IPL 2019: 5 players with the highest strike-rates in IPL history

BCCI launched the IPL back in 2008 and after a decade of breath-taking cricket, the league remains a notch above the rest. And as was expected in any T20 league, batsmen have taken center-stage for the most part. More than one batting legend has walked down the pitch to set the stadium on fire. However, some have stood out with their consistent, aggressive approach.

Amidst both unorthodox and conventional cricketers, there have been a few batsmen who have maintained a sky-high strike rate throughout their IPL career. Here are the top five batsmen with the highest IPL strike rate of all time with a minimum of 30 IPL innings.

Some honorable mentions are Yusuf Pathan (144.08) in 146 IPL innings, Chris Gayle (150.71) in 111 IPL innings, AB de Villiers (150.93) in 129 IPL innings, Krunal Pandya (153.91) in 33 IPL innings and Virender Sehwag (155.44) in 104 IPL innings.

5) Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell is a potential matchwinner who bats in the middle order. He is one of the few batsmen who straightaway starts his innings looking for boundaries no matter who is bowling on the other end. Maxwell began his IPL career in 2012 with the Delhi Capitals before joining the Mumbai Indians in the following season.

However, it was his 2014 season with Kings XI Punjab which made him the ‘Big-Show.’ He scored 552 runs in that season at an incredible strike rate of 187.75.

Maxwell has been one of the most under-rated players of his era because of his inconsistent performances in recent years. Last year, he returned to the Delhi franchise after having a forgettable season with the Kings XI Punjab. The Aussie has played 69 IPL matches so far in which he managed to score 1397 runs at a strike rate of 161.13.

4) Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant, who has recently been called as a rightful heir to MS Dhoni, made his presence felt in the U-19 World Cup. Pant is an aggressive batsman who can consistently take the bowlers to the cleaners. He has the knack of playing his aggressive shots both against spinners as well as seamers. Pant made an emphatic start to his IPL career with the Delhi Capitals in 2016, which eventually led to his international debut under Virat Kohli.

Pant has the tremendous ability to win match singlehandedly for his team. In just 38 IPL matches, he has scored 1248 runs at a strike rate of 162.71.

3) Chris Morris

Chris Morris

Chris Morris is one of the most impactful players in the modern-day game, especially in the T20 format. He is a valuable asset for any team due to his all-round abilities. Morris is often considered as a bowling all-rounder since he made his IPL debut in 2013 for the Chennai franchise.

However, he has the potential to change the match with his colossal hitting in the slog overs. He has taken his team over the line on various occasions with the bat.

Overall, Morris has managed to score 485 runs in his 33 IPL innings and at a strike rate of 166.66. He also has 56 IPL wickets to his name with an impressive economy rate of 7.75.

2) Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine was recognized as a frontline off-spinning bowler for the Kolkata Knight Riders until 2017 when he started to open the innings with the bat. He made an instant impact in his first couple of innings as he pounced on every delivery in the powerplay.

The Trinidadian has turned out to be one of the most explosive openers in the IPL since he was promoted up the order. Narine doesn’t possess the same kind of power as his competitors, but he has this guile of picking gaps and hitting over the fielders in the 30-yard circle which makes him lethal when the fielding restrictions are on.

In his 48 innings, Narine has managed to score 628 runs at a strike rate of 168.81 along with 112 wickets in his illustrious IPL career.

1) Andre Russell

Andre Russell

Andre Russell is a seasoned campaigner who has the ability to win matches either with the bat or ball in his hand. He is also a livewire in the field, who can change the course of any game with his match-winning performances.

Russell started his IPL career with the Delhi Capitals where injuries always surrounded him. Kolkata Knight Riders signed him up in 2014, and the rest, as they say, is history. The big Jamaican led KKR to another IPL glory in his first season and has been pivotal to his team’s success in the recent past.

Russell possesses brute strength that allows him to strike the ball a very long way with utmost ease. He has an astonishing strike rate of 177.29 in his IPL career along with 68 maximums. Russell has scored 890 runs in his 39 IPL innings for both his franchises. He is also a handy bowler who has managed to pick 44 wickets in his IPL career.