The eighth edition of the T20 World Cup will be hosted by Australia, starting on October 16. Australia won the previous edition of the competition, beating New Zealand in the summit clash. Eight teams that have made direct qualification into the Super 12 of the tournament are Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa. The sides are divided into two groups. The top two from each group will qualify for the semifinals.

Super 12 will commence on October 22, followed by the semifinals on November 9 and 10, and the final on November 13 in the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This is the first time Australia will host a T20 World Cup.

Players who have won the Player of the Match awards in the previous editions are Shahid Afridi, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kevin Pietersen, Shane Watson, Virat Kohli (twice) and David Warner. And in this edition, some of the best players of the format will feature, and the competition for the award could be very tightly contested.

Here are ten players who can win the Player of the Tournament award:

1.David Warner (Australia)

Warner is one of the best batters in the world across formats, and even the Player of the Tournament of the 2021 edition. He scored 289 runs in seven matches at an average of 48.16 and 146.70 with three fifties in the competition.

The New South Wales batter made his Australia debut in 2009 and has appeared in 91 matches ever since, scoring 2,684 runs at an average of 33.55 and a strike rate of 140.89. He has also played 328 T20 matches overall and has scored over 10,870 runs with eight hundreds and 91 fifties.

Since the start of 2021, the Australian opening batter has scored 419 runs in ten matches with a strike rate of 147.53 and an average of 56.58. He is expected to open with his skipper Aaron Finch yet again in the upcoming World Cup.

2. Babar Azam (Pakistan)

Babar Azam, the Pakistan skipper, is arguably the best batter across formats right now. He currently stands number one on the ICC T20I batting rankings and was the top scorer in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup with 303 runs in six matches at an average of 60.60.

Babar made his T20I debut in 2016 and has appeared in 74 matches ever since. He has scored 2,686 runs with a top score of 122 and an average of 45.52. In 2021, he scored 939 T20I runs in 26 innings with an average of 37.56 and a strike rate of 127.58.

He played one match in 2022 and scored 66 runs off 46 balls. A lot would rest on his shoulders and his performance with the bat for Pakistan in the World Cup.

3. Jos Buttler (England)

The England skipper, Buttler, is regarded as the best white-ball batter by many in the world at the moment. He is naturally an attacking batter and has played in different positions in the batting order.

However, Buttler, in recent times, has opened for the Three Lions, and also in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Rajasthan Royals (RR). In the IPL 2022, he finished as the top scorer with 863 runs in 17 games with four hundreds and as many fifties.

Buttler made his T20I debut in 2011, and he has scored 2,162 runs at an average of 33.36  and a strike rate of 141.21. In his last 17 T20I matches, he has scored 621 runs with a strike rate of 145.77 and an average of 51.75. He is currently in the form of his life as far as T20 is concerned.

4.Mitchell Starc (Australia)

The 32-year-old from New South Wales is fast, fierce, and a fighter. He is one of the best bowlers and nearly untouchable on his day, and even more so in home conditions. Starc was also part of the Australia team that won the T20 World Cup in 2021.

Starc is known for his ability to swing the ball with a searing pace, castling the batters in front of stumps with late movement. He also has the ability to clean up the tail late in the innings with ease, with his deadly yorkers and occasional bouncers to catch the batters off guard.

Starc, after making his T20I debut in 2012, has played in 51 matches and picked up 63 wickets with an economy of 7.55 and a strike rate of 18.3. In his last game on June 7, he had an impressive game, picking up three wickets for 26 runs in four overs against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

5.Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

Maxwell is yet another player who was part of the World Cup-winning Aussie team last year. He can be destructive with the bat, and change the course of a match on his own, even when the chips are down. 

Maxwell, after making his T20I debut in 2012, has appeared in 87 matches and scored 2017 runs at an average of 30.56 and a strike rate of 153.38. He has even picked up 36 wickets with an economy of 7.47 and a strike rate of 22.3.

Hence, Maxwell is also a very handy off-spinner and chips in with wickets at crucial times of the game. He is also currently at number four on ICC T20I all-rounder rankings and will be a player to watch out for in Australia during the mega event.

6.Quinton de Kock (South Africa)

De Kock is dashing batter and South Africa’s first-choice wicketkeeper, and undoubtedly, one of the team’s most valuable players. He normally opens the batting and provides quick starts in the powerplays, and sets the tempo of the game.

De Kock, in the last 17 T20Is, scored 560 runs at an average of 40.00. He also had an impressive IPL 2022 with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), scoring 508 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 148.97 and an average of 36.29 with a century and three half-centuries.

The Proteas wicketkeeper-batter made his T20I debut in 2012 and has appeared in 64 matches, scoring 1,863 runs at an average of 33.26 and a strike rate of 134.60. He also has 51 catches and 15 stumpings in the format.

7. Jasprit Bumrah (India)

The ace Indian fast bowler from Gujarat has been arguably the best white-ball bowler in the last few years. From bowling with the new ball to breaking partnerships in the middle phase to containing batters in the death overs, Jasprit Bumrah is India’s go-to bowler for any situation.

Bumrah first made his mark in the IPL for Mumbai Indians (MI) and then burst onto the scene for India in 2016 in Australia. He has so far picked up 69 wickets in 58 matches with an economy of 6.46 and a strike rate of 18.0 in T20is.

In the IPL, since his debut in 2013, Bumrah has picked up 145 wickets in 120 matches with an economy of 7.39 and a strike rate of 18.91. With a short and stuttering run-up, and straight arm action, he bowls with pace, swing and seam, as it just skids off the surface.

8. Hardik Pandya (India)

Hardik is one of India’s most improved players and is currently, one of the first names on the teamsheet. This year has been a resurgence period for the Indian all-rounder after having a dip in form in 2021.

Hardik showed a lot of promise in IPL 2022, leading Gujarat Titans (GT) from the front with his all-round abilities, scoring 487 runs in 15 matches at an average of 44.27 and a strike rate of 131.27, and picking up eight wickets at an economy of 7.28 and a strike rate 22.88. 

Hardik was also named the Player of the Match in the IPL final against Rajasthan Royals (RR) and led his team to the title on their debut season. In 2022 so far, he has scored 217 runs in eight innings with an average of 43.40 and a strike rate of 149.65 in the T20Is. His all-round abilities provide India with the right balance and depth in all the departments.

9. Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)

The 22-year-old star left-arm fast bowler from Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi, has been the frontline bowler across all formats for the national team. He made his Pakistan debut in April 2018 and has not looked back ever since.

Afridi has played 40 T20Is so far and has picked up 47 wickets with an economy rate of 7.75 and a stroke rate of 18.8. He has played 119 T20s overall and has picked up 165 wickets with four five-wicket hauls and an economy rate of 7.70.

