In the toughest T20 league where the best players from all around the world compete with each other, when the league stage matches are complete, the top 4 teams will qualify for the playoffs and fight for the championship.
The best four teams from the league stages will play in the playoffs, and scoring runs in the playoff matches is a much more difficult thing than in the league matches. Obviously, the competition gets tough due to the best teams and the best players, and the pressure of the knockout matches makes the stage hard for the batters to score runs.
In this particular article, we will learn about the batters who held their nerves and pressure during the playoffs and scored runs with the highest average in the playoffs. The batter who played a minimum of five matches in the playoffs and has the highest average will be listed in the IPL record book. Well-known batters from all around the world, like AB de Villiers, Suresh Raina, Shubman Gill, Kane Williamson, Rishabh Pant, etc., are on the list. Let’s see who has the highest batting average in the playoffs of the Indian Premier League.
Also Read: Most runs in IPL Knockout Matches
Highest batting average in IPL Playoffs
No. | Batter | Average |
---|---|---|
1 | Saurabh Tiwary | 111.0 |
2 | Shubman Gill | 52.66 |
3 | Ishant Kishan | 51.33 |
4 | David Miller | 50.33 |
5 | Rishabh Pant | 41.00 |
6 | Kane Williamson | 40.50 |
7 | Michael Hussey | 38.80 |
8 | Suresh Raina | 37.57 |
9 | AB de Villiers | 36.75 |
10 | Suryakumar Yadav | 36.55 |
1. Saurabh Tiwary
A left-handed batter from India has the highest batting average in the Indian Premier League playoffs. Saurabh Tiwary played five matches in the IPL playoffs and had an average of 111.00. In those 5 playoff matches, Saurabh scored 111 runs; notably, he remained not out in 4 innings, and his highest score in the IPL playoffs was 52 not out.
Saurabh Tiwary scored an unbeaten 52 while playing for the Mumbai Indians against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first semi-final of the 2010 IPL season. In that match, Saurabh hit three boundaries and four sixes from 31 balls. Due to the all-around performance of Kieron Pollard, the Mumbai Indians beat Royal Challengers Bangalore in that knockout.
Saurabh Tiwary has played for various franchises in the IPL; he has been part of the Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals, and Rising Pune Supergiant. Saurabh played 93 matches in the IPL and scored 1494 runs with an average of 28.73 and a strike rate of 120.1. Saurabh also registered eight half-centuries in the league.
2. Shubman Gill
The rising star from India is currently at the second spot in the highest average in the IPL playoffs list. Shubman Gill, at the moment, has an average of 52.66 in the playoffs. Gill played 10 innings in the playoffs and scored 474 runs with a strike rate of 145.39. Gill scored one hundred and fifty in the playoffs.
Shubman Gill is the youngest player to score a hundred in the IPL playoffs. Gill also holds the record for the highest individual score in the IPL playoffs. Gill scored an outstanding knock of 129 from 60 balls at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on the occasion of Qualifier 2 of the 2023 IPL season. In that 129-run attacking inning, Gill smashed seven boundaries and 10 maximums. Because of Subman Giil’s hundred, Gujarat achieved a huge score of 233 runs on the board, and they won the match by a big margin of 62 runs at the end. This 49-ball hundred from Gill is the joint fastest hundred in the playoffs of IPL.
3. Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan has the third-highest batting average in the IPL playoffs. The left-handed attacking batter played six matches in the IPL playoffs; of those, he batted in five innings and scored 154 runs. In those 5 innings, Ishan remained not out in 2 innings, and his highest score was 55. Ishant Kishan has an average of 51.33 and a strike rate of 130.55 in the IPL playoff matches.
In the 2020 Qualifier 1, playing for the Mumbai Indians against the Delhi Capitals, Ishan Kishan scored an unbeaten 55 from 30 balls, including six boundaries and two sixes. In that match at Dubai International Stadium, the Mumbai Indians put up a massive total of 200 to chase for the Delhi Capitals. In the second inning, Jaspreet Bumrah took four wickets by giving just 14 runs, and the Mumbai Indians won that match by 57 runs.
4. David Miller
Left-handed finishers have an average of 50.33 in the IPL playoffs and stand at 4th in the table of the highest average in the IPL playoffs. David Miller played eight matches in the IPL playoffs and got a chance to bat in six innings. In those six innings, Miller scored 151 runs with a strike rate of 158.94. Notably, Miller remained not out three times in the six innings.
The attacking batter from Proteus registered a half-century in the IPL playoffs. David Miller’s highest score in the IPL playoffs is an unbeaten 68, which came against the Rajasthan Royals in the 2020 season Qualifier 1 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Gujarat Titans while chasing a big score of 188 runs, lost early wickets, but Captain Hardik Pandya and David Miller played outstanding knocks and helped their team to confirm the final ticket. Miller scored a magnificent 68 from 38 balls with 3 fours and 5 huge sixes. For this amazing knock, Miller was awarded the Player of the Match trophy.
5. Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant, with an average of 40.50 in the IPL playoffs, currently stands in fifth place on the list of players with players with the highest batting average in the IPL playoffs. The wicketkeeper batter played seven matches in the playoffs and scored 205 runs with a strike rate of 149.63. Rishabh Pant remained not out in 2 innings from his 7 matches in the IPL playoffs.
A left-handed attacking batter registered two half-centuries in the Indian Premier League playoffs; from those two fifties, Rishabh Pant’s highest score is 56 runs. In the final of the 2020 Indian Premier League season at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, against Mumbai Indians, Rishabh Pant scored 56 runs from 38 balls with four boundaries and two sixes. Delhi Capitals completed 20 overs with a total of 156/7; Mumbai chased down in 18.5 overs with five wickets in hand.
6. Kane Williamson
The 6th highest batting average in the Indian Premier League playoffs is 40.50; Kane Williamson holds that spot. The New Zealand classical batter played seven matches in the playoffs and scored 243 runs with a strike rate of 123.97. Williamson registered two half-centuries in the IPL playoffs.
A cool and calm batter who observes the pressure of big occasions showed his batting skills against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the eliminator of the 2020 season at the Shaikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Sunrisers Hyderabad while Chasing target of 131 runs lost both openers at the 5.4 overs, Kane Williamson played a steady innings of unbeaten 50 runs from 42 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes. Williamson continued his form and played a good knock of 67 from 45 balls against the Delhi Capitals in the Qualifier 2. Williamson batted with a strike rate of 148.88 and scored five boundaries and four maximums in that inning. Unfortunately, Sunrisers Hyderabad failed to chase down the target of 189 runs and lost the match by 17 runs.
7. Michael Hussey
A veteran Australian batter played with an average of 38.80 in the Indian Premier League playoffs. Michael Hussey stands at the 7th position in the highest average in the IPL playoffs tally. A left-handed batter participated in 11 playoff matches and scored 388 runs with a strike rate of 124.35.
Mr.Cricket registered four half-centuries in the Indian Premier League playoffs. From those 4 half centuries, the highest score is an unbeaten 86. Playing for Chennai Super Kings against Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 1 of the 2103 season at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, Delhi. Michael Hussey played an attacking inning of 86 runs. Hussey smashed 10 boundaries and 2 Maximus from 58 balls with a strike rate of 148.27. Hussey was named player of the match for his remarkable performance.
8. Suresh Raina
The superstar of the Indian Premier League stands at the 8th position in the highest average in the Indian Premier League playoffs list. A left-handed attacking batter played 24 playoff games in the IPL and scored 714 runs with an average of 37.57. Suresh Raina scored with a 155.21 strike rate in the playoffs and also remained not out in five innings.
Mr.IPL achieved seven half-centuries in the Indian Premier League playoffs, which is the most by any batter in the IPL. The highest score from Raina in the playoffs is 87 runs, which came against Kings XI Punjab at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, in the 2014 Qualifier 2. Raina played one of the best innings and scored 87 on just 25 balls. Raina played brutally with a strike rate of 348.00 and smashed 12 boundaries and six maximums. Unfortunately, Raina gets run out by a brilliant direct hit from George Bailey. The Chennai Super Kings lost that match by 24 runs and were eliminated from the 2014 IPL season.
9. AB de Villiers
One of the most complete batters is also part of this highest average in the Indian Premier League playoffs list. AB de Villiers played 10 IPL playoff games and scored 294 runs with an average of 46.75 and a strike of 144.11. The attacking right-handed batter crossed the 50-run mark three times in the IPL playoffs.
The highest score from Mr. 360 in the playoff matches came in the 2016 Qualifier 1 against the Gujarat Lions at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore. In the second inning, while chasing 158 runs, AB de Villiers came to bat at No. 3 and played an outstanding innings of unbeaten 79 runs from just 45 balls. De Villiers played with a strike rate of 168.08 and scored five boundaries and five sixes. De Villiers was named player of the match for his batting masterclass.
10. Suryakumar Yadav
Indian white-ball superstar batter is in the 10th position in the highest batting average in the Indian Premier League playoffs list. Suryakumar Yadav, with an average of 36.55 and a strike rate of 133.18 scored 247 runs in the playoffs. Suryakumar participated in 11 playoff matches and registered three half-centuries from 10 innings.
The best performance of Suryakumar Yadav in the Indian Premier League playoffs came in 2019 Qualifier 1 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. SKY smashed the Chennai Super Kings bowlers and scored an unbeaten 71 runs from 54 balls with a strike rate of 131.48. Suryakumar registered 10 boundaries in that inning while chasing. The Mumbai Indians won that match by six wickets, and SKY was named player of the match for his match-winning batting performance.