The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a prestigious cricket tournament, and this is why this has also been the platform graced by some of the best cricket players of all time.
Any cricket fan who follows and participates in IPL Satta online will have an easy time name-dropping the best cricketers in the league’s entire history. However, there are so many of them and only a few deserve to be sitting in the top spot.
Who are the best players in IPL history? Why are they considered some of the best players of all time? What made them stand out from the rest of the players on the professional cricket field?
We’ll answer all that as we let you know our top 5 picks.
1. Chris Gayle
Some will probably argue that Chris Gayle shouldn’t be in the top 5 list, but this Jamaican cricketer has done a few things that no other players have. In 2015, he was able to hit the fastest-ever ODI double century when they played against Zimbabwe.
He also has the record for most triple hundreds in a career and he’s the highest run scorer for the West Indies in ODIs. That’s just to name some of his international records.
When it comes to Domestic T20, he’s a leading run-scorer in all forms of T20s and the first batsman to score 10,000 T20 runs. He’s one of the greatest T20 players of all time.
If you’re a fan of Gayle, you probably already miss seeing him in the IPL stage. Based on recent reports, he will be back for the IPL Mini Auction this year. When asked about his future career plans, he said he’ll still play in a few tournaments this year, so that might include the IPL.
2. Lasith Malinga
Former Mumbai Indians player Lasith Malinga is the only one to take more than 100 wickets in the IPL. This Sri Lankan player also called Slinga Malinga was a right-arm fast bowler and is known for his distinctive round-arm action.
He retired from Test Cricket in 2011 and announced his ODI retirement in 2019. Aside from being the first bowler to take 100 T20I wickets, he’s also the first bowler to do so in all formats of international crickets.
Also, he’s the only bowler to take three hat tricks in the ODI scene. His bowling figures make him one of the most outstanding bowlers of all time.
It was in September 2021 when Malinga made his official retirement in all forms of cricket. Before retiring, he was part of the Khulna Titans and Mumbai Indians in 2019. In 2021, before he retired, he joined Nondescripts Cricket Club, a first-class cricket team based in Sri Lanka.
3. Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina is a former Indian cricketer who started playing for India’s international team, Uttar Pradesh. He played in the IPL since its first edition, and until 2015 for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He then played for Gujarat Lions from 2016-17 and went back to CSK in 2018 until 2021.
In the 2010th edition of the IPL, Raina was awarded the best fielder by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Without a doubt, he played a big role in getting CSK its IPL win in 2010.
Raina is also now one of the cricketers who were able to play 200 matches in the IPL alongside MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Dinesh Karthik.
Some of his biggest achievements in his pro career is being the highest run scorer in the CLT20 with 842 runs. He was also the first Indian cricketer to score 6000 as well as 8000 in the T20 format. He’s the first IPL player to also reach 5,000 runs for the competition.
In 2022, Raina was unsold during the auction, but he was still somewhat part of the league because he became a commentator. Last year, he signed with the Road Safety World Series and played for the Indian Legends team.
4. David Warner
Australian cricketer David Warner is known for his aggressive left-hand batting style. With this, he can handle the aerial route, and his ability to switch hit by using the back of his bat. Warner is also a part-time spin bowler and his style is a mix of medium-pace bowling and leg spin bowling.
Warner was named Australian Test Player of the Year in 2016, ODI Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018, and Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year in 2012. He’s also a three-time Orange Cap awardee of the IPL (2015, 2017, 2019).
In 2021, he was named the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup player. Warner is still playing for the IPL and reports suggest that Delhi Capitals is considering asking him to lead the team because of Rishabh Pant’s absence as he’s still recovering from a car accident from last month.
5. Virat Kohli
Anyone will be quick to agree that Virat Kohli is one of the best cricketers of all time inside and outside the IPL. This Indian cricketer is also known as one of the greatest batsmen of all time in the international cricket scene.
He is an aggressive batsman with quick footwork and a wide range of shots even when under pressure. With his batting style, he’s easily compared to Sachin Tendulkar. Some would even say he’s the next Tendulkar as they’re expecting him to break the latter’s batting records.
Kohli has received numerous awards throughout his career including ICC’s ODI player of the year in 2012, 2017, and 2018, and Test player of the year in 2018. He also holds the record for most runs in the IPL (6,624) and most runs in a single edition with 973 in 2016.
Last year, Kohli steps down as India’s Test captain for personal reasons.
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