5 cricketers who have won the Most Player of the Match Awards in IPL
In Twenty20 cricket, the prolific run-getters and wicket-takers might not be among the players with the best impact in most matches they play. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is an example to this fact as neither the top run-scorer nor the highest wicket-taker of the competition is in the top five list of most Player of the Match awards in the IPL. Players with short but effective knocks and exceptional spells have usually swept such rewards.
5. MS Dhoni – 17:
Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni has time and again displayed his prowess with the bat in the IPL. Dhoni’s record with the bat in the last couple of seasons, especially in 2019 suggests that the batsman still has a lot more left in the tank. Throughout the season, Dhoni won as many as three Player of the Match awards which extended his overall tally to 17.
4. David Warner – 17:
David Warner has easily been the most consistent batsman in the IPL. Leading a bowling-dominant Sunrisers Hyderabad team has put an extra responsibility for Warner to bat longer. Hence, in most matches, Warner used to take SRH over the winning line all alone. He has won 17 Player of the Match awards in the IPL thus far out of which 12 came across five seasons for SRH.
3. Rohit Sharma – 17:
Rohit Sharma’s batting numbers in the IPL have been quite modest over the last three years. However, in the first decade of the league, Rohit was easily among the most impactful players of the league. Rohit thus far has won 17 Player of the Match awards in the IPL including four in the previous three seasons. Between 2012 and 2016, he had as many as 10 Player of the Match awards to his name.
2. AB de Villiers – 20:
AB de Villiers found great success in the IPL while representing the Delhi Daredevils in the initial years and Royal Challengers Bangalore ever since 2011. Even when RCB struggled for success on a consistent basis, the South African kept his team on the top very often. He has won 20 Player of the Match awards in the league till date including five across past two seasons whereas RCB won only a handful number of games.
1. Chris Gayle – 21:
Chris Gayle joining the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011 helped the West Indian to set new benchmarks of batting in the IPL and in T20 cricket. It was also the start of Gayle’s journey in becoming the Universe Boss. He won as many as six Player of the Match awards that season and five more in 2012. Thus far, Gayle has won 21 Player of the Match awards in the IPL; all across from 125 matches.