Afridi’s main strength is swinging the new ball with pace and picking up early wickets. His match-winning spell against India in 2021, picking India’s top three batters, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, is still one of the best in the history of T20 World Cup.

10.Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand)

The tall Hamilton-born all-rounder has established himself as an all-format player, after his performance in England last month in the Test series. He made his New Zealand debut in February 2019 in a T20I against India in Wellington.

The tall Kiwi all-rounder was also part of the New Zealand team that qualified for the final in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup. He was the Player of the Match in the semifinal against England, scoring 72 off 47 balls.

Mitchell has so far scored 2,775 runs at an average of 30.61 and a strike rate of 131.25 in 133 T20s. He is likely to open in the World Cup yet again for the Black Caps along with Martin Guptill.

Australia is set to host the 2022 T20 World Cup, starting from October 16, and this will be the eighth edition of the competition. Australia will go into the tournament as the defending champions as they won the title in 2021 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Eight teams have made direct qualification to Super 12, which consists of two groups. Afghanistan, Australia, England and New Zealand are in Group 1, and Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and South Africa have been slotted in Group 2.

While the Super 12 stage will begin on October 22, the semifinals will take place on November 9 and 10, and the final on November 13 in the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This will be the first time Australia will be hosting the men’s edition of the T20 World Cup.

Here we rank the top 10 finishers ahead of the T20 World cup 2022:

10. James Neesham (New Zealand)

The Auckland-born all-rounder, Neesham, has been New Zealand’s go-to power hitter in the shortest format for some time. He is one of the most experienced players in the team, having made his international debut in 2012.

Neesham has so far played 38 T20Is for the Kiwis, scoring 416 runs at a strike rate of 151.82 and an average of 21.89. Not to forget, the southpaw has a plethora of experience in this format of the game.

The Kiwi all-rounder has overall played 195 T20 matches across the globe and has scored 2,662 runs with a strike rate of 139.44 and an average of 23.76. He recently played one of his best T20 knocks in the T20 Blast for Northamptonshire, scoring 75 off 30 balls, with five fours and six sixes, against Leicestershire.

9. Tim David (Singapore)

The 26-year-old Singapore-born cricketer is one of the emerging players in the format. David made his T20I debut in 2019 for Singapore and so far has played in 14 matches, scoring 558 runs at an average of 46.50 and a strike rate of 158.52.

David also had a successful outing in the IPL for Mumbai Indians (MI), scoring 186 runs at an average of 37.20 and a strike rate of 216.28 in eight matches. He has played 112 T20 matches overall and scored 2,538 runs at an average of 33.84 and a strike rate of 165.44.

David was raised in Western Australia and there have been speculations that he might be eligible to play for Australia, ahead of the World Cup.

8. Rovman Powell (West Indies)

Powell and his compatriot Russell are the two most destructive batters in the West Indies line-up. He also has the experience of playing over 100 T20 matches all around the world in various leagues.

Powell made his T20I debut in 2017 and has appeared in 42 matches ever since, scoring 685 runs at a strike rate of 141.82 and an average of 26.34. In the IPL 2022, he scored 250 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 149.70 for Delhi Capitals (DC).

2022 has been the breakout year for the Jamaican as he has so far scored 308 runs in eight T20I innings at an average of 61.60 and a strike rate of 185.54 with a top score of 107, for West Indies.

7. Dinesh Karthik (India)

Dinesh Karthik is currently in the form of his life as far as T20 cricket is concerned. He was one of the best batters in the IPL 2022, which earned him a comeback to the national team, and has been one of the first names in the squad ever since.

Karthik scored 330 runs with an average of 55.00 and at a staggering strike rate of 183.33 for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Following the IPL, he had a good home series against South Africa in which he scored 92 runs in four innings with an average of 46.00 and a strike rate of 158.62.

Karthik is also the only active cricketer who featured in India’s first-ever T20I against South Africa in 2006, making it the fourth-longest career in the format. He was also part of the team that won the T20 World Cup in 2007.

6. Ravindra Jadeja (India)

Jadeja, over the last few years, has become one of India’s most reliable batters down the order across formats. The southpaw, with his experience and newfound form, will be expected to contribute with the bat when the chips are down for India.

Jadeja is not an explosive striker but a good timer of the ball. He is known for finding the gaps in the deep and sneaking boundaries, while also constructing the innings smartly with some quick singles and doubles.

In 2022, he has played five T20Is so far and scored 123 runs with a strike rate of 175.71 and an average of 123.00, which makes reading for one of the best finishers at the moment.

5. Liam Livingstone (England)

Livingstone, along with Russel, is arguably the most powerful hitter of the ball going around, and the most dangerous batter in the shortest format. He made his T20I debut in June 2017 and has played 20 matches so far, scoring 342 runs with a top score of 103 and a strike rate of 154.75.

Livingstone, recently, took everybody by storm with a monstrous 117-metre six in the IPL 2022, facing fast bowler Mohammed Shami. He went on to score 437 runs in 14 matches in the tournament at an average of 36.42 and an explosive strike rate of 182.08.

The Cumberland-born English batter has played 191 T20 matches all around the world and has scored 4,768 runs with an average of 29.07 and a strike rate of 146.57. His contribution in the backend of the innings will be vital for the Three Lions.

4. Andre Russell (West Indies)

The Jamaican power-hitter is one of the cleanest and fiercest strikers of the ball. He is a two-time T20 World Cup winner and one of the most popular names in T20 cricket.

Russell has played over 400 T20 matches across the globe and has scored close to 7,000 runs with a strike rate of over 169. In IPL 2022, he scored 335 runs in 14 matches at an average of 37.22 and a strike rate of 174.48 for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Russell made his T20I debut in 2011 and has played 67 matches for West Indies, scoring 741 runs at a strike rate of 156.00. Be it in run chases or setting up a target, Russell guarantees to up the ante once he comes to the crease.

3. Hardik Pandya (India)

Hardik is one of the most aggressive batters in Indian cricket and a handy finisher, coming in at number five. The IPL 2022 was the resurgence of the Indian all-rounder, who endured a bit of a lean patch with the bat in 2021.

Hardik had an impressive IPL 2022 with the bat for GT, scoring 487 runs in 15 matches at an average of 44.27 and a strike rate of 131.27. He has also had a good 2022 so far with India, scoring 217 runs in eight innings with an average of 43.40 and a strike rate of 149.65.

This has been the most prolific year for the Gujarat player and he would be one of the players to watch out for in the T20 World Cup.

