), RR, SRH (2), and LSG, KTK, PWI, RPS (1).
IPL 2023: Sam Curran (18.5 Crore INR), Cameron Green (17.5 Crore INR), Ben Stokes (16.25 Crore INR), Nicholas Pooran (16 Crore INR), Harry Brook (13.25 Crore INR)
USD to INR Conversion Rates (2008-2023)
It is important to consider the US$ to INR conversion year at the start of each year from 2008 to 2023.
We do this for two reasons: (1) The Indian economy has vastly changed in the last 15 years and the Rupee has taken a nosedive and (2) to compare IPL auction price across the different years.
Take for example, Ben Stokes.
In IPL 2017, he was sold for 14.5 Crore INR, when $1 = 66.91 INR.
A year later, his price was 12.5 Crore INR, when $1 = 63.6 INR.
Finally, in IPL 2023, Stokes was sold for 16.25 Crore INR, when $1 = 82.81 INR.
On the face of it, the 16.25 Crore INR looks like the ‘most expensive’ price Stokes was bought at. However, IPL 2017 was actually the better deal for Stokes.
IPL Auction Year
1 US$ to INR Conversion (IPL Auction Date)
2008
39.25 INR (01/24/2008)
2009
48.63 INR (02/06/2009)
2010
45.76 INR (01/19/2010)
2011
45.35 INR (01/08/2011)
2012
48.60 INR (02/04/2012)
2013
53.16 INR (02/03/2013)
2014
62.43 INR (02/13/2014)
2015
62.11 INR (02/16/2015)
2016
67.80 INR (02/06/2016)
2017
66.91 INR (02/20/2017)
2018
63.60 INR (01/27/2018)
2019
70.62 INR (12/18/2018)
2020
71.18 INR (12/19/2019)
2021
72.59 INR (02/18/2021)
2022
75.65 INR (02/12/2022)
2023
82.81 INR (12/23/2022)
Top 20 Most Expensive IPL Auction Buys of All-Time
Some of these players were let go of their franchises frequently and fetched a high-price on multiple occasions. Also, this list does not include retentions, transfers, drafts, and any undisclosed fees. These are the most expensive IPL auction players as per the IPL auction only.
*Note: The Base Price is shown as the amount used during the auction. Hence, for IPL 2008-2013, it will be in US $, while it will be displayed as INR for IPL 2014 and later.
The Indian Premier League is known for its extravagant spending. The IPL auction has now become a yearly phenomenon on its own.
The top 36 most expensive IPL buys of all time includes some of the most iconic players in the world, such as Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, and Sam Curran.
The money spent on these players shows that there is always going to be a high demand for talent in the IPL, and that it will continue to be one of the most exciting sporting events.
How high do you think IPL salaries can go? Will they match the NBA or NFL?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Most Expensive IPL Auction Players
Who is the most expensive player in IPL auction history?
Yuvraj Singh – 2015 ($2.56 Million), Gautam Gambhir – 2011 ($2.4 Million), Chris Morris – 2021 ($2.24 Million), Yuvraj Singh – 2014 ($2.24 Million), and Sam Curran – 2023 ($2.23 Million) are the most expensive IPL auction players of all-time.
Who is the highest paid cricketer in IPL history?
Yuvraj Singh in the IPL 2015 auction was the highest paid cricketer in IPL history (auction only) at 16 Crore INR ($2.56 Million). There were other players that may have been retained, transferred, etc. at a higher, undisclosed rate.
How much was $1 worth in Indian Rupee (INR) in 2008?
$1 was worth 39.25 INR in 2008 and has risen up to 83.3 INR in 2023.
Winners of the Man of the Match in the Cricket World Cup Final – Everything you need to know.
Who was adjudged the man of the match in the 2019 World Cup Final? Which players won the Man of the Match in each of the Cricket World Cup Finals?
As acclaimed American author Mark Twain once said,
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”
– Mark Twain
This quote perfectly epitomizes the World Cup Final for cricketers. It is the pinnacle of achievement, the day many of them dreamed of as a kid.
If you help your team conquer the World Cup Final, your legacy is etched in stone forever and you finally find out what you were born to do.
Without further ado, here is everything you need to know about the player of the match award winners in each ODI Cricket World Cup.
Key Takeaways
Ben Stokes won the most recent player of the match award in the 2019 World Cup Final.
The distribution of the man of the match in WC Finals coincide with the World Cup winners: 5 from Australia and the rest as follows: West Indies, India (2), England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka (1).
7 player of the final winners had all-round contributions, two were bowlers, two keepers, and one (surprisingly, Ben Stokes) contributing only as a batter.
At a Glance: Man of the Match in the Cricket World Cup Final
Player
World Cup
Performance
Clive Lloyd
1975
102 (85) 1/38 1 Run-Out Captain
Sir Vivian Richards
1979
138 (157) 0/35 1 Catch
Mohinder Amarnath
1983
26 (80) 3/12
David Boon
1987
75 (125) 1 Run Out
Wasim Akram
1992
33 (18) & 3/49
Aravinda de Silva
1996
107*(124) 3/42 2 Catches
Shane Warne
1999
4/33
Ricky Ponting
2003
140*(121) Captain
Adam Gilchrist
2007
149(104) 2 Catches 1 Stumping
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
2011
91*(79) 1 Run-Out 1 Catch Captain
James Faulkner
2015
3/36
Ben Stokes
2019
84*(98)
List of Award Winners: Man of the Match in the Cricket World Cup Final
1. Sir Clive Lloyd (West Indies), 1975 Prudential World Cup Final
Performance: Century, Wicket, Run-Out, Captain
Result: West Indies defeat Australia by 17 runs
Runs: 102 (85)
Strike Rate: 120.00
4s/6s: 12/2
Wickets: 12-1-38-1
Economy: 3.16
Match Situation
Batting first, West Indies were in a precarious position at 50/3. In comes captain cool, Clive Lloyd, and stitches a 149-run partnership with Rohan Kanhai against the Australians. West Indies end at 291/8 after their 60 overs. Imagine, a 120-strike rate in 1975. That too in a World Cup Final.
Australia start out well in response. Standing at 115-2, the Chappell brothers look to carry Australia home before Lloyd-Richards run out captain Ian Chappell for 62. No worries, Australia are still in the game at 170-4 with Doug Walters at 35.
Not anymore. Walters bowled Lloyd, reads the scorecard the next ball. Australia fight it out till 274, but the match was lost much before that.
2. Sir Vivian Richards (West Indies), 1979 Prudential World Cup Final
Performance: Century, Economical Bowling, Catch
Result: West Indies defeat England by 92 runs
Runs: 138* (157)
Strike Rate: 87.89
4s/6s: 11/3
Wickets: 10-0-35-0
Economy: 3.50
Match Situation:
I will read you the scorecard of nine players for WI that day.20, 13, 9, 45, 4, 0,0, 0, 0*. Collis King scored 86 (66) & Viv Richards scored 138*(157).
Richards came to the crease when Greenidge departed. When he began, the score was 22/1. Then, be batted and batted and batted. In the end, West Indies had 286/9 in 60 overs.
Brearley-Boycott began slowly but steadily taking England to 129. Joel Garner, though, had other plans. His figures read 5/38 as England collapsed from 129/0 to 194/10.
