Who is the Best All-Rounder in IPL – Top 5 List

All-rounders are the X-factors among Cricket specialists. They give teams flexibility, firepower, and the ability to swing a match on its head. This can be a crucial advantage because players who can be both good batters and bowlers are a rarity. 

Incredible performances from all-rounders in the IPL have also led to teams conquering the battleground and reshaping some of the league’s biggest records. Want to know more about these legendary players? 

Let’s take a detailed look at the five best all-rounders who have reshaped the team’s history with their exceptional delivery and talent.

List of Best All-Rounders in IPL

Top Allrounders in IPL History

1. Ravindra Jadeja (Chennai Super Kings)

Ravindra Jadeja is a jack of all trades! He is an exceptional bowler who delivers suppressive left-arm spin and regularly takes wickets in world Cricket. However, the value proposition defining Jadeja’s entire career has been his overall excellence at everything – he can play steady innings with the bat, excel on the fielding front, and read Cricket brilliantly! 

Jadeja has improved his overall game a lot in the recent past. His consistent performance, economy, and ability to hold things together are major countervailing forces contributing to long-term domination.

We all remember that Jadeja’s journey in the IPL began with a bang.  The legendary Shane Warne nicknamed him “Rockstar” following his spectacular debut with Rajasthan Royals. Here, he was instrumental in winning their inaugural season championship. 

He has done it all in terms of stats; he has scored 2502 runs from batting methods – including a number above a hundred per cent strike rate – while taking home another 26 dozen victims along this way.

Like Dwayne Bravo, Jadeja has been an important part of the Chennai Super Kings title-winning teams over time.

Also Read: Top 10 Batters with the Highest Runs in a IPL One Season

2. Shane Watson (Chennai Super Kings)

An absolute IPL legend and an unforgettable sportsman – Shane Watson is second on this list. When we talk about his greatest strength, it’s safe to say that his best came during intense pressure situations. 

This attacking batter would not only perform under pressure but also play anchor roles in innings while going all-out whenever needed. Watson used to do opening bowling and also did crucial middle overs successfully, making him almost irreplaceable.

Moreover, Watson played an exceptionally critical role in winning the final match of the 2008 IPL season, contributing more than expected. But this was not it! His numerous match-winning knocks for CSK (Chennai Super Kings) made him arguably the best all-rounder in IPL history.

After making a name as a consistent performer with the Rajasthan Royals, he did well for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings. In 2013, he was named MVP and helped secure CSK’s title win two years later. 

His versatility is apparent in his records: averaging at 31, a strike rate of 138, and 92 wickets with an economy under 8. As far as complete all-rounders go, few come close to what Watson achieved in the IPL.

Also Read: Top 10 Lowest Powerplay Scores in IPL History

3. Dwayne Bravo (Chennai Super Kings)

As one of the greatest T20 players who mastered death bowling. Dwayne Bravo repeatedly showed remarkable clutch performances. His deceptive slower balls, cunning action change-ups, and lethal yorkers are second to none in Cricketing. Moreover, his wicket-taking skill remains unrivalled in any IPL edition so far. 

Those late-inning fireworks by the big man have won many matches for the Chennai Super Kings. Additionally, match-winning spells bowled during death overs have formed the foundation upon which the CSK title was later claimed.

In the IPL, the Caribbean star has taken 183 wickets, making him the highest wicket-taker of all time. Additionally, he has always performed well with the bat and managed a strike rate of 129.57, with 1560 runs to his name. 

However, Bravo’s legacy can be seen in his trophy-winning feats and match-winning plays. He lifted the IPL trophy thrice with CSK (2011, 2018 and 2021) – a key contributor in all those campaigns. His dominance earned him the ‘Purple Cap’ for being the top wicket-taker in the IPL seasons of 2013 and 2015.

Although the batting contributions came in bursts shorter than anyone else on this list, those little knocks at the end had consistently swung momentum in his favour.

4. Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Andre Russell is an enigma and a Cricketing beast with brute power! He has been responsible for some of the longest sixes ever hit in the IPL due to his strength. Inconsistent as he may seem occasionally, there’s no stopping Russell once he gets going! 

His explosive batting alone would earn him a spot on this list, but match-defining spells of fast bowling can’t be ignored, either. 

Here’s why he is one of the most dangerous players in the IPL, particularly when chasing: he single-handedly changes games!

Moreover, Muscle Russel is a force to be reckoned with in the IPL. In a remarkable match against Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens, he scored 80 runs off just 40 balls, helping KKR set a high score of 232.

Apart from his batting skills, Russell’s medium-paced bowling is deceptively lethal. Batters struggles to interpret his variations, making him a tricky opponent.

His IPL track record speaks for itself: 2071 runs in 101 matches, an incredible strike rate of 177.62, and 89 wickets.

Also Read: Top 25 Most Dangerous Batsman in the IPL History

5. Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians)

Known for his fierce hitting, Kieron Pollard has been a key player in the success of the Mumbai Indians. Despite sometimes struggling with his bowling economy, he made up for it with crucial wickets and dynamic performances with the bat lower down the order.

Beyond his cricket skills, Pollard’s influence on Mumbai Indians has been immense, contributing to their five IPL titles. He has the unique ability to single-handedly change a game with his power-hitting and exceptional fielding, saving countless runs for his team.

His IPL stats speak volumes: 3412 runs at a strike rate of 147.32, 69 wickets, and 103 outfield catches.

Conclusion 

Being an all-rounder is not easy at all. However, being a good and reliable all-rounder who can be trusted with both the bat and the ball is even harder. But that is exactly what the skipper wants from any team. The mere presence of all-rounders gives their captains a sense of relief when the rest of the team struggles to perform.   

So, this was the list of the top all-rounders in IPL history. It had some great names who have served their franchises for years. However, some failed to make it to this list. This does not at all mean that their contribution was lesser. 

Who, in your opinion, is the best all-rounder in IPL?  Tell us in the comments!