This IPL has witnessed some serious hitting, raining fours and sixes on every ground. While that wouldn’t come as a surprise in the shortest format of the game, the brutality has been of another level. That is the reason why we take a look at the most explosive batsmen at this IPL.
Interestingly, while David Warner is the only batsman to have crossed 500 runs, there are four who have crossed 400 and eight more who have crossed 300 runs. That is a lot of players who have had a good IPL. While any batsman could be explosive in the odd innings, a semblance of consistency needs to be expected.
At the same time, sacrificing explosiveness for sheer volume of runs would skew this list as well. Therefore, we chose to tread middle path and pick up a qualification mark that satisfies both criteria. We have rated batsmen with the highest strike-rates, provided they have made at least 200 runs in the IPL so far.
Just missed
We genuinely need to applaud some of the other sparkling batsmen at this year’s IPL, motoring along as if on a 6-lane highway. Aaron Finch, for example, has amassed 228 runs at a strike-rate of 165.21 with 19 fours and 15 sixes, a lot of them coming in a 34-ball 72 against RCB. Kane Williamson, despite his limited opportunities, has scored 232 runs at 162.23.
Rahul Tripathi, Pune’s surprise package, has been brilliant too with 353 runs at 152.81. Jos Buttler managed 272 runs at 153.67 to complete the set of batsmen who have managed more than 200 runs at a strike-rate of over 150.
#5 Glenn Maxwell (263 at 169.67)
Kings XI Punjab’s skipper started well but has had a quiet season overall by his own lofty standards. Maxwell hasn’t scored a single half-century and has generally come a little too late for the liking of Punjab’s fans. However, two innings, in particular, stand out for Maxwell – an 18-ball 40 against Mumbai Indians and a 20-ball 44* against Pune Rising Supergiant, both at Indore. While the former came in a losing cause, the latter helped KXIP win the game.
Maxwell also scored an unbeaten 43 from just 22 balls against RCB as well – that innings coming at Indore as well, helping his team chase down 149. His form had dipped a bit in the second half of the season, but he smashed a 25-ball 44 against KKR at Mohali reminded us once again about the destructive abilities the man brings forth. Nevertheless, the Big Show has entertained with 17 fours and 21 sixes.
#4 Robin Uthappa (384 at 170.66)
Uthappa has been having a season as good as anyone for KKR. Uthappa has been a supreme symbol of consistency, scoring a whopping 384 runs in 10 innings with five half-centuries – providing solidity beneath the fire-breathing top-order. His own strike-rate has been outstanding despite an average of 42.66. Uthappa has hit 36 fours and 21 sixes to entertain the crowds.
The 28-ball 53 against SRH at Hyderabad and his 47-ball 87 against Pune Supergiants when KKR chased down 184 with absolute ease, stand out as the most explosive of his knocks. Uthappa is also sixth on the list of top run-getters at this IPL, scoring big runs and scoring them fast.
#3 Rishabh Pant (281 runs at 172.39)
Delhi Daredevils’ Pant is well and truly the next big thing in Indian cricket. His 43-ball 97 at Feroz Shah Kotla against the Gujarat Lions made short work of a 200-plus target. The Delhi southpaw, who also keeps wickets for them, has hammered 20 fours and 20 sixes, impressing one and all with his range and unrelenting style of attacking batting.
Pant, who had a spectacular Ranji season, hitting one of the fastest domestic tons, averages 25.54 in 11 innings and didn’t get an opportunity to bat up the order until it was a little too late for the Daredevils. Pant’s 16-ball 38 against KKR was another impressive innings. A 36-ball 57 almost took Delhi home against RCB in their opener as his team fell tantalisingly short of the target.
#2 Sunil Narine (214 runs at 184.48)
KKR have brought the pinch-hitter back and how! Narine has been a massive bonus for Kolkata at the top of the order, smashing the joint fastest half century in IPL history and the fastest this season. Narine’s average is 19.45, but he has managed to blast 34 fours and 9 sixes. Narine has the second highest strike-rate in an innings, this IPL, when he smashed 54 from just 17 balls with 6 fours and 4 sixes against RCB at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore.
He is also fourth on this list for his 17-ball 42 against Gujarat Lions on a fast track in Kolkata. If you thought his list of blitzkriegs was over, an 18-ball 37 against Kings XI was equally impressive at the Eden Gardens. Narine has ensured that Lynn was not missed too much when he was out because of a shoulder injury and that is indeed a massive accomplishment.
#1 Chris Lynn (259 runs at 186.33)
Lynn has played just four matches, losing more than three weeks because of a shoulder injury. And one wonders what he could have achieved had he played the entire IPL. Nevertheless, he has done enough to be noticed; in fact, more than enough. Lynn announced himself with a 41-ball 93* that had six fours and eight sixes, against Gujarat Lions when KKR made mince-meat of a stiff target.
Lynn came back from the shoulder injury and continued his good form when he smashed a 22-ball 50 against RCB, playing second fiddle to Narine. His most serious innings came against KXIP though, when he showed restraint and tried to shepherd the innings when wickets fell at the other end. He scored a 52-ball 84 with eight fours and three sixes, eventually dismissed run out, for no bowler looked close to getting him out.
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