A classic from Vivian Richards. A sign for more to come in the next decade.
3. Mohinder Amarnath (India), 1983 Prudential World Cup Final
Performance: 3 Wickets, Runs on the Board
Result: India defeat West Indies by 43 Runs
Runs: 26 (80)
Strike Rate: 32.50
4s/6s: 3/0
Wickets: 7-0-12-3
Economy: 1.71
Match Situation:
When you think of Mohinder Amarnath, you think of his batting exploits and Test centuries. Not in the 1983 final.
With Dujon & Marshall in a 43-run partnership, there was still outside hope for the West Indies. They had recovered from 76/6. Then Amarnath took the wickets of Dujon, Marshall, and Holding to wrap up a famous victory for Team India.
Earlier, he was India’s third highest scorer with 26 runs, surviving the early spells of the West Indian fast bowlers.
4. David Boon (Australia), 1987 Reliance World Cup Final
Performance: 75 (125), Run-Out
Result: Australia defeat England by 7 Runs
Runs: 75 (125)
Strike Rate: 60.00
4s/6s: 7/0
Match Situation:
One of the closest World Cup Finals. While it was Mike Veletta’s 45*(31) that propelled Australia to 253, it was David Boon’s steady 75 that provided Australia with the base.
England had contributions from Gooch, Bill Athey, Mike Gatting, Allan Lamb that drew them close , but the lower order couldn’t push through.
5. Wasim Akram (Pakistan), 1992 Benson & Hedges World Cup Final
Performance: 33 (18) & 3/49
Result: Pakistan defeat England by 22 runs
Runs: 33 (18)
Strike Rate: 183.33
4s/6s: 4/0
Wickets: 10-0-49-3
Economy: 4.90
Match Situation:
A true all-round performance by Wasim Akram. Wasim came it at #6 with Pakistan at 197/4 in 43.3 overs. Imran Khan had departed for 72, but Wasim provided Inzamam support with a quick 33 (18) to take Pakistan to a competitive 249/6.
Wasim first nicked England’s golden boy, Ian Botham for a duck in the third over. Still, England recovered from 69/4 to 141/4. Then came in Wasim and delivered those two deliveres to Allan Lamb & Chris Lewis. England 141/6 and never recovered.
6. Aravinda de Silva (Sri Lanka), 1996 Wills World Cup Final
Performance: Century, 3 Wickets, 2 Catches
Result: Sri Lanka Defeat Australia by 7 Wickets
Runs: 107*(124)
Strike Rate:
4s/6s: 13/0
Wickets: 9-0-42-3
Economy:
Match Situation:
Wickets, runs, catches. Aravinda de Silva provided an all-round spectacle for the generation.
His off-breaks had taken out a dangerous Mark Taylor for 74, Ricky Ponting for 45, and Ian Healy for two. To top it off, he took catches to dismiss Steve Waugh and Stuart Law.
However, Australia had runs on the board with 241 runs and the famous Jayasuriya-Kaluwitharana pair were back in the hut within 23 runs. Then, Aravinda de Silva formed two partnerships to take Sri Lanaka home.
Gurusinha-de Silva scored 125 together, while de Silva & Ranatunga put together 97 runs to take Sri Lanka home with 22 balls remaining.
7. Shane Warne (Australia), 1999 ICC World Cup Final
Performance: 4/33
Result: Australia defeat Pakistan by 8 Wickets
Wickets: 9-1-33-4
Economy: 3.66
Match Situation:
An anti-climactic final. At 77-3 , Pakistan were decently poised.
Then came Warne. Ijaz Ahmed. Moin Khan. Shahid Afridi. Wasim Akram. All back in the pavilion. Pakistan would collapse for 132 in 39 overs. Australia chased it with almost 30 overs to spare.
8. Ricky Ponting (Australia), 2003 ICC World Cup Final
Performance: 140*(121), Captain
Result: Australia defeat India by 125 Runs
Runs: 140*(121)
Strike Rate: 115.70
4s/6s: 4/8
Match Situation:
Sourav Ganguly won the toss and chose to field first. Match was lost right there or so is what the narrative suggests. In reality, it was anexhibition of high-quality batting.
Gilchrist & Hayden set the tone with 105-runs in just 14 overs (Gilchrist would take it to a whole new level in the next edition). Ricky Ponting made sure there was no spot in the field left to score. 8 sixes, fours. Ponting, 140*, Martyn 88*, Australia 359/2.
Tendulkar out in the first over. India lose by 125 runs.
9. Adam Gilchrist (Australia), 2007 ICC World Cup Final
Performance: 149 (104), 2 catches, and 1 stumping
Result: Australia defeat Sri Lanka by 53 runs (D/L method)
Runs: 149 (104)
Strike Rate: 143.26
4s/6s: 13/8
Match Situation:
One of the least remembered World Cups. A tournament ridden with controversies, rain, mismanagement, Bob Woolmer’s death, and the financial loss induced by India-Pakistan’s early exits. For a few moments, the negativity was upstaged by one of the greatest final knocks.
Adam Gilchrist absolutely smashed it. 8 sixes, 143.26 SR. An opening partnership of 172 in 22.5 overs, in which Hayden only scored 38 (55).
And Gilchrist was not done. He did his part as a keeper by catching Tharanga & Russel Arnold and stumping Malinga at the end.
10. MS Dhoni (India), 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup Final
Performance: 91*(79), Run-Out, and a Catch
Result: India defeat Sri Lanka by 6 Wickets
Runs: 91*(79)
Strike Rate: 115.18
4s/6s: 8/2
Match Situation:
One of the best ODI chases by the greatest finisher in cricket’s history. Dhoni had played his part as a captain, caught behind Sangakkara for 48, and inflicted a run-out of Kulasekara at the end. However, it was Jayawardene’s blistering show of 103*(88) that took the match firmly into Sri Lanka’s favor.
At 31/2, with both Sehwag-Sachin in the hut and a review lost due to Malinga, there seemed to be no hope. The pressure of a home final. Then, began the recovery via Virat Kohli & Gautam Gambhir. This gave India some belief. When Kohli departed, another 161 runs were needed.
Then, came in MS Dhoni. Dhoni was struggling for form in the World Cup and Yuvraj Singh was player of the tournament contender. It turned out Dhoni came to tackle the Muralitharan factor and the decision paid dividends. The Gambhir-Dhoni duo stitched a 109 run-partnership and Dhoni-Yuvi finished it in style.
The final six is going to go down as one of the most iconic shots in Indian cricket history.
11. James Faulkner (Australia), 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup Final
Performance: 3/36
Result: Australia defeat New Zealand by 7 Wickets
Wickets: 9-1-36-3
Economy: 4.00
Match Situation:
After Starc had jolted the Kiwis with McCullum-size wicket, New Zealand had managed to somewhat recover. From 3/39 in 12.2, Ross Taylor & Grant Elliot had taken NZ to 150 in 35 overs. In that World Cup, with the powerplay rules, teams were comfortable doubling their scores after their 35th over. 300 was still possible.
In comes James Faulkner and bowls a really wide one to Taylor. Taylor, looking for the aggressive option, edges to Brad Haddin. Next Two balls later, Corey Anderson bowled for duck.
