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IPL 2017: 10 best overseas players in IPL history; 'Universe Boss' Chris Gayle tops the chart

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) entering its 10th edition this year, let us look at most valuable overseas players in the history of the tournament.

New Delhi, April 27: One of the biggest reasons for the immense success of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is the presence of some big names in the business of their times.

Apart from Indian players, overseas cricketers - dominating the cricketing arena with their performances either with bat or ball or with both - have been on the priority list of various IPL franchises.

Overseas players have always been in a huge demand in the IPL for they not only garnered international audiences and also raised the standard of game in the cash-rich league.

IPL has been lucky to have found several big overseas players as they graced the tournament and took this domestic cricketing league to an entire different level.

Spectators came to the stadiums or glued to the TV sets across the globe to watch these players of different nationalities come together and play some quality cricket.

With the cash-rich league entering its 10th edition this year, let us look at most valuable overseas players in the history of the tournament.


Best overseas players (As on April 27, 2017)

1. Chris Gayle

1. Chris Gayle

The self-claimed 'Universe Boss' has been one of the most loved overseas cricketers in the Indian Premier League. The big-hitting T20 specialist is the only cricketer to have completed 10,000 T20 runs.

The left-handed opening batsman from Jamaica has played for KKR and RCB.

He has played 97 games in the IPL so far and aggregated 3570 runs at an average of 42.50.

Gayle has slammed 5 IPL tons and 21 fifties. His 175* against Pune Warriors, now defunct, in 2013 is still the highest individual score in the tournament.

Gayle has smashed 262 sixes in the IPL, most by any cricketer in the league.

2. David Warner

2. David Warner

The aggressive Australian opener is already amongst top 10 captains in the history of the IPL.

The left-handed batsman is leading the Sunrisers Hyderabad side from the front and inspired them to lift the trophy last year.

From 107 matches played ever since he made his debut in 2009, Warner has accumulated 3655 runs at an average of 39.30.

The southpaw has slammed two centuries and 34 half-centuries in the tournament. He has smashed 144 sixes in the league.

3. AB de Villiers

3. AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers is the second most successful foreign player, since the inception of the IPL. The South Africa limited-overs captain also known as 'Mr 360' is immensely popular among Indian audiences.

He has scored 3402 runs from 124 matches he has played for the RCB so far. De Villiers averages 39.55 and 133* is his highest individual score in the cash-rich league. He has slammed 3 hundreds and 22 fifties in the IPL.

The big hitting right-handed batsman has smashed 152 sixes in the tournament so far.

4. Shane Watson

4. Shane Watson

The all-rounder from Australia has been associated with the IPL since its inception. He first played for the Rajasthan Royals and even led the side. The former Australia captain has played 99 matches in the IPL so far and scored 2,612 runs at an average of 31.85.

Watson, who now plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore, has hit two tons and 14 half-centuries. The fast bowling all-rounder has also picked up 83 wickets at an average of 28.24.

But ever since his retirement from international cricket, Watson's performance has been on the wane.

5. Brendon McCullum

5. Brendon McCullum

The former New Zealand cricketer may have retired from international cricket but he's aggressive brand of cricket hasn't diminished one bit. He's highly in demand in every T20 league tournament across the globe and is still considered one of the most destructive batsman.

McCullum gave IPL a start with a bang when he scored 158* in the inaugural game of the league back in 2008. He has played 99 games so far and plundered 2698 runs. He has slammed 2 centuries and 13 fifties in the IPL.

He has played for KKR, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, now defunct, Chennai Super Kings and currently opens the innings for the Gujarat Lions.

6. Lasith Malinga

6. Lasith Malinga

The Sri Lankan slinger has been one of the most lethal pacers in the tournament. The record holder for most bowled dismissals in T20 format, Malinga is irreplaceable asset to Mumbai Indians since 2009.

The 34-year-old speedster has picked up 147 wickets from 102 games he has played in the IPL so far.

In the IPL 2015 he was at his menacing best and picked up 24 wickets from 15 games and he was behind Mumbai Indians' success that year. He is still considered threat to even the best of batsmen in the world.

7. Jacques Kallis

7. Jacques Kallis

The former South African cricketer plays no more but because of his performances in the IPL, he's still considered as one of the best all-rounders this league has ever had in its journey of 10 years.

In between 2008 and 2014, Kallis has played 98 matches and scored 2427 runs with 89* being his highest. The right-handed batsman slammed 17 fifties in the IPL. He has also picked up 65 wickets in the IPL.

He's now the head coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders side.

8. Shaun Marsh

8. Shaun Marsh

The left-handed top-order batsman from Australia got international recognition following his performance in the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008. Playing for Kings XI Punjab, he was the orange cap winner in the first season and is a part of the same franchise till date.

Marsh has played 64 games so far and scored 2269 runs at an average of 40.51. The stylish left-handed batsman has slammed 18 fifties and a hundred in the tournament so far.

9. Dwayne Bravo

9. Dwayne Bravo

The Jamaican all-rounder has been part of the IPL since 2008. Bravo is one of the consistent performers and a match-winner for the side he has played with. He played with the Chennai Super Kings till 2015 and later joined Gujarat Lions.

Bravo has scored 1262 runs in 106 matches he has played so far, which looks pretty ordinary. But add to that 122 wickets at an average of 22.57. His all round performance has been a reason why he was a regular in the CSK playing XI and later a permanent member for the Gujarat Lions.

10. Sunil Narine

10. Sunil Narine

The West Indies 'mystery spinner' has been one of the most feared spinners in the IPL ever since he made his debut in 2012. Narine has always been into skipper Gautam Gambhir's scheme of things and played a crucial role in KKR's victory in 2012 as well as in 2014.

Narine has played just 74 matches in the IPL but picked up 90 wickets at an average of 20.07. He has an impressive economy of just 6.23, which very rare in the T20 format. He has completed 6 four-fors and a fifer in the IPL so far.

In the ongoing edition of the IPL, we are watching an entirely different Sunil Narine for he's opening the batting for KKR and targetting the bowlers from the word go.

Narine is making the best use of fielding restrictions to give his side a flying start and this strategy is doing wonders not only for him but also for the side. All this has made him a utility batsman and a match winning bowler.

OneIndia News

Story first published: Thursday, August 3, 2017, 7:48 [IST]
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