The IPL's Top 10 batsmen after the league stage

Twenty20 is regarded as a batsman’s game. As is evident so far in this year’s Indian Premier League, no score is big enough if you have quality batsmen in your line-up.

Glenn Maxwell started the seventh season of the cash-rich T20 tournament, scoring some sensational knocks in the first leg in the UAE, while Robin Uthappa dominated the second leg on familiar home pitches, helping Kolkata Knight Riders bounce back from a slow start and storm into the play-offs with seven back-to-back victories.

The likes of Suresh Raina and AB de Villiers also gave fans much to shout about as they maintained consistency with the bat.

Ahead of the play-offs, we look at the top 10 batsmen from the just-concluded league stage.

Robin Uthappa:

Robin Uthappa played a major role in Kolkata Knight Riders’ revival after a slow start with consistent performances at the top of the order.

The right-hander hit nine consecutive scores of 40 or above, including half-centuries, to storm his way atop the ‘Orange Cap’ standings, for batsman with the most runs.

Currently, he is comfortably perched atop the run-scorers chart with 613 runs from 14 matches, at an average of 47 and strike rate of 137.

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Dwayne Smith:

Mumbai Indians’ loss proved to be Chennai Super Kings’ gain, as far as Dwayne Smith is concerned.

The West Indian proved a big hit as opener for two-time champions CSK, scoring 535 runs in 14 matches, at an average of 38 and a strike rate of 138.

Chennai’s chances of making it to the final rest heavily on his shoulders. 

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Glenn Maxwell:

Glenn Maxwell started with a bang, scoring 95 from 43 balls against Chennai, 89 from 45 balls vs Rajasthan and 95 from 43 balls vs Sunrisers to kick-start Kings XI Punjab’s campaign in grand style.

However, the Australian seems to have gone off the boil in recent games, failing to get past the 20-run mark in his last three innings.

Currently, he sits third in the run-scoring list with 533 runs in 13 matches, at an average of 41, coupled with an astonishing strike rate of 191.

He also leads the ‘most sixes’ table in the tournament, with 35 thus far!

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David Warner:

Sunrisers Hyderabad may have not made it to the play-offs, but David Warner proved his worth with substantial contributions with the bat.

The big-hitting Australian was constantly shuffled between the middle order and opening positions, yet he had a healthy tally of 528 runs in 14 innings, at an average of 48 and strike rate of 140.

With six fifties this season, he finished the league stage with the highest number of half-centuries and a highest score of 90.

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JP Duminy:

JP Duminy was the only bright spot in an otherwise disappointing campaign for Delhi Daredevils.

Delhi won just two matches out of 14 they played in the tournament and ended up bottom of the IPL standings.

The South African finished with 410 runs in 14 matches and a creditable average of 51, despite batting in the lower order most of the time.

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David Miller:

David Miller again thrived in the IPL with some swashbuckling knocks.

He and Maxwell made Punjab one of the most feared outfits this season as they consistently chased down big targets.

The South African finished with 399 runs in 13 matches, at an average of 49 and strike rate of 149.

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AB de Villiers:

AB de Villiers played one of the most sensational knocks this season, destroying the world’s fastest bowler and South African team mate Dale Steyn when Royal Challengers Bangalore took on Sunrisers Hyderabad in Bangalore.

With 28 needed from two overs, he used the scoop over fine leg to good effect to score 23 runs from the 19th over bowled by Steyn.

However, he was unable to maintain consistency, because of which the Bangalore side’s challenge fizzled out in the league stage for the third straight time.

AB finished with a tally of 395 runs in 14 matches, at an average of 35 and strike rate of 158.

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Suresh Raina:

Suresh Raina continues to be one of the most consistent performers in the IPL. This season, too, he is one of Chennai Super Kings’ key performers, having already aggregated 382 runs in 14 matches, at an average of 31.

The two-time champions will be counting on him to deliver in the play-offs.

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Brendon McCullum:

Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith emerged the most dangerous opening pair at the end of the league stage.

The New Zealander was not as consistent as his West Indies partner, but instrumental in providing Chennai a solid platform in many a match.

He tallied 380 runs in 12 matches, at an average of 34.

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Shikhar Dhawan:

Shikhar Dhawan seemed to have struggled under the extra pressure of captaincy as Sunrisers Hyderabad failed to live up to expectations.

Relieved of captaincy four matches from the end after failing with the bat, he responded with two half-centuries in four innings that followed to finish with a tally of 377 runs 14 innings, at an average of 29.

Had those fifties come a bit earlier, Sunrisers may have sneaked into the play-offs.