Cricket is not just about batters and bowlers. There are a few players who can be equally efficient with the bat and ball, earning them the tag of an all-rounder.
The all-rounders form an essential part of the team, with the power to change the course of the game. The Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen many all-rounders win matches single-handedly with their impactful performances.
This article will take you through the 5 best all-round performances in IPL history.
5. Yuvraj Singh (RCB) | 83 (38) & 4/35 vs RR, 2014
This was the match between the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. RCB elected to bat first, but they soon found themselves struggling on 40 for 3 at the start of the 9th over.
The pair of AB de Villiers and Yuvraj Singh were on the crease. Both knew they had a huge task in front of them, and they flawlessly did it.
Yuvraj made his intentions clear from the beginning, smashing boundaries at his will. That day, the Chinnaswamy crowd witnessed a vintage Yuvraj Singh show.
He went past his half-century in a mere 24 balls and continued his onslaught, taking bowlers for a ride. Eventually, he fell on a brilliant score of 83 off 34 balls, which included 7 fours and as many sixes.
Now, it was time for him to shine with the ball. After going for 9 runs in his first over, Yuvraj struck 2 important wickets of Shane Watson and Stuart Binny to put pressure on RR.
If this was not enough, he got 2 more wickets in his next 2 overs, breaking the back of RR’s batting lineup. Yuvraj returned with the match figures of 4 for 35.
However, his valiant all-round efforts went in vain as RR chased down the target of 190 runs. Nevertheless, this performance by Yuvraj Singh will remain one of the best in the IPL.
Also Read | Top 10: Greatest ODI World Cup All-Round Performances
4. Shane Watson (RR) | 89* (47) & 3/19 vs MI, 2011
It was the last IPL match for the Rajasthan Royals in the 2011 season and also the final match for Shane Warne. So, RR was looking to give their captain a fitting farewell.
Another Shane (Watson) took the mantle on his shoulder to bid adieu to his fellow countrymen. Watson comes to bowl the second over and grabs a wicket off the third ball.
In his next over, he gets Ambati Rayudu caught out and finishes his spell with the wicket of Kieron Pollard. Watson’s figures read 3 for 19, helping RR restrict MI to 133/5.
The target of 134 runs wasn’t big, and Shane Watson made it look even smaller with his ferocious batting knock. Watson started to take on the Mumbai bowlers from the word go and didn’t spare them throughout the innings.
The Australian all-rounder outperformed his fellow opener, Rahul Dravid (43* off 32), with his quick-fire knock of 89* off 47 balls. Watson’s knock helped RR crush the target in 13.1 overs!
Also Read | Rahul Dravid: Why he is called “the Wall of India”
3. Ravindra Jadeja (CSK) | 62* (28) & 3/13 vs RCB, 2021
Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium hosted the famous Southern derby match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
Batting first, CSK was 3 down on 111 runs in 14 overs. As the innings entered the final 6 overs, CSK needed someone to give their total a mighty push.
Then comes Sir Ravindra Jadeja on the crease. That day, he was destined to do something extraordinary, and luck also favoured him.
RCB’s Dan Christian dropped Jadeja’s catch when he hadn’t even opened his account. Christian’s blunder cost RCB in such a way that the match slipped away from their hands.
Jadeja made the most of the lifeline given to him by RCB. He kept the scoreboard moving with his occasional boundaries.
But it was in the final over he hammered Harshal Patel for 37 runs — the joint-most runs scored in an over in the IPL. The power-packed over helped CSK post 191 runs on the board, with Jadeja remaining unbeaten on 62 runs.
Later, he made RCB batters dance to his tune. The left-arm spinner scalped 3 crucial wickets of Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, and Washington Sundar.
The CSK all-rounder also ran out Dan Christian with a quick direct throw aimed at the stumps. This brilliant all-round performance from Jadeja derailed RCB’s plans to chase down the target.
2. Rashid Khan (GT) | 79* (32) & 4/30 vs MI, 2023
The Wankhede Stadium witnessed yet another terrific all-round performance, this time by Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan. His performance was such that it almost overshadowed Suryakumar Yadav’s century.
Gujarat bowlers had a field in a batting paradise in Mumbai. Only Rashid managed to concede runs at an economy of 7.50, while others were going in double digits.
The Afghani spinner not only restricted the run flow but also pocketed 4 wickets. Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nehal Wadhera, and Tim David were his victims.
Later, the Gujarat Titans started their chase of 219 runs. But they never looked in the game, as they were reeling at 103 for 8 in the 14th over. With those many wickets gone, GT was already out of the race to win the game.
But then Wankhede saw pinch-hitting from none other than Rashid Khan. He was as efficient with the bat as he was with the ball.
Rashid kept on fighting, narrowing the margin of loss to 27 runs. He deposited 10 maximums into the stand, scoring an unbeaten 79 runs off 32 balls.
Also Read | Why is Rashid Khan a Successful Bowler in T20s?
1. Yusuf Pathan (RR) | 56 (39) & 3/22 vs CSK, 2008
It was the final of the inaugural IPL season, with CSK and RR up against each other. RR won the toss and elected to bat first.
CSK got off to a decent start, and then Shane Warne gave the ball to Yusuf Pathan in the last over of the powerplay. And the change brought in the first breakthrough for RR, as Yusuf got a wicket on his second ball.
Yusuf also dismissed the next 2 batters at crucial junctures to keep the game under their control. His incredible bowling performance meant CSK could put up 163 runs on the board.
While chasing the target of 164, RR was in a dicey situation at 42 for 3. Then Yusuf strode onto the crease to take his side close to the target.
He started with caution and punished the bad balls by hitting them towards the fence. Yusuf added 56 runs in 39 balls.
Yusuf’s all-round performance helped the Rajasthan Royals sneak in a victory and lift the IPL trophy.
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