Indian Premier League Year-wise records

IPL 4: 2011 (April 8-May 28) Champions – Chennai Super Kings

CSK won their second successive title this year, defeating RCB by 58 runs in the final in Chennai. Dhoni’s team played three finals in four years and became the first team to win the trophy twice and in successive years. Two new teams – Kochi Tuskers Kerala (KTK) and Pune Warriors India (PWI) – joined the fray this time and the 10 teams were divided into two groups of five teams but the round robin playing rule was complicated with one group’s team also playing those from the other (twice with one, once with the other four). This way, every team finished playing 14 games in the league stage. This year also saw the introduction of the play-off rounds replacing the traditional semi-finals. The dashing Chris Gayle, who joined RCB after an initial stint with KKR, was the man of the series in this edition.

Highest scorer: RCB’s Chris Gayle scored the most number of runs – 608 – in 12 innings at an average of 67.55.

Highest wicket-taker: MI’s Lasith Malinga took 28 wickets in this edition, the most by any bowler. He took 16 innings for his tally with the best figure of 5 for 13.

Most number of sixes: Gayle hit an incredible number of sixes in this edition — 44. The next highest was a distant 23.

Highest individual score: Paul Valthaty, the find of the edition, scored an unbeaten 120 for KXIP against CSK while chasing and it was the highest individual score in IPL IV.

Best bowling figure: DC’s Ishant Sharma took 5 for 12 against KTK and it was registered as the best bowling figure in IPL that year.

Best bowling average: Debutant PWI’s James Faulkner had the best bowling average of 9 in IPL IV.

Highest team score: KXIP’s 232 for 2 in 20 overs against RR in Dharamsala.

Lowest team score: KTK’s 74 versus DC in Kochi.

Biggest victory (by runs): KXIP beat RCB by 111 runs in Dharamsala.

Smallest victory (by runs): CSK beat KKR by 2 runs in Chennai.

Player of the series: Chris Gayle won the best player’s award by scoring 608 runs and taking 8 wickets in this edition.