150-3. 150-4. 151-0-5. 151-6. 167-7. 183-10. Despite Aaron Finch’s duck, Australia chased it easily. Match over in a space of three deliveries.
12. Ben Stokes (England), 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup Final
Performance: 84*(98), 0/20
Result: Match Tied, England won in Super Over
Runs: 84*(98)
Strike Rate: 85.71
4s/6s: 5/2
Wickets: 3-0-20-0
Economy: 6.66
Match Situation:
This one is the freshest in all of our memories. One of the greatest ODI matches of all-time, and the best ending without a doubt.
New Zealand had runs on the board with 241, but England were still favorites to sweep them aside. But Matt Henry & de Grandhomme had other plans, combining with figures of 20-4-65-2. Joe Root had an off day at 7(30), and when captain Morgan was dismissed, England’s score stood at 86/4 in 23.1 overs. The Kiwis back in it.
Then came the recovery, led by Jos Buttler’s brisk 59 (60) with Stokes playing the supporting role. Lockie Ferguson brought his A game and would dismiss Buttler & Woakes in two balls.
At the end of the 47th over, Ben Stokes was 57*(87) and 33-runs were still needed. Then, the giant woke up. A couple of sixes, intense running, run-outs, Boult falling over the boundary, the dive that was deflected to the boundary. We all remember it like yesterday.
Stokes scored another 8*(3) in the Super Over and held his nerve.
A few moments later, Martin Guptill run out. By the barest of margins.
One of the all-time clutch performances of all-time.
Winning the man of the match in the Cricket World Cup Final is a prestigious achievement. Only have twelve have achieved it so far, and we remember all of their contributions fondly.
I hope we get to witness another memorable final and new heroes emerge. Who will it be this time?
Who are the greatest wicketkeepers in cricket history? Mark Boucher, Adam Gilchrist, and MS Dhoni are the greatest wicketkeepers across formats by sheer numbers. Rod Marsh, Ian Healy, Godfrey Evans, and Les Ames are some of the greatest keepers this game has ever seen.
Wicketkeeping has always been an integral part of cricket, and the role of a wicketkeeper is not limited to just catching the ball behind the stumps. Keepers play a vital role in the game by providing support to the bowlers, making crucial decisions, and contributing to the team’s overall performance. Over the years, cricket has seen some of the greatest wicketkeepers who have left a significant impact on the game.
Mark Boucher has the most dismissals in cricket across formats (998 dismissals) followed by Adam Gilchrist (905), and MS Dhoni (829).
MS Dhoni has the most stumpings in cross (195) followed by Kumar Sangakkara (139), and Romesh Kaluwitharana (101).
Australia (4) has the highest number of keepers in the Top 15 of the most wicketkeeper dismissal list followed by West Indies, South Africa, Pakistan (2), and India, England, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka. (1)
What Makes Wicketkeepers Valuable in Cricket?
The ranking of the greatest wicketkeepers in cricket is a topic of much debate among cricket fans and experts. However, most agree that the likes of Adam Gilchrist, Mark Boucher, and Kumar Sangakkara were some of the best wicketkeepers the game has ever seen.
Wicketkeepers are crucial to any team. Whether it is saving 20-30 runs behind the stumps every match, impacting DRS decisions, inflicting stumpings, or providing live commentary, they are always in the center of the action.
In this article, we will delve deeper into the topic of the greatest wicketkeepers in cricket and explore the skills and qualities that make a great wicketkeeper. We will also take a closer look at some of the most iconic wicketkeepers in the game’s history and analyze their performance and contributions to the sport.
Note: Although the likes of Rishabh Pant will go do as one of the greatest Test wicketkeeper batters, in this list, we only look at wicketkeeping stats alone.
Evolution of Wicketkeeping
Wicketkeeping has come a long way since the inception of cricket. The role of a wicketkeeper has evolved from being just a mere catcher behind the stumps to a crucial player in the team. Here are some key highlights of the evolution of wicketkeeping in cricket:
Early Days: In the early days of cricket, wicketkeeping was not a specialized role. Any player in the team could take up the role of a wicketkeeper. The gloves used by wicketkeepers were just simple leather gloves with no padding.
Growth of Wicketkeeping: As cricket evolved, the role of wicketkeeping became more specialized. The wicketkeeper became the primary catcher behind the stumps, and the gloves used by them evolved accordingly. The gloves were padded to protect the wicketkeeper’s hands from the impact of the ball.
Invention of Leg Guards: In the late 19th century, leg guards were invented to protect the wicketkeeper’s legs from the impact of the ball. The first leg guards were made of cane and had no padding. Later, the leg guards were made of leather and were padded to provide better protection.
Modern-Day Wicketkeeping: In modern-day cricket, wicketkeeping has become a specialized role. Wicketkeepers are not only expected to be good catchers but also good batsmen. The gloves used by wicketkeepers are highly padded, and the leg guards are also heavily padded to provide maximum protection. Wicketkeepers are also expected to be agile and quick on their feet to be able to move quickly to catch the ball.
The evolution of wicketkeeping in cricket has been a gradual process that has seen the role of the wicketkeeper become more specialized and crucial to the team’s success. The modern-day wicketkeeper is not just a catcher behind the stumps but also a valuable batsman and an agile player.
Greatest Wicketkeepers in Cricket History
Over the years, there have been many great wicketkeepers who have left their mark on the game. Here are some of the greatest wicketkeepers in cricket history.
Note: The Top 15 keepers are based on most dismissals across ODI, Test, and T20 cricket. Godfrey Evans and Les Ames are added in this list not based on the numbers but based on their keeping skills.
Years Played: 1946-1969 (Tests), 1939-1967 (First Class)
Tests: 173 Catches, 46 Stumpings
First Class: 816 Catches, 215 Stumpings (1031 Dismissals)
Godfrey Evans was an exceptional English cricketer, renowned for his agile wicketkeeping skills and aggressive batting, making him one of the greatest wicketkeepers in cricket history. ESPNCricinfo describes him as the “arguably the greatest wicketkeeper the game has ever seen.”
16. Les Ames (107 Dismissals, 74 Catches, 43 Stumpings)
Country: England
Years Played: 1929-1939 (Tests), 1926-1951 (First Class)
Tests: 74 Catches, 43 Stumpings
First Class: 703 Catches, 418 Stumpings (1121 Dismissals)
Les Ames, with his unbeatable wicketkeeping skills and powerful batting, was a true cricketing gem, lighting up the game like few others of his era.With 37248 first class runs and a mammoth 102 centuries, he was also one of cricket’s greatest keeper-batsmen.
Moin Khan brought an electrifying energy to the field with his nimble wicketkeeping and aggressive batting. Was a pivotal figure in Pakistani cricket during the 90s.
13. Mushfiqur Rahim (440 Dismissals, 342 Catches, 98 Stumpings)
Country: Bangladesh
Years Played: 2005-2023
Tests: 110 Catches, 15 Stumpings (125 Dismissals)
ODIs: 214 Catches, 53 Stumpings (267 Dismissals)
T20Is: 42 Catches, 30 Stumpings (72 Dismissals)
One of the Fab 5 of Bangladesh cricket, his energy behind the stumps was infectious. With Liton Das on the rise, the responsibility is slowly transitioning to the next generation.