2. David Miller (South Africa)

David Miller is one of the most lethal finishers at the moment, who has so far scored 96 runs in four T20I innings with an average of 48.00 and a strike rate of 165.51 in 2022 so far, for South Africa.

Miller was also part of the IPL 2022-winning team Gujarat Titans (GT). He was brilliant with the bat throughout the competition as he scored 481 runs in 16 matches at an average of 68.71 and a strike rate of 142.73. This was also his most prolific season in the competition.

Miller, since his T20I debut in 2010, has played in 100 T20Is and scored 1,882 runs at an average of 32.44 and a strike rate of 141.71 and with a top score of 101*. He is one of the best finishers and one of the most destructive batters in the format.

1. Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

The Australian right-hander is one of the most explosive batters in the format and is known for counter-attacking top bowlers in tough conditions. Maxwell was part of Australia’s 2021 T20 World Cup-winning team and he even smashed the winning runs in the final against New Zealand.

Maxwell, in the last two seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL), scored 814 runs in 28 matches at a strike rate of 156.6 and an average of 35.05, for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

Maxwell made his T20I debut in September 2012 and has appeared in 87 matches so far, scoring 2017 runs at an average of 30.56 and a strike rate of 153.38. He has also scored over 8,000 runs in T20 cricket at a strike rate of 151.66 overall.

England scripted a famous win over India in the fifth Test match of the Pataudi Trophy at Edgbaston in Birmingham on July 5, Tuesday, and also completed their highest successful chase in Test cricket. England chased down 378 runs in 76.4 overs with seven wickets in hand, courtesy of unbeaten hundreds from Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow in the second innings.

India set up a substantial total of 416 runs in the first innings, thanks to hundreds from Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja. They followed it up by bowling out England for 284 runs in 61.3 overs, and taking a 132-run lead. Bairstow top-scored in the innings with a knock of 106 runs off 140 balls and Mohammed Siraj ended with the best bowling figures of four wickets for 66 runs. England, in reply, restricted India to only 245 runs.

England’s tempo in the second innings was set by their openers Alex Less and Zak Crawley, who put up 107 runs for the first wicket. The duo passed over the baton to Root and Bairstow, who took England over the line with an unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership of 269 runs. This chase by England stands eighth on the list of highest successful chases in Tests. 

Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow guide England to history 

West Indies remain at the top, chasing 418 in 128.5 overs with three wickets in hand against Australia at St. John’s in Antigua in 2003. With this chase, England beat their previous best of 359, set in 2019 against Australia in Headingley, Leeds. They won that match by one wicket, as Ben Stokes scored an unbeaten knock of 135 off 219 balls. Stokes and Jack Leach put up 76 runs for the last wicket, before sealing the win over Australia in the 2019 Ashes.

The chase of 378 against India was only the fourth time England successfully completed a chase of a target of 300 or above in Test cricket. And with this win, England levelled the series 2-2 to avoid a defeat. 

Highest Succesful run-chases in Test matches: 

The outfit that you wear is an important factor in any facet of life. And, sport is no exception. One of the most discussed topics in sport, is the jerseys that teams wear. And, there have been several occasions when the jerseys that the teams sport hogs the limelight.

Ever since the Indian Premier League(IPL) came into existence in the year 2008, it has been a raging hit among the masses. People throng the stadiums to support their favorite franchises and every stadium around the country is filled to capacity as the fans chant the names of their favorite players vociferously.

And, the jerseys that IPL teams wear get the attention of the public. There have been several occasions where the IPL teams have changed their jerseys with respect to the color and the design. For example, the Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils) sported a red and blue jersey in the inaugural edition, but have now gone in for an all-blue outfit. In this article, let us rate the jerseys of all the eight IPL teams.

Rating the jerseys of all 8 IPL teams

8.Rajasthan Royals- 5/10

In the first edition of the Indian Premier League in 2008, the Rajasthan side wore a blue and gold outfit. And, when we look at the jersey that they wore in the 13^th IPL edition, it is completely different. The side wore a pink and blue outfit for the 2020 season in the UAE, and the outfit was not very impressive. The jersey certainly does not attract the viewer immediately. In fact, the blue and gold outfit was a much better one than the jersey that the side has currently opted for.

The jersey bears the logo of the Rajasthan side in the top right corner, and the names of two sponsors are also visible on the front part. While the logo of KEI Wires and cables is visible on the top left, TV9 Bharatvarsh is visible in the center. The jersey bears the logo of Jio and Dream 11 on the side sleeves, while Niine Sanitary Napkins is the name that dominates the back.

And on a lighter note, Rajasthan’s performances in the 13th IPL edition, just like their jersey was not very impressive. The side finished last in the competition, and could muster just 6 wins out of the 14 games that they played. For the 2021 edition, they have appointed Sanju Samson as their skipper. They receive a rating of 5/10 for their jersey.

7.Sun Risers Hyderabad-5/10

Another team whose jersey was not impressive in the 2020 edition of the IPL and receives a rating of 5/10 is the Sun Risers Hyderabad(SRH). Even though the jersey bears the Orange look with a shade of yellow that might be symbolic of the rising sun, the jersey bore a slightly dull look.

The jersey bears the names of a number of sponsors (so many companies fight vehemently to find a name on IPL jerseys). JK Lakshmi Cement finds a mention right at the center of the jersey, Valvoline is found on the top left corner, while the logo of the SRH outfit is found on the top right. The sleeves bear the logos of TCL and Dream 11.

The back part of the jersey bears the name of Ralco Tyres. As far as their performances in the 2020 edition of the IPL is concerned, the side finished at the third place. The SRH outfit made it to the second Qualifier, and were beaten by an in-form Delhi Capitals side.

6.Kings XI Punjab-6/10

The Kings XI Punjab jersey wore a pretty simple look in the 13^th edition of the IPL. While only one company, Ebixcash dominated the front as far as sponsors are concerned, Jio found a mention on the left. Also, there was the picture of a roaring lion that was found on the front part of the jersey.

As far as the sleeves are concerned, Dream XI and Fena detergent were the two company names that were found, while Avon Cycles was the name that dominated the back part of the jersey.

The Kings XI Punjab side’s performance in the 2020 IPL flattered to deceive yet again. The side lost a number of closely fought games, and ended their campaign at the 6^th place, with 6 wins from 14 games. They are yet to win their maiden IPL title. They receive a rating of 6/10 for their jersey.

5.Delhi Capitals-7/10

The Delhi Capitals’ jersey wore a new look in the 13^th edition of the IPL with a light shade of blue. JSW’s name dominated the front part of the jersey, while the APL Apollo Steel Pipes name is found on the top left corner. The Capitals’ highly impressive logo is found on the top right.

