Baap of IPL: Listed 6 ‘Baap’ of IPL cricket
Published on: Feb 1, 2023 10:20 am IST|Updated on: Feb 13, 2023 1:51 pm IST
‘Baap of IPL’ is an epithet used to describe the players who have made an immense contribution to the Indian Premier League (IPL) and have been the cornerstone of their teams’ success. Here, we take a closer look at five such players who have been instrumental in making IPL one of the most popular T20 leagues in the world.
Baap of IPL
1. Chris Gayle
‘The Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle used to terrorize batters with his explosive batting and is widely regarded as one of the greatest T20 batsmen of all time. He has represented various teams in the IPL, including Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Kings XI Punjab and was ruling the IPL for quite some time.
Gayle has been a constant presence at the top of the order, and his aggressive batting style has entertained fans for many seasons. He has scored a total of 6 centuries in IPL, including the first ever century in the tournament’s history.
Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Best |
141 | 4965 | 39.72 | 148.96 | 175 |
2. MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni is considered as one of the greatest Indian captains of all time, and he has led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to four IPL titles. He is known for his cool and composed demeanor, and his captaincy skills have made him one of the most respected players in the IPL. Dhoni’s contribution as a wicketkeeper and batsman has been crucial to the success of CSK.
Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Best |
206 | 4978 | 39.2 | 135.2 | 82 |
3. AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers is a South African cricketer who has played for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL. He is known for his ability to hit the ball to all parts of the ground and his quick hands behind the stumps. De Villiers has been a key player for RCB and has been a consistent performer over the years. He has a total of 4 IPL centuries to his name.
Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Best |
170 | 5162 | 39.71 | 151.69 | 133 |
4. Lasith Malinga
Lasith Malinga is a Sri Lankan cricketer who has played for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL. He is known for his unorthodox action and his ability to swing the ball both ways. Malinga has been a key player for MI, and his contribution with the ball has been crucial to their success. He has been one of the most successful bowlers in the IPL and has taken a total of 170 wickets in the tournament, the most by any bowler.
Matches | Wickets | Economy Rate | Average | Best |
122 | 170 | 7.14 | 19.79 | 5/13 |
5. Virat Kohli
The current leading run-getter in IPL history Virat Kohli is a former Indian Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time, and his aggressive batting style has made him a fan favorite. Kohli has been a consistent performer for RCB and has been a key player for the team over the years. He has a total of 5 IPL centuries to his name till the 2022 season.
Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Best |
215 | 6624 | 36.2 | 129.15 | 113 |
6. Suresh Raina
Another Baap of IPL is Suresh Raina. Raina is a former Indian cricketer and one of the most successful batsmen in the Indian Premier League (IPL) having played for Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Lions. He has been a key player for the Chennai Super Kings and is widely regarded as one of the best fielders in the world of cricket.
Raina has represented India in numerous international matches and has won numerous awards for his performances in the IPL and for India. He is affectionately known as “Mr. IPL” for his consistent performances in the tournament and is widely considered one of the greatest players in the history of the IPL.
Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Best |
200 | 5528 | 32.52 | 136.73 | 100 |
In conclusion, the aforementioned players have been instrumental in making IPL one of the most popular T20 leagues in the world and are known as Baap of IPL. They have entertained fans with their skills and have been a constant presence in the tournament. The “Godfathers of IPL” have set the bar high for future generations of players, and their contributions will always be remembered in the history of IPL.