IPL: Top 5 Tamil Nadu cricketers in tournament's history
Tamil Nadu, the southern state of India, has produced some exceptional cricketers who have shown their mettle in the Indian Premier League.
4. Lakshmipathy Balaji
Lakshmipathy Balaji was one of the players Chennai Super Kings signed after the auction of the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League for INR 19.88 lakh (USD 50,000). Balaji finished the season with 11 wickets in nine games at an average of 26. He picked the first-ever hat trick in IPL on May 10, 2018, against the Punjab Kings. Balaji was also the first Indian bowler to pick a fifer in IPL.
In 2009, Balaji was the third-highest wicket-taker for CSK, with 13 wickets at an average of 8.46. In his last season with CSK in 2010, Balaji played seven games and picked seven wickets at a good economy of 8.87. He played in 29 games for CSK in IPL and picked a total of 31 wickets at an average of 26.1, an economy of 8.64, and a strike rate of 18.13. Balaji is still one of the two bowlers who have taken a five-wicket haul in the IPL so far.
In 2011, Kolkata Knight Riders bought Balaji for INR 2.3 crores (USD 500,000). In 2012, Balaji picked 11 wickets in eight games at an average of 14.72, an economy of 5.43, and a strike rate of 16.27. He picked 33 wickets for KKR in 35 games at an average of 27.88. Punjab Kings bought Balaji for INR 1.8 crores in 2014, and this was his last appearance in the league.
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