*Note: At the back half of his career, McCullum would play as a specialist fielder due to injury issues and the introduction of Luke Ronchi & Tom Latham in the New Zealand setup.
Brendon McCullum is a legendary New Zealand cricketer. He was admired for his aggressive batting style and dynamic fielding abilities.
Jeffrey Dujon is a former West Indian cricketer who is widely regarded as one of the best wicketkeepers in cricket history. He played for the West Indies from 1981 to 1991 and was known for his excellent wicketkeeping skills. Dujon took 267 catches and 5 stumpings in his Test career.
7. Rod Marsh (479 Dismissals, 463 Catches, 16 Stumpings)
Country: Australia
Years Played: 1970-1984
Tests: 343 Catches, 12 Stumpings (355 Dismissals)
ODIs: 120 Catches, 4 Stumpings (124 Dismissals)
Rod Marsh is a former Australian cricketer who is considered to be one of the best wicketkeepers in cricket history. He played for Australia from 1970 to 1984 and was known for his excellent wicketkeeping skills. Marsh took 355 catches and 12 stumpings in his Test career.
5. Ian Healy (628 Dismissals, 560 Catches, 68 Stumpings)
Country: Australia
Years Played: 1988-1999
Tests: 366 Catches, 29 Stumpings (395 Dismissals)
ODIs: 194 Catches, 39 Stumpings (233 Dismissals)
Ian Healy is a former Australian cricketer who is widely regarded as one of the best wicketkeepers in cricket history. He played for Australia from 1988 to 1999 and was known for his excellent wicketkeeping skills. Healy took 366 catches and 29 stumpings in his Test career.
Kumar Sangakkara is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who is widely regarded as one of the best wicketkeepers in cricket history. His glasses and consistent presence was a key part in Sri Lanka’s domination.
*Note: Sangakkara switched regularly from keeper to fielder. Hence, his detailed Test, ODIs, and T20Is record show more catches then his overall Test catch record of 539
M.S. Dhoni is one of the most successful captains in Indian cricket history. He is also considered to be one of the best wicketkeepers in the world. And Dhoni’s stumpings are the best in the world, aren’t they?
2. Adam Gilchrist (905 Dismissals, 813 Catches, 92 Stumpings)
Country: Australia
Years Played: 1996-2008
Tests: 379 Catches, 37 Stumpings (416 Dismissals)
ODIs: 417 Catches, 55 Stumpings (472 Dismissals)
T20Is: 17 Catches, 0 Stumpings (17 Dismissals)
Adam Gilchrist is widely regarded as one of the best wicketkeepers in cricket history. He played for Australia from 1996 to 2008 and was known for his aggressive batting style. Gilchrist was a reliable wicketkeeper and took 905 catches and 37 stumpings in his career. Changed the way the wicketkeeper’s role was viewed.
1. Mark Boucher (998 Dismissals, 952 Catches, 46 Stumpings)
Country: South Africa
Years Played: 1997-2012
Tests: 532 Catches, 23 Stumpings (555 Dismissals)
ODIs: 403 Catches, 22 Stumps (425 Dismissals)
T20Is: 18 Catches, 1 Stumping (19 Dismissals)
Mark Boucher is a former South African cricketer who is considered to be one of the best wicketkeepers in cricket history. Had an unfortunate end to his career as a bail hit his eye.
These wicketkeepers have left their mark on the game and have set the standard for future generations. Their skills, dedication, and hard work have made them some of the greatest wicketkeepers in cricket history.
Final Thoughts
Their agility behind the stumps, exceptional catching prowess, and often underappreciated batting abilities, make them stand out in the cricketing pantheon.
I have developed a newfound respect for these players who donned the gloves and stood guard behind the wickets, often unsung heroes of many a match.
As a fan, I feel privileged to have witnessed some of these greats in action, while others, I have come to appreciate through stories, records, and old footage. The legacy they have left behind is not only inspiring for upcoming cricketers but also serves as a reminder for us fans about the richness and diversity of this beautiful game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the greatest wicketkeeper in cricket history?
Mark Boucher, Adam Gilchrist, MS Dhoni, Ian Healy, Rod Marsh, Les Ames, and Godfrey Evans are among cricket’s greatest wicketkeepers.
Who has the most stumpings in cricket?
MS Dhoni has the most stumpings in cross (195) followed by Kumar Sangakkara (139), and Romesh Kaluwitharana (101).
Who has the most dismissals in cricket?
Mark Boucher has the most dismissals in cricket across formats (998 dismissals) followed by Adam Gilchrist (905), and MS Dhoni (829).
After the defeat, or ‘thrashing’ India received from England in the 2022 WC semi-finals, fans worldwide were frustrated at another disappointing finish. Here are my honest thoughts for Those Who Care and Run Indian Cricket. An open letter, “Enough is enough.”
Dear Indian Cricket Administrators,
Enough is enough.
2014 T20 World Cup Final. 2015 ODI World Cup Semi-Final. 2016 T20 World Cup Semi-Final. 2017 Champions Trophy Final. 2019 ODI World Cup Semi-Final. 2021 World Test Championship Final. 2022 T20 World Cup Semi-Final. 2023 World Test Championship Final.
9 Long Years. 7 ICC knockout matches. 3 captains. Different coaches. Same result. So close, yet so far.
When India suffered 0-4 losses to England & Australia in the 2011 disastrous Test tours, MS Dhoni frequently said, ‘It is the processthat matters.’ The same talks continued throughout the decade.
Process. Journey. Learnings. Yes, learning is good. Making mistakes is good…if and only if, they lead to tangible changes. Not if they result in the same mistakes again.
We have Questions. More questions. LOTS of questions. What is the exact process? Who decides these processes? Because if the same story plays over and over again, and India keeps losing in key moments, then there is an inherent problem with the process itself.
Then the blame game starts. IPL vs internationals. Not able to play in overseas leagues. Injuries. Handling the ‘pressure.’ Retrospective selection debates. Rest & rotation.
Excuses.Enough is enough.
This letter is not to single out individuals, players, coaches, team management, or even the system. I’m not questioning the commitment or the lack of trying. These are professionals, and they try to do their best on and off the field.
Rather, I’m questioning the status quo. The Hero Worship. Administrative bias. Selections and Experimentation. Media leaks. Lack of the winning mentality.
The current England team is doing something right. After the 2015 World Cup debacle, they took some tough decisions. The team of Eoin Morgan, Andrew Strauss, and Nathan Leamon invested in a system that would produce results and backed players that fit their system.
Enjoy the journey. Learn from the process. Keep improving. All this is good, but at the end of the day, results matter. The IPL wouldn’t still exist if it wasn’t a profitable venture. Brazil (5), Germany (4), and Italy (4) wouldn’t be as feared in the soccer world if they hadn’t won that many trophies consistently over time.
You know why West Indies in the 2010s were so good? Because they won World Cups AND had fun doing it. That’s the ideal situation. Process plus results. Why can’t India get there? Why can’t India win both bilaterals and World Cups?