Dream XI and Jio find a mention on the sleeves of the jersey, while Ebixcash find a mention on the back. Another factor that makes the jersey a highly impressive one is the three tigers that can be found on the front part of the jersey. It gives the jersey a macho, youthful and powerful look, akin to the performances of the Delhi Capitals on the field.

The Shreyas Iyer led side finished as the runners up of the 2020 edition of the IPL in the UAE. They were impressive throughout the season, but could not cross the final hurdle. With a bunch of talented players in their ranks, including the likes of Rishabh Pant, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shimron Hetmyer and of course, Shreyas Iyer, they will be looking to finally get hold of the IPL title in the 2021 edition of the IPL. For an impressive outfit, they receive a rating of 7/10.

4.Chennai Super Kings-7/10

The Chennai Super Kings have predominantly stuck to the basic theme as far as their jersey is concerned right from the inaugural IPL edition. They are one of the heavyweights of the IPL, and it can be seen from the number of top companies that have fought to find a name on their jersey.

The front part of the jersey bears the name of the Muthoot Group, who are the main sponsors of the MS Dhoni led side. The other company that finds a mention in the front part of the jersey is Gulf Oil. Another highly impressive feature of the jersey is the massive Lion that is found on the front par, and it is extremely attractive.

Also, other companies like Clear shampoo, Nippon Paint, SNJ Distillers and Dream XI find a mention on the sleeves, while the India Cements find their names on the back. But then, the performances of the CSK side in the 13^th IPL edition were not as bright as their jersey. For the first time, the side did not qualify for the playoffs, and endured a torrid campaign. They could muster just 6 wins from 14 games, and finished second last in the competition. They receive the same rating(7/10) like the Delhi Capitals.

CSK would be hoping that their performance last season was just an aberration, and would be looking to come back strongly in the 2021 edition of the IPL, which might most likely be MS Dhoni’s last.

3.Kolkata Knight Riders-7.5/10

A touch of violet and gold continued to be the dominant colors of the Kolkata Knight Riders side in the 2020 edition of the IPL. The side’s impressive logo found a mention on the top left, while their principal sponsor’s logo (MPL) found a mention right at the center. Another Company that found their name on the front part of the jersey is LUX Cozi.

The sleeves of the jersey bear the names of several companies like TV9 Bharatvarsh, Dream 11, Astral Pipes and Royal Stag. As far as the performances on the field are concerned, they were not as impressive as the jersey that the KKR side sported.

In the 13^th IPL edition, the Kolkata side finished at the 5^th place, with 7 wins from 14 games. They would be looking to win the 14^th edition of the IPL. For the impressive jersey that they sported, they receive a rating of 7.5/10.

2.Royal Challengers Bangalore-8/10

They are a side that have been criticized for not being able to lift the IPL title in spite of having a lot of star power in their side. The likes of  Virat Kohli and Ab De Villiers are colossal names in the world of cricket, but somehow, the side has just not been able to win the IPL trophy. But then, let us have a discussion of the squad strength of the RCB side on another day, as the main focus in this piece is the jersey that they sported in the 2020 IPL season.

The RCB jersey bore a dash of black and red last season, and the color combination gave a highly impressive look to the jersey. The logo of the franchise appears on the top left corner. The Muthoot Fincorp Co. dominates the front part of the jersey, while Myntra finds a mention on the top right. The other names that can be found are Jio, Dream 11, Exide and Poco. Also, RCB are involved in the ‘Go Green’ initiative and are also seen sporting green jerseys once every edition. The green jersey has been a hit among the fans, and that is also one of the reasons why they have received a rating of 8/10.

In the 13^th edition of the IPL, the RCB side once again failed to get their hands on the IPL trophy. The side qualified for the playoffs, but was beaten in the Eliminator stage by the Sun Rises Hyderabad (SRH) side.

1.Mumbai Indians-9/10

The top spot is occupied by the Mumbai Indians, and if you take a look at the video that they released to launch their jersey for the 2020 edition, you will understand why. They released an Aqua themed video, and it augurs well because the main color of the Mumbai jersey is blue.

Also, right from the first edition, they have always sported the blue color, even though the shades have been different. As far as their jersey for the 2020 edition is concerned, Samsung dominates the front part of their jersey. The other Company that finds a mention in the front part of their jersey is Mariott Bonvoy.

Their sleeves bear the names of Jio, Dream 11 and Astral Pipes. For a highly impressive jersey that was backed by a wonderful unveiling video to complement it, they receive a rating of 9/10 for their jersey. Just like their jersey, their performance in the 2020 IPL edition held in the UAE was also highly impressive. The side won the IPL title for a fifth time, steam rolling the Delhi Capitals in the summit clash.

David Warner’s 130 off 119 against Pakistan today in the 4th ODI of the ongoing five-match series got him into the list of players who scored fastest 12 ODI centuries. This is his eighth ODI century in 12 months that led Australia to post a mammoth target of 353/6. Pakistan needed to pull off their highest successful ODI chase in Australia. The SCG stood up in appreciation of their home boy’s brilliant knock.

First combining for a 92-run opening stand with Usman Khawaja and then stitched a 120-run partnership along with Steve Smith that put Australia on the front foot at 212/1 by the 36th over. With this knock, he became the 3rd fastest batsman to score 12 ODI centuries as he did it in just 90 innings.

The fastest in the world is one of the best ODI players, Hashim Amla who took only 81 innings to register 12 ODI tons. Indian skipper Virat Kohli is the fastest Indian and the second fastest in the world to hold that record with 83 innings. There’s always a quiet contest between the two for most of the records for fastest ODI centuries.

Amla holds the record for being the fastest cricketer to reach 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd centuries in ODIs. It’s particularly interesting between the two as Kohli either breaks the record for a specific number of ODI centuries that was in the name of Amla or it continues to remain in his name. Hashim Amla registered his 12th ODI ton against India in Durban in 2013 while Virat registered his 12th ODI century at Colombo in 2012.

Marcus Trescothick is the only English player to feature in the list with 12 ODI centuries in 119 innings. He is the 4th fastest to do so. Upul Tharanga, the Sri Lankan batsman features at No. 5 with 119 innings as well. Former Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar’s 12 ODI centuries in 120 innings make him the only Pakistani batsman to find his name in this list.

Herschelle Gibbs and AB de Villiers, both from South Africa, with 12 ODI centuries in 120 innings each make it at 7th and 8th respectively. Brian Lara is the only Caribbean to earn a spot with 124 innings. Sourav Ganguly is the second Indian to feature in the records with 130 innings and remained the fastest Indian to reach 12 ODIs before Kohli diminished it.

