Best Players of England In IPL History
Having introduced the concept of T20 cricket to the world as a fast-paced, exciting format of the game we all love, England has provided a number of excellent imports to the IPL over the years.
Some of the mainstays of their international sides in various formats have turned out for teams in the IPL since the tournament kicked off in 2008, and here we’re taking a look at the 5 England Best Players in IPL history.
5 Best Players of England In IPL History
5. Jofra Archer
Jofra Archer arrived in the IPL in 2018 as one of the most highly-anticipated players and was snapped up by the Rajasthan Royals for a cool INR 7.20 crore. The Caribbean-born England speedster brings with him the complete limited-overs package, even though he’s excellent in the longer format as well! His ability to top 150 kph makes him one of the most feared bowlers to face, while his mastery over the yorker, slower ball, and bouncer makes him extremely difficult to pick as well. His pace and variety have made him one of the most exciting bowlers to watch in world cricket and his ability to hit a long ball makes him a useful batsman down the order as well! Rajasthan Royals definitely value their World Cup-winning pacer, for whom he has featured 21 times, taking 26 wickets at an economy of 7.52.
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4. Jos Buttler
England Best Players in IPL: Another one of the English contingent plying their trade in the pink and blue of Rajasthan Royals, Jos Buttler is a regular in the England international setup as well as for his IPL team. Equally dangerous when sent up the order or in the latter half of the innings, Buttler has the knack of hitting big sixes when his team needs it. He is usually sent out to open for the Royals, and to great effect too – he has amassed 1386 runs in 45 matches at a healthy average of 35.53 and a remarkable strike rate of 150.81. He also happens to don the wicket-keeping gloves, fulfilling an important role for the team and justifying his inclusion as one of the four overseas players in the playing eleven.
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3. Kevin Pietersen
The only one from this list of the best players of England in IPL history to have retired from international cricket, Kevin Pietersen was one of the best limited-overs cricketers during his playing career. The South Africa-born Pietersen used his great physique and strength to muscle many a ball to the boundary and over it, playing several memorable knocks for England in the international arena. His start in the IPL came with RCB, who made him one of the tournament’s highest-paid players in 2009. He then moved on to the Deccan Chargers and then to the Delhi Daredevils without playing a game. He was even appointed captain of the Daredevils, given his international experience, and played a few match-winning innings for the outfit from the national capital. A useful off-spinner as well as a brilliant fielder, Pietersen offers a lot on the field at any stage of the game and was one of the stars of the IPL during his stint in the tournament.
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2. Jonny Bairstow
England Best Players in IPL: The tenacious England wicketkeeper-batsman, who usually vies with the aforementioned Jos Buttler for the wicketkeeping role for the national side (but still plays as a fielder in any case) made his IPL debut in 2019 and soon had a solid claim as one of the best players of England in IPL matches. Having reinvented himself as an opener in the international arena, Jonny Bairstow essayed that role for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2019 and formed one of the tournament’s most formidable opening partnerships with Australian David Warner. Before departing the tournament midway to fulfil his international commitments, Bairstow had smashed 445 runs in 10 matches at an average of 55.62 and a strike rate of well over 150. This included two hundred and multiple century partnerships with Warner, a partnership he will be looking forward to resuming when the 2020 edition of the IPL comes round.
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1. Ben Stokes
New Zealand-born England cricketer Ben Stokes has been at the very top of his game for almost two years now, having put in several match-winning performances for England at the highest stage. He arrived in the IPL as a player with a huge reputation as well, joining Rising Pune Supergiant for a record price of INR 14.5 crore. His abilities as a destructive batsman capable of scoring big runs at a fast pace, as well as his accurate bowling, make him an invaluable asset for any team in any format. Stokes joined his England teammates Buttler and Archer in the Rajasthan Royals after he moved on from Pune, and has done more than enough to be considered one of the best players of England in IPL history. In 34 matches, Stokes has scored 635 runs at an average of 22.67 and a strike rate of 132.01, backing that up with 26 wickets at an economy rate of 8.25.
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