Every team wants top order batters who can maximize the power play overs and get the upper hand in the match’s early stages.
You can read here a detailed article on the importance of powerplay overs in T20 cricket in general here.
Generally, the ball swings in the first 3-4 overs in a T20 match, which sometimes makes it challenging for the batsman to hit, but some elite batsmen have outsmarted the bowlers in the first few overs took the benefit of only 2 fielders outside the circle.
Here we will list the top 10 powerplay specialist batsmen in the history of IPL. The rankings below are purely based on the numbers and the longevity of the batsmen’s form in the powerplay overs.
10. Faf du Plessis
South African stalwart and current RCB skipper is no way behind others in this list. He was the backbone of CSK in the 2019-21 phase and gave an excellent start in the trophy campaign for CSK in 2021.
He has scored 1295 runs with a reasonable strike rate of 131.2. He is so good at feasting the pacers over in powerplay. He scores boundaries in every 4.9 th ball, which is an excellent ratio. He scores 7.5 runs per over in powerplay.
9. Quinton de Kock
South African wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton De Kock knows the art of scoring quick runs in the powerplay. He scored 222 runs in the powerplay with a strike rate of 139, which was the highest(runs) in that season.
He has scored 1381 runs in 78 innings he played in powerplay overs. He scored those runs with a healthy strike rate of 129.18. He takes 5.1 balls on an average to score a boundary in powerplay and scores with 7.8 runs per over in powerplay.
8. Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina, better known as Mr IPL, stands 9th on this list. Usually, openers get the opportunity to maximize these overs, but Raina has also bettered this art. In 2014, he helped CSK score 100 runs in the powerplay for the first time.
He has scored 1552 runs in IPL with an excellent strike rate of 132.88. It takes him 4.6 balls to hit a boundary in powerplay and scores with a scoring rate of 7.98 per over in powerplay. Despite being a regular No. 3 batsman, he was a beast in the powerplay.
7. Sunil Narine
Who would have thought a mystery spinner would solve the mystery of scoring huge runs in powerplay overs as a batter. And captain Gautam Gambhir made it possible in IPL 2017.
In the same season, vs RCB, the duo of Narine and Lynn scored record highest 105/0 in powerplay overs, out of which 54(16)* Narine shocked everyone with his calibre.
Overall he has scored 654 runs with a mind-boggling strike rate of 173.9. He takes 3.08 balls on an average to score a boundary in power play overs.
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6. Adam Gilchrist
Retired Australian legend Adam Gilchrist used to play so fearlessly in the powerplay, which was not so common in the early T20 days. His batting approach helped Deccan Chargers to lift IPL in the 2nd season only.
He top-scored 382 runs in the powerplay in IPL 2009 with a strike rate of 162.8
His numbers portray his unique approach to powerplay overs. He has scored 1385 runs with a fantastic strike rate of 134.08. He takes only 4.3 balls to hit a boundary, making him even more special. He scored an average of 8.04 runs per over in powerplay.
5. Prithvi Shaw
The young sensation Prithvi Shaw is ahead of many legends in this list in a brief career. His explosive nature of batting helped Delhi Capitals take the upper hand in the match in the early stages. He also scored 6 4s in an over of Shivam Mavi.
He was also the highest run-scorer in the powerplay in IPL 2021, scoring 353 runs at a mind-boggling strike rate of 171.36
His powerplay numbers are beast. He has scored 931 runs with an unbelievable strike rate of 146.61. He takes merely 4.1 balls to hit a boundary in power play overs. He scores 8.8 runs an over in this phase.
4. Chris Gayle
The Universe Boss, the greatest ever batsman in T20 cricket, was prominent in this list. We can say he is the best in business. Always feasted in the powerplay overs no matter who the bowler is.