At the moment, only 4 players are active ODI players with many other records in their name. They are Amla, Kohli, Warner and de Villiers.

Here is the list of top 10 Batsmen fastest to 12 ODI centuries:

The T20 format was invented by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 2003 and at the start, the emphasis was given on power-hitting keeping the limited-overs in mind. The focus now shifted on acquiring batsmen with higher strike-rates in limited-overs cricket and since then it has been the norm for T20s.

But as the game evolved, batsmen who could play technically well and score runs in the proper way, and on a more consistent basis; were preferred by teams who were seeing the bigger picture in the format. The franchise-based cricket has made batsmen with good averages hot commodity as teams looked for consistent runs for the long run.

Therefore, we take a look at 10 batsmen who have the highest average in T20 cricket (in minimum 50 innings)

10. HD Ackerman- 37.72

The South African batsman Hylton Deon Ackerman may not ring many bells in cricket fans’ minds when it comes to T20 cricket. The right-handed batsman played four Tests for Proteas against England in 1998 and though T20 cricket came later in his career, Ackerman excelled in the handful of matches he played towards the end of his career.

He played 55 T20s scoring 1811 runs with 17 half-centuries to his name and the highest score of 87. However, something that stood out in the slam-bang version of the game, was his average of 37.72 in 55 innings, putting him in an elite list of batsmen.

The South African had joined Leicestershire in 2005 under Kolpak rules and had much success as their captain. Nowadays, Ackerman is a known voice as a commentator for the Supersport broadcasting team in his native South Africa.

9. David Warner- 37.93

When David Warner made his T20I debut for Australia in 2009 against Australia, the left-handed opener had not played any FC cricket but showed signs of feeling comfortable in international cricket. Since then, Warner had gone onto become one of the most feared openers in all three formats of the game.

In T20s, Warner has been particularly brutal, as he had mixed his aggressive style of batting with grounded shots and this has given him the ability to play longer innings and hence has an average of 37.93 in 279 innings in the format. He has 9218 runs with 8 centuries to his name and 75 half-centuries.

Warner has appeared for New South Wales, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Daredevils, Sydney Thunder and other teams in franchise-based T20 leagues all over the world. He will be seen next in the IPL leading the Hyderabad team.

8. Chris Gayle- 38.20

Inarguably the Bradman of T20 cricket, West Indies’ Chris Gayle has made the format a batsman’s paradise, as he rewrote how openers batted and how power players went about with their game.

The burly Jamaican has played 404 T20 matches and in 396 innings, he has 13296 runs with an astonishing 22 centuries and 82 half-centuries to his name including the highest ever score in 175* at a strike rate of 146.94. However, amongst all the brutality that Gayle brings to the table, we all forget that he used to be extremely consistent with the bat as well in his early days.

Therefore, he averages 38.20 in his 15-year T20 career. The 40-year-old will be appearing in the IPL 2020 next for the Kings XI Punjab and though he has shown no signs of retiring from the game, his fans know that his game should be enjoyed as much as possible.

7. Shaun Marsh- 38.75

The Australian top-order batsman Shaun Marsh has been often considered to be one of the most talented batsmen from Down Under. However, the left-hander has often failed to live up to the expectations due to inconsistent form and injuries that have plagued his career.

His talent has always meant that he was always a hot attraction in T20 leagues all over the world. In 185 matches and 182 innings, Marsh has 6124 runs with 2 centuries and 47 fifties to his name. Though his strike rate has been a modest 128.19; Marsh averages 38.75, which is very high for the format and the fact he opens for the majority of teams he has played for.

Marsh’s best performances have come in the IPL for Kings XI Punjab where he made 616 runs in just 11 matches in the inaugural edition in 2008 and for Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League.

6. Devon Conway- 39.66

Devon Conway is a young South African batsman who plays for Dolphins, Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal amongst other teams. He is now playing in New Zealand and will be eligible to play cricket for the country in September of 2020.

He was recently in news for making 543 runs in 11 matches for Wellington in the 2019-20 Super Smash tournament including a 49-ball century. The left-hander has played 68 innings in 70 T20 matches with 2221 runs with a strike rate of 124.84 and two centuries.

He is very consistent also with his performances, given that he averages 39.66, something that is highly valued in today’s times and puts him in this elite list of batsmen with highest T20 averages.

5. MS Dhoni- 39.88

An icon of Indian cricket and widely regarded as one of the best captains to ever take the field in limited-overs cricket, India’s MS Dhoni has a rich legacy to his cricketing career. Winner of the inaugural World T20 in 2007, the World Cup in 2011 and the Champions Trophy in 2013, the Jharkhand-born wicketkeeper-batsman also excelled in the T20 format as a finisher, or rather the best finisher.

He played T20 cricket for Jharkhand, Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiant and of course India. In 283 innings of 317 matches, Dhoni has 6621 runs with a strike rate of 135.62 with 27 fifties to his name and the highest score of 84*. He will be playing for and leading the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2020.

MS Dhoni’s biggest calling cards have been stepping up to the plate whenever his team needs him the most and he has often finished games from situations almost on the brink of defeat. Therefore, his consistency is reflected in his average in the T20 format, which stands at 39.88. Many would argue this is because of the high number of unbeaten innings in his repertoire (117 no innings in 283). But it also shows that he was consistent in finishing matches and often with success.

4. D’Arcy Short- 39.91

D’Arcy Short, the left-handed opening batter for Australia, Hobart Hurricanes, Rajasthan Royals and many other T20 teams around the world, has been one of the most attractive batsmen in the format.

The 29-year-old made an impact during the BBL 2017-18 where he made 578 runs in the tournament, the then highest runs in the league, including the then highest score in the league- 122*. Since then he has appeared for other teams as well and in total, he played 83 matches in the T20 format, making 2954 runs with a strike-rate of 136.12 with two centuries and 23 fifties to his name.

He averages 39.91 something odd for someone who bats in higher-order and has appeared in England’s T20 Blast as well.  He along with Aaron Finch holds the record of highest opening partnership in a T20I match- 223 against Zimbabwe in 2018.

3. Virat Kohli- 41.20

Indian captain Virat Kohli is at no.3 in the list of batsmen with the highest average in T20 cricket with 41.20 from 266 innings in 288 matches. He has 8900 runs with a strike rate of 134.56 and has 5 centuries to his name with the highest score being 113.

Kohli usually bats at the top, including opening the innings for his IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore, for whom he has made all of his T20 centuries, with four of them coming in one edition in 2016. In the same edition, Kohli also slammed more than 970 runs, the highest ever runs by any batsman in a single edition of any T20 league, including IPL.