The Power of the IPL and depth of India’s pool of talent—A blessing and a disguise. There is a key difference between gradual progress and stagnation. It is high time that Team India starts converting this golden generation of players and financial power into trophies.
Lost opportunity. Enough is enough.
The fans are just as much as stakeholders in the game as the administrators and players themselves.
One of these days, the confidence in the team might be a disappear. The team needs to start winning world tournaments. That’s it.
And this is not to say that India is a bad team. Not even close. Coming to the semi-finals in almost every competition ten years in a row is no joke. However, the final hurdle is sometimes the most important step. And not getting over that step points to deeper issues.
It’s a well-known idiom to “Hope for the best and Prepare for the worst.” But maybe, just maybe, that is not the right way to go.
Don’t play safe. For once, just go all out. Try something new. Take some risks. Make courageous selections.
Indian fans can live with defeat. What they can’t live with is manner of defeats and making the same mistakes over and over again.
Something needs to change. Otherwise, all that will be left is Broken Dreams.
Because enough is enough.
Sincerely, A Cricket Fan
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By Nitesh Mathur, Broken Cricket Dreams, 3/24/2022
Time for IPL 2022! Yep, the festival is back—This time with two more teams. That is right! Welcome Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Kings!
Lot has changed since last time. A massive auction and an end of an era. No Suresh Raina, Chris Gayle, AB De Villiers and although MS Dhoni & Virat Kohli are still here, they are no longer captains.
Without further ado, here is everything you need to know about IPL 2022 QUICKLY—Squads, Schedule, Latest Injury News, Commentators, History, and Predictions! By the end of this read, you should have all your IPL 2022 questions answered.
Venues: All the matches will be played in & around Mumbai:
Wankhede Stadium
Brabourne Stadium
DY Patil Stadium (Navi Mumbai)
MCA International Stadium (Pune)
IPL 2022 Groups
GROUP A
GROUP B
Mumbai Indians
Chennai Super Kings
Kolkata Knight Riders
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Rajasthan Royals
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Delhi Capitals
Punjab Kings
Lucknow Super Giants
Gujarat Titans
IPL 2022 Groups
*Note: Unlike previous IPLs, this is not going to be a round-robin tournament. To keep the number of games bearable, each team will play teams from their groups twice (as well as one team from the other group), and the rest of the team once. So that is two games against five teams and one game against the other four for a total of 14 matches.
Detailed team-by-team fixtures are displayed with each team below.
The big news in this arena is that Ravi Shastri is back in the commentary box after his coaching tenure with the Indian team came to an end. Also joining him are ex-IPL stars like Mr. IPL – Suresh Raina, Piyush Chawla, and Dhawal Kulkarni
English/Global Broadcast
Harsha Bhogle, Ian Bishop, Alan Wilkins, Pommie Mbangwa, Simon Doull, Sunil Gavaskar, Danny Morrison, Graeme Swann, Scott Styris, Neroli Medows, Anant Tyagi, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, Murali Karthik, Kevin Pietersen, Matthew Hayden, Deep Dasgupta, Anjum Chopra, Nicholas Knight, WV Raman, Daren Ganga, Morne Morkel, Graeme Smith
Apart from these two major broad categories, IPL 2022 will be broadcasted in at least seven other regional languages with marquee Indian domestic cricketers as commentators.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: 2009, 2011, 2016 (Runner-Up)
Delhi Capitals: 2020 (Runner-Up)
Punjab Kings: 2014 (Runner-Up)
*Note: Rising Pune Supergiant reached the final of the 2017 IPL (Deccan Chargers Gujarat Lions, Sahara Pune Warriors India, Kochi Tuskers Kerela were the other teams to have featured in the IPL – Now defunct. Also, Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab were the earlier names of Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings respectively).
2022 Indian Premier League News at A Glance
IPL 2022 Injury/Withdrawn List
Jofra Archer was eligible to be in the IPL 2022 auctions. However, he will not be playing this season due to an elbow injury. Watch out for MI in future seasons. Bumrah + Archer will be WOW!
Deepak Chahar is set to miss the IPL with a recurring quadriceps injury.
Anrich Nortje is suffering from an injury but is back with the squad (might not be available right away).
Jason Roy & Alex Hales withdraw due to bio bubble fatigue. Mark Wood is out of the IPL with an elbow injury.
Suryakumar Yadav is suffering from a hairline thumb fracture. He will miss the first match and may comeback soon.
Other IPL 2022 Major News
MS Dhoni steps down from captaincy. Ravindra Jadeja the new captain for CSK. Dhoni will however play as a player for one (or more) seasons.
Moeen Ali gets visa (late) and had to be quarantined. Hence, he will arrive by CSK’s second match.
IPL 2022 Team Availability
Every season, team combinations are impacted by international commitments. Here are the ongoing/future series that might collide with IPL 2022:
Bangladesh Tour of South Africa:Dwaine Pretorius (CSK), Kagiso Rabada (PBKS), and Lungi Ngidi & Mustafizur Rahman (both DC). However, they may only miss one or two matches since CSA has granted leave for Rabada, Ngidi, Jansen, Markram, and Rassie van der Dussen at the expense of the Test series. Read Firdose Moonda’s article explaining Money Matters.
Australia tour of Pakistan:Australian players are not granted a leave till April 6th, which means they will be unavailable for 4-5 matches for their respective teams. This includes Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch (KKR), Sean Abbott (SRH), Hazlewood/Behrendorff (RCB), Marcus Stoinis (LSG), and David Warner (first two matches). Oh and Glenn Maxwell is getting married, so let us leave him alone for a couple of weeks.
England tour of West Indies: Jonny Bairstow (PBKS), Alzarri Joseph (LSG) – Misses first two matches due to the Test series
NZ Tour of England:Starts in June but if their IPL teams qualify for the playoffs, Tim Southee (KKR) & Jonny Bairstow (PBKS) might miss out.
*Note: Netherlands tour of NZ series is also ongoing but NZ have released all their IPL bound players, so there is no conflict.
CSK’s strength lies in their all-rounders and bench strength. Moeen Ali, Jadeja, and Bravo make up the core but even if they sit out, Santner, Chris Jordan, Pretorius, and Dube are adequate replacements.
Weaknesses
Out and out pace bowling. Without Chahar, Adam Milne is the lone spearhead of their fast bowling attack but Deshpande/Asif are a bit inexperienced.
X Factor
Watch out for Devon Conway, or as he is known in CSK circuits—Mike Hussey 2.0.
Chennai Super Kings IPL 2022 Squad List
Batters
Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ambati Rayudu
Robin Uthappa (WK)
MS Dhoni (C/WK)
Hari Nishaanth
Narayan Jagadeesan
Subhranshu Senapati
_________________________
Overseas
Devon Conway (WK)
All Rounders
Ravindra Jadeja
Shivam Dube
Rajvardhan Hangragekar
Bhagat Verma
___________________________
Overseas
Mitchell Santner
Dwayne Bravo
Moeen Ali
Dwaine Pretorius
Chris Jordan
Bowlers
Deepak Chahar
Tushar Deshpande
KM Asif
Mukesh Choudhary
Prashant Solanki
Simarjeet Singh
__________________________
Overseas
Adam Milne
Mahesh Theekshana
Overseas Players (by Nationality):
New Zealand: Devon Conway, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne
Balance. Solid top order with Marsh/Axar as allrounders and Sarfaraz Khan/Rovman Powell as the finishers. And with Shardul Thakur here, there is no need to fear.
