IPL 2021: 5 Best all-rounders in the IPL

An all-rounder is arguably the most important player in any cricket team. The moment a team gets a couple of all-rounders within the XI, the dynamics of the side changes completely. Players with the ability to bat and bowl effectively give a captain an ample amount of options. Any multidimensional player allows his captain to make more aggressive calls in the middle. 

As soon as T20 cricket caught up with the masses, captains slowly and slowly understood that in order to win any T20 match or tournament, they need to have quality all-rounders in their mix. Players who can give their captains a couple of overs with the ball and also score runs quickly are almost invaluable in T20s. 

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has also witnessed some incredible all-rounders during its course of 13 seasons so far. As the 14th season is about to begin, it is a good time to look back and check who has been effective with both ball and bat for their franchises in the cash-rich league.

Here are the 5 best all-rounders in the IPL: 

1. Kieron Pollard

Kieron Pollard first broke out in the limelight with his performances for Trinidad & Tobago in the inaugural Champions League T20 in 2009. He was picked by Mumbai Indians ahead of the 2010 IPL. Since then, Pollard has not donned any other IPL jersey other than the Blue and Gold one. The fact that Mumbai Indians haven’t let him go just goes to show how invaluable he has been over the years, in terms of forming the core for them. 

If we start listing out the top knocks played by the batsman for Mumbai Indians, it would take us some time. However, to sum it up, there are some stats that just set him apart from a lot of players. In 164 matches, he has scored 3023 runs with an average of 29.93. His strike rate has been 149.87. These numbers are sufficient for any batter to walk into the line-up, but the Big West Indian has some bowling accolades as well. 

He has picked up 60 wickets in the IPL, but his bowling has reduced extensively over the years. However, he has a knack for picking important wickets and Rohit Sharma has looked at the West Indian more than when the situation demanded. At times, Mumbai Indians have even looked at him for captaincy roles and he has responded there as well.