He is one of the hottest properties in the world today when it comes to batting and Kohli has made consistency his talking point, which is aided with his risk-free game in even the shortest format of the game. He plays ground shots the most which is evident given he has 808 fours as compared to 286 sixes in T20s.

2. KL Rahul – 42.02

KL Rahul is the new Indian poster boy in T20 cricket. The 27-year-old Karnataka batsman has a young career but has crammed many records in it so far. He was the first Indian to score a century on ODI debut and the fastest in the world to score century each in all the three formats in international cricket.

The Indian opener boasts of an enviable record in the T20 format with 4076 runs in 118 innings in 131 matches. His strike rate is 140.16 and he averages an astonishing 42.02, showing that he adapts well wherever he has been asked to bat.

Be it opening or as a finisher, KL Rahul has acclimatized well to conditions and situations, winning matches for his team.

1. Babar Azam – 42.75

The number one batsman in T20I format, Pakistan’s Babar Azam rivals Virat Kohli in technically proficient batting in the slam-bang format. The man with the silkiest of touches has a wider range of experience in the format, playing in T20 leagues all over the world including places like West Indies, England and of course the Pakistan Super League.

Azam has played 135 innings in 137 matches so far scoring 4741 runs at an average of 42.75 and a strike-rate of 125.45. He has 3 centuries and 37 fifties to his name and is perhaps called one of the most talented modern batsmen to come out of Pakistan.

However, unlike most of the talent that plays T20 cricket in Pakistan, Azam belongs to Shoaib Malik’s school of cricket, putting the emphasis more on proper cricketing shots rather than innovative shots like a ramp and reverse hits. Not like that he doesn’t have that shots in his quiver, but he relies more on regular shots rather than fancy ones to get regular runs, hence giving him such a high average.

For most of the batsmen who play cricket at the highest level, getting a handful of centuries is considered to be a great achievement. Getting to 100 runs, keeping different conditions and situations in mind, is quite a grinding task. The top-order batsmen, most of the times, have an added advantage in this aspect of the game given that they get to face more number of balls than the others.

Most of the batsmen with the highest number of 100s in ODI cricket have predominantly batted in the top three or at most four. The frequency of scoring a hundred in the format is also dominated by these batsmen. Eight out of the ten batsmen featuring in here will be taking part in the upcoming World Cup. Given that scoring a century is much easier in the current day and age, nine out of these ten batsmen have played a majority of their cricket in the last ten or fifteen years.

Virat Kohli scores a century every 5.34 innings

Without a doubt, Virat Kohli – the modern-day run machine, tops this list. The Indian skipper has played 219 ODI innings and scored 41 hundreds. This effectively counts to a century in every 5.34 innings. He is followed by Hashim Amla who has reached the landmark 27 times in 171 innings. That is the South African scores a century every 6.33 innings.

Three left-handed openers are next on this list. While David Warner holds the third place with a century in every 7.43 innings, Quinton de Kock is very close at a rate of 7.57. Shikhar Dhawan takes the fifth spot with 16 tons in 127 outings (7.94). Australian skipper Aaron Finch also finds himself on this glorious list. He has got 13 tons thus far in the 105 instances where he walked out to bat which means he got a century every 8.08 innings.

The competition gets quite close as we move down the list. Former South African skipper AB de Villiers has got 25 centuries at the rate of one hundred in every 8.72 innings. Joe Root (8.86) and Rohit Sharma (9.09) are next. The last man here is the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar himself. The legend has got 49 tons to his name in 452 innings at a ratio of 9.22.

(Note: Batsmen with a minimum of 10 centuries considered)

(Stats and data as on May 27)

Mohammed Shami picked up 99 ODI wickets in 55 matches before India stepped on the New Zealand soil. The pacer didn’t take too much time to reach the milestone when he took the field in the first ODI. While he was used as the first-change bowler in recent times, Shami was handed over the new ball in the match.

He breathed fire right away on a deck that seems to be great to bat on. The pacer hit terrific areas – swung the ball both ways and the ball sometimes also held the line. This caused severe discomfort to the New Zealand openers and Martin Guptill in particular. Shami hit him on the pads on the second ball of his first over which looked quite close.

It got even closer to picking a wicket on the third ball of that over when he bowled a beautiful inswinger. Then, on the fifth ball, Guptill chopped one back on to the stumps as he got stuck on the crease gifting Shami his 100th ODI wicket. The pacer became the fastest Indian to reach the milestone as he got there in only 56 games. The record was earlier held by Irfan Pathan who reached the landmark in 59 matches.

Fastest to 100 ODI wickets among Indians

Rashid Khan – The all-time fastest

Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan tops this list of bowlers who got to 100 ODI wickets the quickest. The 19-year-old achieved the feat in only 44 matches. He is followed by Mitchell Starc and Saqlain Mushtaq who reached there in 52 and 53 games respectively.

Shane Bond and Brett Lee also feature on this list as they have achieved the feat in 54 and 55 games respectively. New Zealand’s Trent Boult picked up his first 100 ODI wickets in the same number of games as Shami did. Imran Tahir, Waqar Younis and Morne Morkel are the other players in the top-10.

Fastest to 100 ODI wickets

(Stats as on January 23, 2019)

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Over the course of 10 successful years, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has evolved into one of the most religiously watched leagues all across the globe. IPL has not just garnered popularity and viewership but has also played a clinical role in shaping the cricketing landscape of India what it is today.

T20 is played on surfaces that are feather beds for the batsmen and thus they’re able to knock up the runs. Thus the opposition also has massive run chases at skyscraper like run-rates. And the batsmen are again left with no option but to move out of their shells and try things out of the box to get the ball past the fielders and across to the stands. It’s no easy task crossing the 100 mark in the shortest format, especially when the stakes are high and the opposition is breathing down the neck. However, despite such high-octane contest, the league over the last decade have witnessed a plethora of heroic innings. 

With the upcoming season set to kickstart on April 7, we take a jog down the memory lane and recap the top 10 century-makers in the IPL.

10. Hashim Amla – 2 centuries

The flagbearer of class and flair, Hashim Amla is amongst the top batsmen in terms of consistency in international cricket. A linchpin at the top of the order, the right-hander is heralded for his inch-perfect timing and exquisite strokeplay.

The 34-year-old has hit two centuries in his IPL career. Interestingly he achieved both his centuries in the same season scoring exactly the same number of runs. Amla slammed his maiden IPL century scoring 104* against Mumbai Indians last season and followed it up with the second one with as many runs against now-defunct Gujarat Lions. In the process, he also became the third player ever to score two or more centuries in one season of the cash-rich league.

