Cricket is a game that necessitates proficiency in all three areas of the game: batting, bowling, and fielding. While some people excel at hitting with the bat, others choose to learn how to bowl. Only a few people, though, are equally adept at these qualities as well as athleticism on the field. Such all-rounders are extremely valuable in any playing XI, but especially so in a game as competitive as the IPL.
In every cricket team, an all-rounder is probably the most essential player. When a club adds a few all-rounders to its starting XI, the dynamics of the team shift dramatically. Players that can bat and bowl well provide a captain with a wide range of alternatives. Any player with several skills helps his captain to make more aggressive decisions in the center.
1. Kieron Pollard
Kieron Pollard originally rose to prominence in 2009, when he represented Trinidad and Tobago in the first Champions League T20 tournament. The Mumbai Indians selected him before the 2010 IPL season. Pollard has not worn any other IPL shirt but the Blue and Gold since then. The fact that the Mumbai Indians have refused to let him go simply goes to demonstrate how important he has been to the team’s fundamental formation throughout the years. Despite not being the fastest in the field, he is nimble and has had moments of brilliance among the 92 catches he has made in the IPL thus far. The MI lad is still an important element of the franchise.
2. Dwayne Bravo
Dwayne Bravo is one of the most successful players in the Indian Premier League’s history. The Caribbean all-rounder has an outstanding IPL record and is one of the major reasons for the Chennai Super Kings’ success. He has 156 IPL wickets to his credit, as well as over 1500 runs in the competition. Bravo is the third most successful wicket-taker in the IPL’s history. Bravo twice won the Purple Cap, which is given to the player who takes the most wickets in a season. In 2013 and 2015, he received the trophy when CSK qualified for the final both times, only to lose to Mumbai Indians.
3. Shane Watson
Shane Watson was the IPL’s first true all-rounder, making an impact with both bat and ball on a regular basis. Rajasthan Royals notably won the event in its inaugural season in 2008, despite being considered underdogs at the outset. Watson was unquestionably the most essential component of the team. He played for Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings throughout his IPL career, scoring 3874 runs and taking 92 wickets. Watson was also named Player of the Tournament in the inaugural IPL season in 2008.
4. Andre Russell
Andre Russell, a Jamaican cricketer, is one of the most destructive players on the planet. He has the ability to flip the match around at any point throughout the game. Russell has the greatest batting strike rate in the IPL, reaching 180, among players with over 500 runs. His incredible feats sometimes eclipse his IPL bowling performance, which included 68 wickets. In his IPL career, the Caribbean all-rounder has won the Player of the Tournament title twice. Russell has established himself as a match-winner who has helped Kolkata Knight Riders win several games when they have fallen behind. Based on his all-around abilities, he would undoubtedly make an all-time IPL XI.
5. Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja is one of Chennai Super Kings’ most reliable players. The 34-year-old is a versatile cricketer who can play both with the bat and with the ball. The left-handed cricketer has 120 IPL wickets to his name, with an economy rate of 7.63. Jadeja’s batting prowess has improved dramatically in recent years. He’s developed into a terrific lower-order batsman. In the IPL, he has won titles with both CSK and RR. When you add in his incredible fielding, he’s the whole deal.
