Top 5 best batsmen of IPL 2016

The IPL 2016 was probably one of the most entertaining seasons, particularly because it saw the teams clinging on to the playoffs race until the last league game. Never before in the history of IPL had someone seen a spectacle of the same level. The credits would definitely go to the players who weren’t shy in upping the ante when it mattered. While it could be said that the bowlers had the last laugh in the tournament, it was the batsmen who dominated most of the proceedings. Here are the top 5 batsmen of the tournament who set the stage on fire: 5. Gautam Gambhir (Kolkata Knight Riders): Gautam Gambhir. (Photo Source: BCCI) The Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir got back into the reckoning for a national call up with spectacular performances in the IPL season. The man from Delhi led from the front and was instrumental in taking the Knight Riders to the playoffs. He amassed 501 runs in 15 matches at an impressive average of 38.53. With 4 half centuries to his name and the best of 90*, Gambhir surely showed what he is capable of in limited overs cricket. His unbeaten 90 off just 60 balls against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the league stages set the platform for him to come up good from thereon. He forged formidable partnerships with Robin Uthappa at the top to give the opposition a tough time. Also check out – IPL 2016: Indian XI of the tournament 4. Shikhar Dhawan (Sunrisers Hyderabad): Shikhar Dhawan. (Photo Source: BCCI) Not many would have expected Shikhar Dhawan’s name in the list, but truth be told, Dhawan played a key role in the fortunes of Sunrisers Hyderabad this season. Though his performances might have gone unnoticed, the Delhi opener often gave steady starts to the team and played the role of second fiddle to an attacking David Warner. Against the Mumbai Indians, he scored an unbeaten 82. Some claimed his batting was too slow, and he emerged with a score of 51 off just 30 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders to silence all critics. In all, he aggregated 501 runs in 17 matches at an average of 38.53 with 4 half centuries to his name. 3. AB de Villiers (Royal Challengers Bangalore): AB de Villiers. (Photo Source: BCCI) South African superman AB de Villiers played the ideal support role to Virat Kohli in RCB’s quest for glory. The team fell short on the triumph, but his efforts couldn’t be taken away. AB hit 687 runs in 16 matches at an average of 52.84 with 6 fifties and a century. His strike rate of 168.79 was the highest among all batters who crossed the 400 run mark in the tournament. Against the Gujarat Lions, he scored a belligerent 129* off just 52 balls to show why he is known as Mr. 360. In the crucial Qualifier 1 match against the same team, RCB were struggling at 29/5 in their run chase of 159. It was AB de Villiers, who held the fort at one end and then put on an unbeaten stand of 91 runs for the 7th wicket to see RCB into the finals. He scored an unbeaten 79 on the night of Qualifier 1. He hit 37 sixes in the tournament, one less than skipper Virat Kohli who hit the most sixes in IPL 2016. Also read – Top 10 batsmen with most sixes in IPL 2016 2. David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad): David Warner. (Photo Source: BCCI) The captain fantastic David Warner led from the front to take Sunrisers to their maiden IPL triumph. David was one of the most prolific run-getters of the tournament and hit the most number of fifties, with 9 fifties to his name. He had three scores of 90s that in itself is a testimony of his grit and form. He hit the most number of fours in the tournament (88 fours) and almost singlehandedly won matches for his side. In the night of the finals as well, he was fantastic with a half century that set the platform for the batsmen to follow. He piled up 848 runs in 17 matches at a staggering average of 60.57 and a healthy strike rate of 151.42. Warner’s best score of 93* steered Sunrisers against the Gujarat Lions to the finals of the season. Also read – IPL 2016: Captain’s analysis 1. Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore): Virat Kohli RCB. (Photo Source: BCCI) If there was one man who totally owned the tournament, it was Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli. Kohli was only unlucky to have missed out on being on the winning side. He had no T20 centuries prior to the tournament; he lit up the stage with 4 classical top notch centuries – two of them coming against the Gujarat Lions. Virat hit the most number of sixes in the tournament, 38 in all! He won the Orange Cap for his heroics as he plundered 973 runs in 16 matches at a phenomenal average of 81.08. In one of the matches against the Lions, he formed a scintillating partnership of 229 runs with AB de Villiers that saw RCB run through the Lions. Undoubtedly, he was the best batsman of IPL 2016. Also check out – Top 10 surprise packages of IPL 2016

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Top 5 best batsmen of IPL 2016

2. David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad):

Also read – IPL 2016: Captain’s analysis

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