9. Adam Gilchrist – 2 centuries

The former Australian wicketkeeper last played in IPL 2013. He represented the Hyderabad franchise which was previously called Deccan Chargers and led the team to a title win in the second edition in 2009. During his stint, the two-time World Cup winner amassed over 2000 runs and hit two centuries. Gilchrist’s highest score of 109* came in 2008 against Mumbai Indians while his second ton of 106 was in 2011 vs Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The left-handed batsman has been amongst the defining cricketers to have graced the league. Heralded all across the globe for his imperative batting and exceptional prowess behind the stumps, Gilchrist forever will be remembered as one of the pioneers of the IPL.

8. Murali Vijay – 2 centuries

India batsman Murali Vijay who earned a recall in the recently concluded Test series against South Africa will don the yellow outfit of the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2018. Vijay who started his IPL career with Chennai and then went on to ply his trade with Delhi and Punjab has two centuries to his name. With an ageing career, the right-handed batsman will aim to make his mark in the IPL to give selectors an extra option prior to the 2019 World Cup.

However, Vijay has been an extremely successful player in the cash-rich IPL. The 33-year-old has two centuries to his name, with the highest score of a smashing 127 runs vs Rajasthan Royals. Vijay added his second ton to the IPL kitty in 2012 with a 113 against Delhi Daredevils in the season’s second qualifier.

7. Shane Watson – 2 centuries

The former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson, who has played for Rajasthan Royals between 2008 and 2015 and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the last two seasons will play for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2018. Watson has so far played 102 games in the IPL, scoring 2,622 runs at a strike rate of 138.65 and hit two centuries during his 9-year stint; the first against Chennai and the other vs Kolkata Knight Riders.

Capable of opening both batting and bowling, Watson will be an option that any skipper would love to have. He displayed terrific batting form for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League this season. On joining CSK, Watson will be keen to rekindle the same magic for his new franchise.

6. Virender Sehwag – 2 centuries

Former India opener Virender Sehwag, who last played in the IPL in 2014 also ranks in top 10 century-makers list with two tons under his belt against Deccan Chargers and CSK. Presently a coach and mentor in the Kings XI Punjab franchise, Sehwag has been one of the fiercest batsmen to grace the league. The first Indian to hit a triple hundred in Tests, Sehwag reprised his exploits in the shorter format as well.

The 39-year-old scored his maiden IPL century in 2011 and followed it up with his highest ever score of 122 in 2014. Although not on the pitch anymore, the veteran cricketer will continue to provide his impetus from the sidelines to help KXIP end their IPL title drought in the new season.

5. Brendon McCullum – 2 centuries

The wicketkeeper-batsman was the first cricketer to score a century in the Indian Premier League (IPL). His knock of 158* in the inaugural match between KKR and RCB set the benchmark of what the league in the future would become. The 36-year-old Kiwi also reprised that style in Tests, striking the fastest century in the format’s history in his final match.

However, since then the Kiwi cricketer has managed to add only one more ton under his belt against Sunrisers Hyderabad. An entertainer on the pitch, McCullum will be joining an explosive RCB lineup comprising the likes of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. Known for his sheet brute, McCullum can bruise bowling attacks like few other men in international cricket.

4. AB de Villiers – 3 centuries

The versatile Proteas cricketer has been one of the defining players of his generation. The South African will once again continue his stint with the Royal Challengers Bangalore after being retained by the franchise for the upcoming season. De Villiers along with Virat Kohli forms a deadly combination in the middle, a partnership the franchise will be counting on as they attempt to win their maiden title.

The 33-year-old has been extremely successful in the subcontinent and has racked up three centuries at a blistering strike rate of 148.16 and a high score of 133* in his IPL career that he scored against Mumbai Indians. His other two centuries were scored vs CSK and Gujarat Lions.

3. David Warner – 3 centuries

The left-handed Australian opener is well known for his decimation capabilities. A dynamite at the top of the order, Warner can single-handedly lead any run charge on his day. An integral cog in the Sunrisers Hyderabad setup, Warner has even led the franchise to their maiden IPL victory in 2016.

The Australian has hit three tons till now in the league – vs CSK, MI and KKR; he boasts of a scintillating strike rate of 142.13. With a new decade of IPL just around the corner, the Aussie vice-captain will aim to do an encore of his heroics.

2. Virat Kohli – 4 centuries

Bangalore’s adopted son Virat Kohli hasn’t had his hands on the IPL trophy yet, but his personal records overshadow any missed opportunities. The India skipper, who is the second highest all-time run scorer in IPL after countryman Suresh Raina, has recorded 4 centuries in his IPL career till now. He scored all of them in the 2017 season against – Gujarat Lions, Rising Pune Supergiant, GL and Kings XI Punjab.

Looking in prime form, Kohli etched history by leading India to their maiden series win in the rainbow nation. The 29-year-old will aim to continue the momentum after his return in a bid to win his first ever IPL silverware. He has a much better bowling attack at his disposal this time round and will once again fancy their chances.

1. Chris Gaye – 5 centuries

West Indies swashbuckling opener Chris Gayle tops the charts with 5 centuries to his name. Over the course of his career in the IPL, Gayle has given the fans a plethora of scintillating performances to cherish but his highest score of 175 not out against now-defunct Pune Warriors in 2013 steals the limelight. The other centuries are against – KKR, KXIP, Delhi Daredevils and KXIP.

The Jamaican’s innings remains the format’s highest score and fastest hundred to date in the IPL. Despite his previous heroics, the lethal opener initially went unsold in the recent IPL auction. However, he was later bought by the Kings XI Punjab franchise at his base price of INR 2cr.

With the advent of T20 cricket, big hitting has become a lot more popular and fans enjoy the sixes that come their way. Furthermore, after the emergence of T20 cricket, it is the Indian Premier League(IPL) that has changed the dynamic of the game. The shortest format is viewed as a different ball game and one has to admit that it evolved with the IPL. The fans like the adrenalin rush going and expect the batsmen to entertain them with those long hits out of the park.

However, it is important to realize that every run scored, irrespective of how they come is very crucial for the team. Along with the big sixes, singles, doubles, triples and the fours are all important in cricket regardless of the format. Although T20 cricket appears the arena for big-hitting batsmen, there are many who stuck to the basics and still emerged to be successful in the format.

Here is the list of batsmen with the highest number of fours:

1. Gautam Gambhir | Delhi Daredevils | 483 fours

Discarded Indian opener Gautam Gambhir is one of the most successful captains in the IPL. He led his previous franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders to two title glories in his tenure. Often regarded as a technically sound batsman, Gambhir knows exactly how he has to go about in T20 games. Although he is not known for his big-hitting abilities, Gambhir has this mindblowing knack of picking the gaps in the filed.

The 36-year old, who is one of the leading run scorers in the IPL with 483 fours till date. He has achieved this feat in just 148 games and the second best on the list is miles away from Gambhir. GG will be back leading the Delhi Daredevils this season and the franchise will hope a change of fortunes this time. With age catching up, Gauti will look to give his best for DD, a team with whom he wants to end his IPL career.

2. Suresh Raina | Chennai Super Kings | 402 fours

Suresh Raina has been the face of IPL till now and is a prolific run-getter. He is at least in the top-5 in most of the IPL charts and is an integral part of CSK‘s triumph. He will be seen donning the CSK jersey yet again, a team that brought the best out of him. Moreover, he never missed a single game for the Chennai Super Kings and also played the highest number of games in IPL.

This scintillating 31-year-old left-handed hit 402 fours in his 161 games IPL career. He also stands second on the list of highest number of sixes, with 173 of them showing his dominance in the format. The focus for Raina this season will be to get into the Indian team across formats with impressive performances. Furthermore, he is the highest run-scorer in the IPL.

3. David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 401 fours

David Warner very quickly ascended up the ranks in the IPL ever since SRH appointed him their captain. Although a very talented batsman, it took the added responsibility to get the best out of him. He is the fastest to reach the 4000-run mark in IPL and he got there in just 114 games. He scored in excess of 500 runs in all the seasons he played for the Sunrisers. Furthermore, he scored an unbelievable 848 runs in 2016 taking his team to their maiden IPL title.

He made a name for himself in no time and is one of the most consistent performers the IPL ever witnessed. He is the quickest to reach the 400 fours mark and has also eclipsed many greats in the process. With a much more stronger team this year, SRH will hope that they will be able to extract better results under Warner.

4. Shikhar Dhawan | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 401 fours

Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner have been two of the strongest pillars for the Sunrisers. Dhawan scored over 3,500 runs in the 127 games that he played. The elegant left-hander is one of the classy stroke makers and is one of the most fluent drivers of the cricket ball. He stands on par with David Warner with the number of fours hit. The 32-year-old was retained by the SRH in the auction.

Shikhar hit 401 boundaries in the IPL by far and will definitely set his eyes on something bigger. Moreover, he has been in some great form with the bat of late. With a consistent, strong opening pair and pretty much a sorted middle order, SRH will be eyeing the glorious trophy this year.

5. Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 382 fours

The Indian skipper Virat Kohli undoubtedly finds himself a spot on this list. Virat evolved leaps and bounds with his game and is one of the best batsmen in the world right now. Kohli, early on in his career, favored shots hit along the ground and fancied hitting fours more than sixes. However, he discovered the right technique for hitting the big shots in recent times and also sent the ball 160 times over the boundary.

With the kind of form Virat is in at the moment, we could expect much better results from RCB this year. His team ended up last of the points table in the previous season. Virat, who 382 fours till date, will want to make up for the dismal performance last year. He is just 18 fours short of the 400 mark and will definitely get there in the eleventh season.

6. Robin Uthappa | Kolkata Knight Riders | 371 fours

This Karnataka batsman is a talented stroke-maker who has all the shots in the book. He is a utility cricketer who has batted in various positions. He is also an outstanding fielder, a reliable wicketkeeper and can even bowl slow medium pace. Robin is a prolific performer for the KKR and played a crucial role in their title glories. In 2011, he played all 16 games for PWI, and in a franchise laced with superstars, he was the highest run-getter for the team.

There was no looking back for him after he was signed for KKR in 2014. He assumed some crucial responsibilities in the team and made the best of the chances he got. He played with a lot of freedom and confidence at the top of the innings. KKR rely on him for big starts and laying the perfect platform for a big score. Uthappa hit 371 fours in all the games that he played so far.

7. Rohit Sharma | Mumbai Indians | 354 fours

One of the most naturally-gifted batsmen in the world, Rohit Sharma is a prolific run-getter in all formats of the game and his batting is all about grace and elegance. When it comes to the shorter format, there are few who can match his striking abilities. Rohit proved why he is regarded as a special talent when he became the first batsman to strike three double centuries in the ODIs. He is the most successful IPL captain having won three trophies.

Rohit, who is one of the leading run scorers in IPL with over 4,200 runs hit 354 fours so far. His 354 fours are complemented by 172 massive sixes. A lot will rest on Rohit’s shoulders as the defending champions Mumbai Indians fight hard to retain the glittering trophy. Rohit will look to carry his great form to the IPL this year.

8. Virender Sehwag | 334 fours

The former dashing Indian opener Virender Sehwag who retired in 2015 still manages to feature on this list. Sehwag is known to send shivers down many bowlers and is a very attacking batsman. Sehwag is currently the coach of the Kings XI Punjab team and also does commentary for India’s matches. The only Indian batsman with two Test triple centuries is also one of the top performers in IPL.

Sehwag played 104 games in the IPL and scored 2728 runs at an average of 27.55 and a massive strike rate of 155. He smashed 334 fours in his IPL career and also 104 sixes. With a revamped team this year, Sehwag will hope to change the fortunes for  KXIP this year as a coach. Furthermore, he has the assignment of picking the captain for KXIP this season.

9. Ajinkya Rahane | Rajasthan Royals | 320 fours

Ajinkya Rahane has evolved with his game in the Rajasthan Royals and will be back with the team after two years. His technical nous, balance at the crease, and his compact technique are exemplary and is one of the top batsmen of this generation. His forward movement and a front-on stance are instrumental in making him a good short-ball player – a skill most of his compatriots lack.

Rahane who scored just over 3000 runs in 111 IPL games has hit 320 fours by far. In an era when power and pizzazz are the norms, Ajinkya Rahane, incredibly, is the maverick: arguably India’s most complete batsman in the post-Tendulkar era. He will play an important role for the Rajasthan Royals this season and will hope to improve his game. His strike rate is on the lower side in the IPL, which he will want to improve this season.

10. Parthiv Patel | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 297 fours

The short, baby-faced Parthiv Patel was picked by the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL auction this year. There is a saying that good things come in small packages and Parthiv is an example. This little man packs a punch and can hit the ball hard. Although he is a decent batsman, Parthiv Patel is not the best of wicketkeepers available.

Parthiv played 119 games in the IPL thus far and has scored 2,322 runs. at an average of 22 and strike rate of 122. Moreover, he also hit 297 fours in IPL, just two fours ahead of Sachin Tendulkar. He crossed the legendary batsman in the last season and has also hit 35 sixes. He will be an important part of RCB‘s plans this year and being an Indian wicketkeeper will be an added advantage for him.