Weaknesses
Replacements. Warner/Marsh/Nortje/the Fizz will be out for the first 4-5 matches.
X Factor
Watch out for Axar Patel-Shardul Thakur. Could be the Sneh Rana-Pooja Vastrakar type lower order players DC need.
Shubman Gill, 2. Matthew Wade (WK), 3. Wriddhiman Saha, 4. Hardik Pandya (C), 5. Vijay Shankar, 6. Rahul Tewatia, 7. Gurkeerat Singh Mann/Jayant Yadav, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Mohammad Shami, 10. Lockie Ferguson, 11. Noor Ahmad/R Sai Kishore
Strengths
Bowling line-up of envy—Rashid Khan, Shami, Lockie Ferguson, R Sai Kishore.They also bought most of the India allrounders in the last five years (Pandya, Vijay Shankar, Gurkeerat, Jayant Yadav, Tewatia)
Weaknesses
Top order. Without Jason Roy, this is a think looking line up. Pandya-Shankar-Tewatia-Rashid can do wonders once in a while but lot rests of the Gill-Wade opening combination.
X Factor
R Sai Kishore. Consistent performer for Tamil Nadu in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the domestic game. Should finally come off the bench and make his mark in the IPL.
Gujarat Titans IPL 2022 Squad List
Batters
Shubman Gill
Wriddhiman Saha (WK)
Abhinav Manohar
Sai Sudharshan
____________________________
Overseas
Matthew Wade (WK)
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK)
All Rounders
Hardik Pandya (C)
Vijay Shankar
Gurkeerat Singh Mann
Rahul Tewatia
Jayant Yadav
__________________________
Overseas
Rashid Khan
Dominic Drakes
Bowlers
Mohammad Shami
R Sai Kishore
Varun Aaron
Pradeep Sangwan
Darshan Nalkande
Yash Dayal
___________________________
Overseas
Lockie Ferguson
Noor Ahmad
Jason Roy* (withdrawn)
Overseas Players (by Nationality):
Australia: Matthew Wade
New Zealand:Lockie Ferguson
West Indies: Dominic Drakes
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Noor Ahmad
The All-Round Package.If fit & in-form, Russell-Narine-Cummins-Venkatesh Iyer will be a handful. And captain Shreyas Iyer is in rich vein of form as well.
Weaknesses
Wicketkeeper. With a long tournament, there are not many keeper options apart from Sheldon Jackson (Indian domestic) & Sam Billings. Fitting them into the middle order might change combinations in the XI.
X Factor
Watch out for Chamika Karunaratne. With Cummins arriving after match 4 and Russell’s fitness never certain, Chamika could be a handy lower order bowling all-rounder.
KL Rahul (C), 2. Quinton de Kock (WK), 3. Manish Pandey, 4. Marcus Stoinis, 5. Deepak Hooda, 6. Krunal Pandya, 7. Jason Holder, 8. Krishnappa Gowtham/Shahbaz Nadeem, 9. Ravi Bishnoi, 10. Avesh Khan, 11. Dushmantha Chameera
Strengths
The first XI. What a team – Pandey/Stoinis at 3 & 4 means KL Rahul can play his natural game. Hooda-Pandya-Holder are adequate finishers/all-rounders and Bishnoi/Avesh Khan/ Chameera strong bowlers.
Weaknesses
Replacement bowlers might be a slight concern.
X Factor
Watch out for Rahul-QDK as the opening pair of the tournament.
Lucknow Super Giants IPL 2022 Squad List
Batters
KL Rahul (WK/C)
Manish Pandey
Manan Vohra
Karan Sharma
Ayush Badoni
___________________________
Overseas
Quinton de Kock (WK)
Evin Lewis (WK)
All Rounders
Deepak Hooda
Krunal Pandya
Krishnappa Gowtham
___________________________
Overseas
Jason Holder
Marcus Stoinis
Kyle Mayers
Bowlers
Avesh Khan
Ravi Bishnoi
Shahbaz Nadeem
Ankit Rajpoot
Mayank Yadav
___________________________
Overseas
Dushmantha Chameera
Andrew Tye
*Mark Wood (Withdrawn)
Overseas Players (by Nationality):
Australia: Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye
West Indies: Evin Lewis, Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers
The same core as before. Rohit-Ishan-Sky-Pollard-Bumrah.
Weaknesses
The bowling cohort. Unadkat/Thampi are adequate players to come off the bench but not the ideal starters.They will also miss the Pandya brothers.
X Factor
Watch out for the foreign recruits. Brevis was the batter of the U-19 World Cup, Tim David is the hardest hitting Singaporean in the T20 circuit, Fabian Allen’s reputation has gone up in the last couple of years, and a fit-Tymal Mills is a treat to watch.
Mumbai Indians IPL 2022 Squad List
Batters
Rohit Sharma
Ishan Kishan (WK)
Suryakumar Yadav
Anmolpreet Singh
Rahul Budhhi
Aryan Juyal (WK)
Ramandeep Singh
Tilak Verma
___________________________
Overseas
Dewald Brevis
Tim David
All Rounders
Arshad Khan
Sanjay Yadav
___________________________
Overseas
Fabian Allen
Kieron Pollard
Daniel Sams
Bowlers
Jasprit Bumrah
Jaydev Unadkat
Murugan Ashwin
Mayank Markande
Basil Thampi
Hrithik Shokeen
Arjun Tendulkar
___________________________
Overseas
*Jofra Archer (unavailable this season)
Riley Meredith
Tymal Mills
Overseas Players (by Nationality):
Australia: Riley Meredith, Daniel Sams, Tim David (Singapore/Australia)
The top 5. Agarwal & Dhawan are perennial Orange Cap contenders, Livingstone-Bairstow are T20 legends, and Shahrukh Khan is the newest finisher in the house.
Weaknesses
Not many Indian batters on the bench if Agarwal/Dhawan were to get injured.
X Factor
Watch out for Rishi Dhawan. He has had a pivotal domestic season.
Bowling line up of Siraj-Harshal-Shahbaz-Hasaranga-Hazlewood is mouth-watering.
Weaknesses
How many games will it take RCB to figure out their best XI, which has been their usual problem. I reckon until Maxwell & Hazlewood come in, RCB might experiment with Anuj Rawat-Lomror-Rutherford.
X Factor
Watch out for Finn Allen. If he gets a chance, just remember his debut 29-ball 71 in a T20I. Also watch out for captain Faf du Plessis. Legendary leader – can he help RCB cross the line?
Kane Williamson (C), 2. Rahul Tripathi, 3. Aiden Markram/Glenn Phillips, 4. Nicholas Pooran (WK), 5. Abdul Samad, 6. Priyam Garg/Abhishek Sharma, 7. Washington Sundar/Shreyas Gopal, 8. Romario Shepherd, 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. Umran Malik, 11. T Natarajan/Kartik Tyagi
Strengths
Umran Malik-Natarajan-Bhuvneshwar Kumar make a solid bowling line-up. Expect Umran Malik to break the speed charts in this edition of the IPL.
