Most Valuable Player Awardees in all the seasons of the IPL

The curtains have closed on a landmark 10th edition of the grand festival of Indian cricket that is the IPL. Fans will reminisce some spectacular performances over the years, while the scribes will get down to writing about them. Players have come and gone, some leaving an indelible impression of their authority over the game. They might have been performers with the bat, launching many a ball into the night sky, or bowlers who rattled the woodwork on repeated occasions.

One class of players, however, proved their worth with consistent performances throughout a given season. CricTracker winds the clock back to the inaugural season of the IPL and makes its way through a list of elite players who were given the title of Most Valuable Player.

2017 – Ben Stokes (Rising Pune Supergiant)

The tag of ‘Most Valuable Player’ was attached to Ben Stokes long before he took the field in the 2017 edition of the IPL. Stokes was the talk of the town as teams geared up for the IPL auction with myriad strategies in mind. Following a bout of fierce bidding, Stokes fetched Rs. 14.5 crore and was set to ply his skills for the Rising Pune Supergiant.

He didn’t disappoint his selectors who invested big money in him. Stokes proved his worth and added the title of Most Valuable Player alongside his already existing tag of Most Expensive Overseas Player. Although he was dearly missed in the final, Stokes had amassed 316 runs at 31.60 before he left on national duty. The Big Ben lit up the IPL with a stellar century against the Gujarat Lions and was also instrumental in the Pune’s impenetrable death-bowling. Stokes bagged a total of 12 wickets while maintaining a miserly economy rate of 7.18.

2016 – Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

The 9th edition of the IPL pulled every available spotlight on just one man, Virat Kohli. The Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper was in mint form, as he seemed to have no difficulty in racking up immense runs. Virat Kohli came tantalisingly close to 1,000 runs in a single IPL season, finishing with 973.

En route to yet another blotched IPL final, Kohli hammered 4 centuries – which was the most by a batsman in a single IPL season – and comfortably snapped the Orange Cap. Despite a disappointing end to the season, Virat Kohli had taken the IPL by storm by his insatiable hunger for T20 runs.

2015 – Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Kolkata’s Caribbean Knight Andre Russell was power personified as far as the 2015 IPL was concerned. The broad-shouldered all-rounder set the IPL on fire with stellar performances lower down the order. Russell was the bright spot of KKR’s deep batting order, as the Caribbean genius scored 326 runs through the course of the season.

Russell could brag about his 21-ball 51 against Kings XI Punjab which helped KKR steeple a target of 183. A strike rate of 192.29 stood out in Andre Russell’s scintillating season. Don’t forget his 14 wickets and 6 catches.

2014 – Glenn Maxwell (Kings XI Punjab)

After failing to find a spot in the Australian side in 2014, Glenn Maxwell staged a fantastic show in the 7th edition of the IPL. The all-rounder Maxwell scored as many as 552 runs in the tournament, during which he also smashed 36 sixes and 48 fours, all at a strike rate of 187.75. The Aussie fell agonisingly short of a maiden IPL century – he blasted CSK’s bowlers to get to a 38-ball 95.

Although Kings XI Punjab lost in a thrilling final against the Knight Riders, Glenn Maxwell would have cherished the 2014 season of the IPL for his stellar run.

2013 – Shane Watson (Rajasthan Royals)

2013 proved to be a defining year for Shane Watson as the Australian all-rounder became the only player to win the MVP award twice. Watto had undone the damage to his IPL prospects that year with an all-round performance for the Rajasthan Royals. With 22 sixes, 59 boundaries, 6 catches and 13 wickets, Watson edged past the big Chris Gayle by 37 points to clinch the Most Valuable Player once again.

A packed Chennai crowd also witnessed Shane Watson’s first IPL 100. Incidentally, Watson’s 61-ball 101 was also the first century of the 2013 edition of the IPL.

2012 – Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders)

As Kolkata’s inclination towards mystery bowlers continued, the team finally struck gold when Sunil Narine joined them in 2012. Narine entered the IPL as an unknown figure, who later erupted on to international cricket with a spell-binding show in IPL 5.

The West Indian added a new definition of mystery to spin bowling. He bagged a 5-for while bamboozling the Kings XI Punjab with his puzzling repertoire of deliveries on a slow Eden Gardens surface. Narine signed off 24 wickets, while his astounding economy rate of 5.47 grabbed the attention of selectors worldwide.

2011 – Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

The Chris Gayle we know today, who puts cricket balls on the roof of the Chinnaswamy stadium, wasn’t exactly the Chris Gayle who finished a disappointing season with KKR in 2010. Nevertheless, after being snapped by the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Gayle transformed into a beast of sorts.

Gayle announced himself with a century against his former teammates at KKR, and there was no turning back for the West Indian great. Chris Gayle smashed 2 centuries in total en route to 608 runs. Along with bagging the Orange Cap, Gayle also went home the Most Valuable Player award.

2010 – Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai Indians)

There are legends, there is hall of fame inductees and then there’s Sachin Tendulkar. The Little Master was undoubtedly a genius at the game of cricket. However, the shortest format of the game was still something of a novelty to Tendulkar.

Sachin Tendulkar hence took it upon himself to master T20s as well. He led from the front in IPL 3 for the Mumbai Indians. Tendulkar racked up 618 runs at an average of 47.54. However, what remained a constant in Tendulkar’s batting in the IPL was his ability to pick the gaps. Sachin creamed a whopping 86 boundaries during the 2010 season of the IPL.

2009 – Adam Gilchrist (Deccan Chargers)

If there’s any one who deserves credit for Deccan Chargers’ triumph in 2009, it’s Adam Gilchrist. Australia’s hero from the 2007 World Cup final displayed his usual aggressive batsmanship. He led from the front to give the Chargers their maiden IPL title.

At a healthy strike rate of 152.3, Gilchrist smacked 495 runs, including 29 biggies. Gilchrist’s knock of 85 in the semi-final was a one-man effort which blew away table topper Delhi Daredevils. While Adam Gilchrist celebrated with the team in South Africa, he had also successfully been dubbed the Most Valuable Player of the season.

2008 – Shane Watson (Rajasthan Royals)

Being the least expensive team in an inaugural edition of the world’s most cash-rich team, the Rajasthan Royals certainly didn’t start the tournament as favourites. However, led by the inspirational Shane Warne, RR defied all odds and became the first IPL champions.

The player who stood as their pillar was the other Shane in the team, Shane Watson. The Aussie came into the IPL yet to showcase his world-class all-rounder abilities. However, Watson eventually became a vital cog in the teams’ dream success story. Shane Watson amassed 472 runs at a strike-rate of 151.77. Simultaneously, he bagged with 17 wickets at an average of 22.52. For his all-round performance with both bat and ball, Shane Watson became the IPL’s first Most Valuable Player.