The ongoing Indian Premier League season five is a lot different from its four previous seasons. It has been a season in which bowler have dominated most of the matches. Maybe that is the reason why this has been the most open season of them all and for most of the viewers the most interesting as well.

Despite, the ball dominating the bat, there has been some batsmen who have been thrashing the bowlers to every corner of the ground. There have been some scintillating performances by the batsmen and on some occasions they have achieved the inevitable. 

In T20 cricket consistency is important, but the rate of scoring is equally important. A quick fire 30 is almost as important as a solid 70. Matches are being turned in the last over and in some occasion the last ball, so it is very important for teams to have some batsmen who can score at a very fast pace. Let’s have a look at some of the players who have been the most devastating ones when it comes to scoring runs quickly. (Only batsmen with more than 250 runs have been taken into consideration)

AB de Villiers (Royal Challengers Bangalore): The South African captain has been in the form of his life. He is arguably the best finisher in the world cricket at the present moment and the best thing about him is that he is equally effective in all formats. AB is a batting genius and has been the most dangerous batsmen for RCB, even more dangerous than Chris Gayle. AB comes at the most difficult time and has the responsibility to finish the match. His strike rate is 171.76 and he has hit 25 boundaries and 14 massive sixes in the tournament so far.

Virender Sehwag (Delhi Daredevils): Captain of the Daredevils is looking like a man on mission. His team is on top of the points table and that is largely because of his efforts. He has scored 445 runs at a strike rate of 163.60. Sehwag has singlehandedly won Delhi many a matches. It is a well-known fact that he is one of the most dangerous batsmen in world cricket but his form in this season has been immaculate. Till now he has hit an unbelievable number of boundaries 51. Along with the boundaries he has cleared the ropes 17 times.

Cameron White (Deccan Chargers): He was a bit late to start but he is on a roll now. Deccan has won only two matches and in both the matches it was White’s efforts that won them the game. In the eight innings he has scored 337 runs at a strike rate of 156. He has been the only saving grace in the Hyderabad side and Deccan’s fate would have been different if they bowlers had backed his massive performance. White has hit 25 fours and 17 huge sixes in the tournament so far.

Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore): He was considered to be the most dangerous batsmen before the tournament started and he has not disappointed anyone. Gayle has played some tremendous innings this season and it is a fact that when he scores he scores at good pace. His 433 runs have come at a strike rate of 151 and he has destroyed most of the bowlers that came his way. Gayle has hit five sixes of five balls and holds the longest six record. He has scored more sixes than fours, 31 compared to 28 boundaries and that explains a lot about his batting.

Steven Smith (Pune Warriors): Not many people knew him in India before the start of the tournament. But in one month he has become a household name in this massive cricket loving country. Smith has been the best batsmen from Pune Warriors and he has also been the most destructive one. Pune has not won many matches and have played some bad cricket, but the matches that they have played well in are because of this man. Smith has scored his runs at an impressive strike rate of 149.73 and has hit 17 fours and 14 sixes in the tournament so far.   

By Gaurav Jha
Indian Sports News