Weaknesses
Not convinced with Priyam Garg/Abhishek Sharma at #6. They might be better used up the order with experienced batters to finish off the match.
X Factor
Watch out for Rahul Tripathi.He was the heart and soul of KKR’s run to the final last year and for RPS in 2017.Also watch out for Suchith, the ultimate substitute fielder.
Ravindra Jadeja is the captain of CSK in IPL 2022 as MS Dhoni steps down.
Who are all the IPL 2022 commentators?
Harsha Bhogle, Ian Bishop, Aan Wilkins, Pommie Mbangwa, Simon Doull, Sunil gavaskar, Danny Morrison, Graeme Swann, Scott Styris, neroli Medows, Anant Tyagi, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, Murali Karthik, Kevin Pietersen, Matthew Hayden, Deep Dasgupta, Anjum Chopra, Nicholas Knight, WV Raman, Daren Ganga, Morne Morkel, Graeme Smith head the English global broadcast unit, while Ravi Shastri, Suresh Raina, Aakash Chopra, Mohammad Kaif, Mayanti Langer Binny, Irfan Pathan, Parthiv Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jatin Sapru, Tanya Purohit, Suren Sundaram are the Hindi/English commentators.
Who is the captain of RCB in IPL 2022?
After Virat Kohli stepped down, Faf du Plessis became the captain of RCB in IPL 2022.
What are the two new teams in IPL 2022?
Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants are the two new teams in IPL 2022.
Moments of The Day: Positive Faf-Gaikwad Shine Light On Warner-Pandey’s Conservative Approach
Here are my moments of today:
David Warner & Manish Pandey once SRH’s strength are now the weakness. For once we will not be talking about Manish Pandey’s slow going. After being dropped from the SRH XI, he came back with a relatively positive 35-ball 50. On the other hand, sluggish 57 (55) by David Warner was the difference between the two sides. In his own words, “I batted slow…I take full responsibility…I took too many balls.” At the end of the day, a 106 (87) partnership should not be losing you too many games.
Kane Williamson’s finishing skills comes to the forefront. After SRH’s slow approach, Williamson began his famous rescue act. With four 4s & one six, he ended up with 26*(10) and received some good support from Kedar Jadhav, who hit 12* (4) with one six. 37 runs were scored in the last 13 balls to lift SRH to 171, but unfortunately it was too little, too late.
Ruturaj Gaikwad & Faf du Plessis are key to CSK’s revival. Gaikwad now has had 6 innings of note in his short IPL career. He was going neck and neck with Faf at one point, but when the spin duo Suchith-Rashid arrived, Gaikwad went berserk, ending with a score of 75 including 12 classic fours. Faf is enjoying a second wind after retiring from Test cricket and relieving South African captaincy. Mr. Ultra Consistent, he has been diving around the field and has now become the Orange Cap holder in IPL 2021. With scores of 0, 36*, 33, 95*, 50, 56, Faf just keeps on getting better.
Highlight of the Day
The best part of their fifties was the celebration from the dugout. Everyone stood up with Robin Uthappa (who may not get a game if Gaikwad keeps on going well) clapping with a smile and the best of the lot – whistles from Deepak Chahar. CSK’s team spirit is growing game by game and are slowly approaching unstoppable status.
Honorable Mention: Rashid Khan expensive but among the wickets; Lungi Ngidi’s 2 wickets; Faf’s catch & boundary riding
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: Sunrisers Hyderabad Bench
While Pandey & Warner were stitching singles in the middle overs, I could not help but wonder how Jason Roy, Mohammad Nabi, & Jason Holder would go about in the situation. In my pre-tournament previews, I had SRH in my top 4 due to their flexibility and bench strength. Yet, they have not been able to figure out their balance. It is time that Warner rests himself for a couple of games, Williamson take on the captaincy mantle, & SRH unleashes the Roy-Bairstow opening combination.
In the last game, Warner implied that he did not know why Pandey was dropped for Virat Singh, and today he questioned Williamson’s #4 position.
David Warner’s post-match conferences are suddenly being scrutinized. Cryptic for sure. Is there a power struggle in SRH’s dugout? Who is making all the decisions?
IPL 2021 Points Table, Orange Cap, & Purple Cap Leaders
No need to go elsewhere for the Points Table, Orange Cap, & Purple Cap. We will keep updating it in every article!
Shikhar Dhawan has been dethroned! Faf du Plessis up at the top now.
Faf du Plessis – 270 runs (CSK, 6 matches)
Harshal Patel – 17 wickets (RCB, 6 matches)
Teams
Played
Won
Lost
Tied No-Result
Points
Net Run Rate
1. Chennai Super Kings
6
5
1
0
10
+1.475
2. Royal Challengers Bangalore
6
5
1
0
10
+0.089
3. Delhi Capitals
6
4
2
0
8
+ 0.269
4. Mumbai Indians
5
2
3
0
4
-0.032
5. Kolkata Knight Riders
6
2
4
0
4
-0.305
6. Punjab Kings
6
2
4
0
4
-0.608
7. Rajasthan Royals
5
2
3
0
4
-0.681
8. Sunrisers Hyderabad
6
1
5
0
2
-0.264
IPL 2021 Points Table
Tomorrow’s Preview
Mumbai Indians take on Rajasthan Royalsand Kolkata Knight Riders take on Delhi Capitals in double header day.
Also, if you have not yet read our IPL Previews, here is a list of all of them! Check them out and share ahead:
The IPL is full of surprises and memorable moments. Here are my moments of today:
Faf-Gaikwad give CSK another great start. Once again, Faf (50 runs) & Ruturaj Gaikwad (33) set the platform with a steady 74 (58) run partnership. With a steady opening partnership & the addition of Moeen Ali/Suresh Raina at the top, this CSK team is beginning to look threatening. Top of the table now.
Ravindrasinh Anirudhsinh Jadeja – One of the greatest all-rounders of all-time. From 19 overs, 154/4, Sir Jadeja hit 6,6,6nb,6,2,6,4 to take CSK to 191/4. On the bowling front, with RCB strolling around with 65/2 in 6.2 overs, in comes Jadeja. Out goes Washington danger & the in-form duo Glenn Maxwell & AB De Villiers. RCB 83/6. Game-Set-Match. Including an iconic direct hit as well. Brilliant Jaddu.
Imran Tahir is 42-year-old. A spell of 4-0-16-2 in tandem with Jadeja and a direct hit sealed the game for CSK.
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: The Drop Catch & Harshal Patel
Harshal Patel is the purple cap holder. His figures read 3-0-14-3 before the 19th over. Dan Christian’s dropped catch off Jadeja cost them heavily. Patel’s last over cost 37 after Jadeja’s assault, and he ended with 3-0-51-3. Broken Cricket Dream.
IPL 2021 Points Table, Orange Cap, & Purple Cap Leaders
No need to go elsewhere for the Points Table, Orange Cap, & Purple Cap. We will keep updating it in every article!
