Top 5 all-rounders in IPL history

All-rounders are the most valuable commodities in a T20 game because of their ability to contribute both with the bat and ball. The IPL is no different. We have seen some of the greatest all-rounders in the world plying their trade in the IPL, including Andrew Flintoff, Sanath Jayasuriya, Shahid Afridi, Shaun Pollock and Paul Collingwood.

Modern-day all-rounders like Andre Russell, Shakib Al Hasan, Ben Stokes, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya and James Faulkner have also played a part in the IPL. Here in this article, we are going to look at the most successful all-rounders in the history of the Indian Premier League.

#5 Albie Morkel

The South African all-rounder was one of the most successful players during the first few seasons of the IPL. In his first five IPL seasons, Morkel scored 781 runs at a strike rate of 146.5 and took 69 wickets at an economy rate of 8.3.

He was one of the most destructive lower-order batsmen in the tournament and an excellent new ball bowler for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). What made him a deadly all-rounder was his ability to swing the ball, bowl yorkers at the death and hit sixes with ease.

In his IPL career, Morkel has played 91 matches, scoring 974 runs at an average of 24.35 and a strike rate of 141.98. He has also taken 85 wickets at an average of 27.75 and economy rate of 8.21. He last appeared in the IPL for Delhi Daredevils during the 2016 season.

#4 Kieron Pollard

Kieron Pollard

Kieron Pollard joined Mumbai Indians in 2010 and was a key member of the side that won the IPL title in 2013, 2015 and 2017.

The 30-year-old has played 123 IPL games so far, scoring 2343 runs at an average of 28.92 and strike rate of 146.52. Pollard has been more than useful with the ball as well, taking 56 wickets at an average of 31.60 and economy rate of 8.85.

He is a deadly finisher with the bat and has played some crucial innings for Mumbai Indians. Pollard has played the most number of T20 matches and has hit 501 sixes, second most after Chris Gayle.

#3 Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo

Pollard's West Indies teammate is the fifth highest wicket-taker in IPL history. Bravo started his IPL career with Mumbai and moved to Chennai Super Kings in 2011. He was an integral part of the successful CSK side that dominated the IPL for many years.

The 34-year-old has played 106 IPL games so far, scoring 1238 runs at an average of 22.92 and a strike rate of 125.94. Unlike Pollard, Bravo's strength is his bowling. With his deceiving variations, he is one of the best death overs bowlers in the IPL.

Bravo has taken 122 wickets in the competition at an average of 22.27 and strike rate of 16.39. Bravo picked up 32 wickets in IPL 2013, which is still the record for most wickets in a single IPL season.

#2 Jacques Kallis

Jacques Kallis

Jacques Kallis is the most successful all-rounder the game of cricket has ever produced. He is the only player in the game's history with 10,000 runs and 250 wickets in both ODIs and Tests. He started his IPL journey with Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2008 and moved to Kolkata Knight Riders in 2010.

Kallis played 98 matches in the IPL, scoring 2427 runs at an average of 28.55 and strike rate of 110. He was equally good with the ball, picking up 65 wickets at an average of 35.27 and economy rate of 7.89.

Unlike the brutal hitters on this list, Kallis showed that the T20 game had some room for finesse, skill, and class. Truly a modern-day legend, he is one of three players to have scored 2000+ runs and picked 50+ wickets in the IPL.

#1 Shane Watson

Shane Watson

The Queenslander is the most successful all-rounder in IPL history. Shane Watson started his IPL journey with Rajasthan Royals, with whom he won the inaugural edition. He then moved to Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2016.

The Aussie has played 102 matches in the IPL, scoring 2622 runs at an average of 31.21 and strike rate of 138.65. With the ball, Watson has picked up 86 wickets at an average of 28.26 and economy rate of 7.83.

He is the only player in IPL history to have amassed over 2500 runs and picked over 70 wickets and the only player to win the Player of the Tournament award twice.