The Indian Premier League is often tagged by the critics as a batsman’s league, where it’s about thinking out of the box to score runs right from the word go because T20 is eventually an extended version of the death overs. However, to remain consistently good in this format can be a challenge because the game has evolved for the bowlers too and new bowling skills suitable to T20 have been innovated over the years. But few things have always remained the same and perhaps will forever be the same. A Yorker still remains a go to delivery for any bowler and if you have a bowler in the squad who can bowl Yorkers at will he is a blessing in any format. Similarly, a batsman who knows how to play the conventional shots can innovate and place the same ball to various places depending upon the field.

Only few batsmen have been able to meet this challenge. Here’s a compilation of few.

Also Read: Giving wings to middle class lads: Indian Premier League a boon to cricketing world

1. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli, India’s national captain, has raised his game to a different level altogether to the extent that critics and legends alike call him the modern day best. Virat represents the new age of cricketers who are fearless and who express themselves on the field without having to worry about anything. Known for his flamboyancy, Virat is Indian team’s new poster boy who loves limelight and centre-stage on and off the field. Virat is a chase-master, and eats hundreds for meals. Where players couldn’t score more than 1 IPL hundred in a season, Virat Kohli scored 4 centuries in 1 IPL season scoring a 973 runs in 16 matches at an average of 81.08, a feat which was unimaginable before the season. Virat is also an exceptional fielder and can bowl an occasional spell of medium pace. Leader of the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Virat, almost single handedly changed the teams fortune and led them to the finals in the 2016 Edition. A lot depends on him this season too.

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2. Suresh Raina

Come the T20 format, and you cannot ignore India’s left handed genius Suresh Raina who can destroy any bowling attack on his day. A solid striker of the ball, Raina can perform pretty well under any situation and circumstance. Raina has often had to finish games off for his side which he has done successfully. Raina is also a part time off break bowler who can provide crucial breakthroughs during the middle overs. Adding to his talent with the bat and the bowl, Suresh Raina is one of the best fielders that India has ever produced with excellent reflexes making him one of the few fielders who can field at any position. Gujarat Lions almost double their chances when their skipper Suresh Raina is at his best.

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3. Chris Gayle

Arguably one of the most devastating batsmen of all time in T20 history, everybody knows Chris Gayle is a champion! He is the first player to have scored a century in international Twenty20 cricket; the only man to score seven or more tons in the Twenty20 format; and is the leading six-hitter in Twenty20s. Gayle is all about power hitting. Besides playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, Gayle plays for various T20 Leagues across the world and has been successful in all of them. A good catcher and a useful off spinner Chris Gayle won the orange cap in the 2012 season of the Indian Premier League.

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4. Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir is one of the pillars of the Kolkata Knight Riders unit. A big match player with enormous amount of experience, Gambhir offers a lot to the unit both with the bat and his captaincy skills. Gambhir played 3 seasons for the Delhi Daredevils before playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders. A lot of KKR’s fortunes depend on how well Gambhir performs with the willow and how well does he marshal his resources.

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5. Rohit Sharma

One of the most talented and gifted players in the world, Rohit Sharma is a consistent run getter now. His batting style is all about elegance and style. He is one of the handful Indian batsmen who can play the hook and the pull on the front foot, enough to tell the time he has to play and decide on his shots. When it comes to the shorter format, there is hardly anyone who can match his striking abilities, which was proved when Rohit became the only batsmen in the world to score 2 One-day International double hundreds. Rohit is only one of the few Indians to score 100 in all three forms of the game. Rohit Sharma will definitely be a player to watch out for.

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