Shikhar Dhawan – 231 runs (DC, 4 matches)
Harshal Patel – 15 wickets (RCB, 5 matches)
Teams
Played
Won
Lost
Tied No-Result
Points
Net Run Rate
1. Chennai Super Kings
5
4
1
0
8
+ 1.612
2. Delhi Capitals
5
4
1
0
8
+ 0.034
2. Royal Challengers Bangalore
5
4
1
0
8
+ 0.096
4. Mumbai Indians
5
2
3
0
4
-0.032
5. Punjab Kings
5
2
3
0
4
-0.428
6. Rajasthan Royals
5
2
3
0
4
-0.681
7. Sunrisers Hyderabad
5
1
4
0
2
-0.18
8. Kolkata Knight Riders
5
1
4
0
2
-0.675
IPL 2021 Points Table
Also, if you have not yet read our IPL Previews, here is a list of all of them! Check them out and share ahead:
CSK Vs KKR– IPL 2021 Match #15 Quick Review! The most exciting match of IPL 2021 thus far feat Andre Russell & Pat Cummins’ magic. Wickets & sixes galore.
First, congratulations to Dinesh Karthik for his 200th IPL match! Third player to get there after MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.
The IPL is full of surprises and memorable moments. Here are my moments of today:
Faf Du Plessis-Ruturaj Gaikwad set the platform. Looks like Ruturaj Gaikwad gets in and out of form every three games. Last IPL, he was dropped after 3 no-shows and came back with 3 fifties. Credit to CSK for keeping faith with Gaikwad (5, 5, 10 prior to this match) – 64 (42) with some amazing pull shots. Also, Faf is class. That’s all. Knows how to play second fiddle in a 115 (77) run partnership and accelerate accordingly. Faf’s scoop has to be one of my favorite shots.
The Deepak Chahar show. Chahar might have become a T20 specialist, but swing his still his forte. Back into form again in IPL 2021. His 4/29 reduced KKR to 5-31 in 5.2 overs. His spell almost finished the game then and there for KKR.
Almost being the key phrase. Andre Russell-Dinesh Karthik-Pat Cummins show their worth. KKR’s last two season have been disappointing because their so-called strength, Morgan-Russell-Karthik-Cummins, have never performed together. Partnerships of 81 (39) Russell-DK & 34 (22) DK-Cummins partnership almost brought KKR brought into the game today, but the 30 run-over of Pat Cummins against Sam Curran sent shivers in the CSK dressing room. The hitting from Andre Russell & Pat Cummins. Brute force.
The KKR began to dream. Before it came crashing down in iconic KKR fashion—a silly bowled, nonsensical shot, and two run-outs.
Honorable Mention: Lungi Ngidi’s 4-0-28-3 the turning spell; MS Dhoni turns back the clock with 17 (8) including a six
Broken Cricket Dream of the Day: Discipline in the Field & Russell’s Bowled
Wides, No balls, 5 Wides, Dropped catch for six, Nagarkoti’s ill-timed shot, run-outs…the list goes on. Discipline in the field was lacking on both sides. KKR lost around 20-30 runs in the field, which probably cost KKR the game. Sam Curran conceded 51 in his first 3 overs (58 overall), while Thakur conceded 47. Have to be better than that.
We now know that 200 is probably par in Mumbai, and 220 is just about safe. KKR should think about bringing in Tim Seifert andLockie Ferguson for Mumbai. Will give them the edge they are missing thus far.
The broken cricket dream of the day goes to Andre Russell’s bowled.He left the ball, and Sam Curran’s bowl smashed the stumps behind his hip. He was so disappointed, he sat on the stairs for quite a while. With no expression. Had he stayed for a couple more overs, KKR might have just reached the target.
IPL 2021 Points Table, Orange Cap, & Purple Cap Leaders
No need to go elsewhere for the Points Table, Orange Cap, & Purple Cap. We will keep updating it in every article!
Shikhar Dhawan – 231 runs (DC, 4 matches)
Harshal Patel – 12 wickets (RCB, 4 matches)
Teams
Played
Won
Lost
Tied No-Result
Points
Net Run Rate
1. Royal Challengers Bangalore
4
4
0
0
8
+ 1.009
2. Chennai Super Kings
4
3
1
0
6
+1.142
3. Delhi Capitals
4
3
1
0
6
+0.426
4. Mumbai Indians
4
2
2
0
4
+0.187
5. Sunrisers Hyderabad
4
1
3
0
2
-0.228
6. Kolkata Knight Riders
4
1
3
0
2
-0.7
7. Punjab Kings
4
1
3
0
2
-0.824
8. Rajasthan Royals
4
1
3
0
2
-1.011
IPL 2021 Points Table
Tomorrow’s Preview
Tomorrow is the first double header!
MI takes on DC tomorrow. What are your thoughts?
Also, if you have not yet read our IPL Previews, here is a list of all of them! Check them out and share ahead:
Stars of The Day: CSK’s Left Arm All-Rounders – Sam, Moeen, Jadeja
The IPL is full of surprises and memorable moments. Here are my moments of today:
Chetan Sakariya with his second 3-fer in the IPL. He had a dream day with scalps of Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, & MS Dhoni, India’s former middle order. Oh yeah and he also got the duo of Agarwal-KL Rahul in the first game. Happy for him, after he endured some tough days personally.
When Jos Buttler performs, RR qualifies. As easy as that. At 87-2 in 11 overs, things were looking in RR’s favor. With Jadeja’s wicket of Buttler & Moeen Ali in tandem, RR collapsed to 95-7.
Sam Curran & Moeen Ali again show their worth. Sam finished things off with 13 (6) before his 3-0-12-2 spell (taking Manan Vohra and Sanju Samson) put the initial breaks on RR. Moeen Ali – 26 (20) with 2 sixes and sealed the game with 3-0-7-3. Glad to see CSK utilizing these English talents better than the England cricket team themselves.
Sir Jadeja is Everywhere. 2 wickets, 4 catches (on different parts of the ground). Looks like IPL 2021 has only 5 contributors in the field:
In the 20th over, there was a Sam Curran & Shardul Thakur (stranded) run-outs, no-ball yorkers, Dwayne Bravo’s bat flying everywhere, and a huge six. It was all happening at the Wankhede. Comedy of errors at its finest.
IPL 2021 Points Table, Orange Cap, & Purple Cap Leaders
No need to go elsewhere for the Points Table, Orange Cap, & Purple Cap. We will keep updating it in every article!
Shikhar Dhawan – 186 runs (DC, 3 matches)
Harshal Patel – 9 wickets (RCB, 3 matches)
Teams
Played
Won
Lost
Tied No-Result
Points
Net Run Rate
1. Royal Challengers Bangalore
3
3
0
0
6
+ 0.75
2. Chennai Super Kings
3
2
1
0
4
+1.194
3. Delhi Capitals
3
2
1
0
4
+0.453
4. Mumbai Indians
3
2
1
0
4
+0.367
5. Kolkata Knight Riders
3
1
2
0
2
-0.633
6. Rajasthan Royals
3
1
2
0
2
-0.719
7. Punjab Kings
3
1
2
0
2
-0.967
8. Sunrisers Hyderabad
3
0
3
0
0
-0.483
IPL 2021 Points Table
Tomorrow’s Preview
Tomorrow is the first double header!
MI takes on DC tomorrow. What are your thoughts?
Also, if you have not yet read our IPL Previews, here is a list of all of them! Check them out and share ahead:
