To be successful in T20 cricket, batsmen must master the ability to collect runs quickly. It becomes even more important in a major T20 tournament like the Indian Premier League (IPL), where batters are often obliged to maintain the run-rate high in order to survive matches. In such cases, hitters must go ballistic against bowlers in order to maintain control of the game.
Many players have shown their brilliance with their hard-hitting talents in the previous 15 versions of the IPL. However, some have maintained consistency and set the record for the greatest strike rate in league history. These guys have shown class with their brave batting attitude against excellent bowlers.
Here are the three hitters with the greatest strike rate in IPL history (minimum 50 matches)
Number 3. Virender Sehwag
Image Source – Twitter
Former India hitter Virender Sehwag was noted for providing India with powerful starts in international cricket. He accomplished the same for his teams in the IPL with his amazing batting prowess. During his eight-year league career, he played for two teams: the Delhi Capitals (DC) from 2008 to 2013, and the Punjab Kings (PBKS) from 2014 to 2015.
The right-hander showed his skill in the league’s first season, scoring 406 runs in 14 games for DC with an incredible strike rate of 184.54. His finest IPL performance came in 2012, when he scored 495 runs in 16 matches while striking at a strike rate of 161.23.
In 2014, he joined Punjab Kings (PBKS) and scored 455 runs in 17 matches with a strike rate of 144.44. In 2015, he declared his retirement from all aspects of the sport, therefore ending his IPL career. In 104 matches, the 44-year-old scored 2,728 runs with a strike rate of 155.44.
Number 2. Sunil Narine
Image Source – Twitter
Sunil Narine debuted in the Indian Premier League in 2012 as a premier bowler for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Narine bowled for the club for the first five seasons, but in 2017, the then-KKR captain entrusted him the duty of opening the innings. Narine, who took on the role of opener, provided the squad with scorching beginnings.
He helped the squad qualify for the playoffs by scoring 224 runs in 16 matches with a strike rate of 172.30. Based on his 2017 hitting stats, club management continues to back him in 2018. He looked better this time, hitting 357 runs in 16 games with a strike rate of 189.89.
After 2020, the Caribbean player’s batting form declined, but in the 2021 eliminator game against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), he demonstrated his match-finishing abilities with a 26-run knock in 15 deliveries. So far, the 34-year-old has amassed 1,025 runs in 148 games with a strike rate of 162.69.
Number 3. Andre Russell
Image Source – Twitter
Because of his incredible power-hitting abilities, Andre Russell is one of the league’s most dangerous hitters. Throughout his more than ten-year IPL career, he has often caused bowlers nightmares with his amazing knocks. In 2019, he delivered one of the most spectacular knocks of his IPL career.
He blasted bowlers against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, hitting 48 runs off 13 deliveries at an incredible strike rate of 369.23. The daring Windies batter’s remarkable effort earned him a lot of praise as he helped his side win a game that was nearly out of reach.
In the previous campaign, he scored 335 runs in 14 matches with a 174.78 strike rate. In terms of total IPL statistics, the right-hander has 2,035 runs in 98 IPL games with a strike rate of 177.88. With these figures, he also has the greatest strike rate in the history of the cash-rich IPL.
