The pressure to score quick runs in T20’s is immense. As soon as the strike rate gets below 100, pressure starts mounting on a batsman in this format. Hence, the idea of protecting your wicket takes the second seat. In this article, we talk about six batsmen with the most number of not-outs in IPL, so far.
T20 in itself is a version of the game that’s inclined towards the batsmen. Of course, there is no respite for the bowlers, but the batsmen also need to meet standards, especially in a tournament like IPL. Scoring quick runs is of the highest priority, and if you can keep your wicket while doing this, the contribution will be unparalleled.
6. AB de Villiers- 38 Not-Outs in 162 Innings
Each batsman is likely to have a strategy that would be dependent on his skills and his role within the team. In IPL, AB de Villiers bats mostly around No.4 or 5 and invariably, whenever he comes on to the crease for RCB, he has a mountainous task ahead of him.
But, such is his stature that ABD still has 38 not-outs in his IPL career. Amongst players who have played more than 150 IPL games, AB also has the strike rate, which is around 152. His job involves a lot of risk-taking but since he is a designated finisher, his presence in this list is understandable.
5. Dwayne Bravo- 39 Not-Outs in 105 Innings
Take this into account. Dwayne Bravo is an established all-rounder, and in the 145 IPL games that he has played so far, he has come out to bat only on 105 occasions.
This has more to do with Bravo’s role change as IPL seasons have progressed. He is now a frontline pacer who is tasked with very little responsibility as a batsman. Nevertheless, he has pulled off some famous victorious in IPL with the bat. The highlight of his batting career is the knock that took CSK home against Mumbai Indians in the season opener of IPL 2018.
4. Yusuf Pathan- 44 Not-Outs in 154 Innings
Yusuf Pathan has almost an equal distribution as his slot of operation in the batting order. While the Baroda all-rounder has opened the batting on five occasions, he has more than 30 appearances in positions 4,5 and 6 of the order.
Hence, it is commendable that Yusuf has got 44 not-outs in his IPL career. Especially considering teams expect him to be execute big-hitting from the very first delivery, he has done a great job in doing it without losing his wicket often.
3. Kieron Pollard- 50 Not-Outs in 154 Innings
The five-time IPL winner Kieron Pollard also finds his name in this list of cricketers to have the most number of not-outs in IPL. Pollard has a nominated role in the Mumbai Indians squad, and this stat is expected.
Although Pollard plays as the aggressor, it is very difficult to get him out as the West Indian has very few weaknesses against pace bowling. He also has the second-best strike rate in cricketers who have played more than 150 games in IPL.
2. Ravindra Jadeja- 59 Not- Outs in 145 Innings
At No.2 on this list of players to have the most number of not-outs in IPL is Ravindra Jadeja. The Saurashtra all-rounder has 59 not-outs in 145 batting innings so far. Much like the other members in this list, Jaddu has batted mostly in the lower middle-order so far.
It is interesting to note that until recently, Jadeja did not have a clear batting role in the line-up. At CSK, he batted under the shadow of the likes of MS Dhoni and it is only after IPL 2020 that his batting skills are getting more highlight.
1. MS Dhoni – 70 Not-Outs in 186 Innings
The art of finishing a game was given the best touches through the bat of MS Dhoni. He is an expert at taking games deep and finishing them while chasing. When setting a score, at his peak, MSD was a clean-hitter, and if he could get under the ball, the cherries used to fly out of the park.
Despite remaining not-out often, Dhoni has an IPL career strike rate of 136.64. It also needs to be mentioned here that he has played most of his games at the No.4 and 5 batting position, slots at which a batsman must double up as an anchor and an aggressor. Dhoni achieved that with absolute ease.
