10 best left-handed batsmen in IPL history

The Indian Premier League has been a platform for some swashbuckling batsmen to show off their skills in the shortest format of the game. Although the team rosters are filled with right handed batsmen, left handers have really held their own throughout the 8 seasons of this tournament. Let’s take a look at 10 of the most prolific left handed batsmen to have graced the IPL stage.

1.Chris Gayle

Runs: 3078, Avg: 47.35, SR- 154.90

Since the IPL began in the year 2008, the Jamaican has been the most feared batsman simply because of his ferocious hitting capability. When Gayle gets going, there are very few bowling attacks that can put the brakes on him. He has also been a highly consistent performer scoring his runs at an incredible average of just over 47. The Caribbean powerhouse has the record for the highest score(175 not out) and the fastest century(off 30 balls) in the IPL. RCB’s fortunes in the IPL have mainly depended on this man’s form.

2.Suresh Raina

Runs: 3594, Avg: 34.56, SR- 140.43

The highest run scorer in the Indian Premier League, Raina has always been his CSK captain MS Dhoni’s ‘Man Friday’. He has scored more than 400 runs in all seven completed editions of the IPL. The Indian southpaw is also one of the most sought after domestic player in the league, although he has stuck his loyalties to the Chennai franchise thus far.

3.Gautam Gambhir

Runs: 3094, Avg: 29.75, SR- 124.55

The man who transformed the fortunes of the Kolkata Knight Riders has not only been one of the best captains in the IPL, but also a prolific run-scorer. For a player who hasn’t had much exposure to international cricket over the past few years, his batting has been more than decent. The KKR skipper has the record for most fifties in the IPL with 26 in his kitty thus far. It is tough to say whether he will ever make it back to Team India or not, but he surely has a lot more to do in the world’s most popular cricket league.

4.Shikhar Dhawan

Runs: 2548, Avg: 31.98, SR- 121.91

A man known as much for his mustache as for his terrific batting, Shikhar Dhawan has been one of the most consistent batsmen in the IPL. When on song, Dhawan has the capability to demolish any bowling attack with consummate ease. Multiple changes of franchise have not deterred the southpaw as he keeps on piling on the runs wherever he goes.

5.David Warner

Runs: 2386, Avg: 33.13, SR- 138.39

The pocket-sized dynamite from Australia is one of the most dreaded batsmen in world cricket today. The simple reason behind this is the manner in which Warner can tear apart bowling attacks with his aggressive brand of batting. He is also the captain of his current franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad and has been doing a decent job so far. Considering his young age(28), he surely has a long way to go in the IPL and a lot more left to do.

6.Shaun Marsh

Runs: 2054, Avg: 41.91, SR- 133.55

The forgotten hero for Kings XI Punjab was the highest run scorer in the inaugural season of the IPL with more than 600 runs under his belt. Marsh also boasts of a 40-plus batting average in the league, which is no mean feat. Overshadowed by players like Maxwell and Miller, he recently got his team out of jail in a match against the Rajasthan Royals which ended in a Super Over. Hopefully, he will get more opportunities to prove his mettle in the future.

7.Adam Gilchrist

Runs: 2069, Avg: 27.22, SR- 138.39

The legendary Australian wicketkeeper batsman also showed off his swashbuckling batting skills in the Indian Premier League. He was an intimidating hitter during his international career and he remained one during his IPL stint. Gilchrist also has his name etched in IPL history as a winning captain with the Deccan Chargers(now Sunrisers Hyderabad) in 2009. This left handed genius is one of the greatest players to have played in the league.

8.Michael Hussey

Runs: 1900, Avg: 40.42, SR- 123.21

Mr Cricket, as he is popularly known, delivered the goods in the world’s best T20 league as well. Despite age not being on his side, Hussey has played some fantastic knocks in the IPL including a century. He is still part of the Chennai Super Kings squad, although he has not played a single match this year. The Aussie southpaw has a fantastic batting average of over 40 in the tournament.

9.Yuvraj Singh

Runs: 2056, Avg: 25.38, SR- 130.04

If there is one player who has never gone out of flavor in the IPL, it has to be Yuvraj Singh. Year after year, franchises are shelling out big bucks to get the former Team India player on their roster. There is little mystery about the fact why Yuvraj is such a ‘wanted’ man as everyone is aware of his game changing capabilities. Despite being inconsistent in terms of form in the past 2 or 3 editions of the IPL, he is still one of the best left handed batsmen in the league.

10.David Miller

Runs: 1205, Avg: 41.55, SR- 145.00

One of the most exciting young talents in the world, David Miller has already created a lot of ripples in the IPL as well. In combination with Glenn Maxwell, he set the 2014 edition of the tournament on fire with his explosive batting for the Kings XI Punjab. Although he is just 3 seasons old in the league, he is on track to reach greater heights if he continues to play this way.