Most Valuable Players across 10 IPL seasons

The honour of being the Most Valuable Player is handed out to the one who accumulates the maximum number of points on the Most Valuable Player Index (MVPI) scale. The calculation of MVPI depends on a various number of factors across all the aspects of the game - Batting, Bowling, and Fielding.

Batting rules: 25 runs = 2.5 points, strike-rate bonus, par score bonus.

Bowling rules: 1 unassisted wicket = 2.5 points, 1 assisted wicket = 1.25 points for each contributor, multiple wicket bonuses, economy rate bonus, par score bonus.

Fielding rules: 1 unassisted wicket = 2.5 points, 1 assisted wicket = 1.25 points for each contributor, multiple wicket bonuses, par score bonus.

Let's take a look at those who've been able to put their hands on the MVP award.

---

#1 Shane Watson (2008)

The Australian all-rounder was the part of the most underrated team that turned out to be the dark horse of inaugural & the historic edition of IPL, the Shane Warne-led Rajasthan Royals.

It was the heroics of Shane Watson that led Royals to their maiden title almost single-handedly.

In 2008 season, Watto set the benchmark for the upcoming generation in the IPL, by piling up 472 runs at a massive strike-rate of over 151 and picking up 17 wickets. No other cricketer has been able to replicate this kind of performance till now. He earned 406.5 points to become the first ever MVP.

#2 Adam Gilchrist (2009)

The title-winning captain of Deccan Chargers, Adam Gilchrist led his team just like the captain of the ship does. It was another underrated side, led by an Australian to an IPL title. He drove DC to the finals single-handedly with the knock of 85 in the semi-finals to take care of Delhi Daredevils.

In 2009 season, Gilly scored 495 runs at a strike-rate of 152.3 that included 29 of his famous rocket-sixes. Furthermore, his glove-work added extra value by delivering 10 catches and 8 stumpings.

#3 Sachin Tendulkar (2010)

None of the record-list is complete without the Master Blaster's name on it. Sachin Tendulkar was the first man to win both, the Orange Cap, as well as the 'Most Valuable Player' award in the history of IPL. He pulled it off in the third edition where Mumbai Indians ended up as runners-up, falling short of Chennai Super Kings in the finals.

The God of cricket scored 618 runs striking at 132.61 runs per 100 balls including five fifties.

Exhibiting his class, Sachin scored only three sixes and 86 fours in the season, that turned out to be quite astonishing.

#4 Chris Gayle (2011)

Ever since he joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chris Gayle transformed into a monster with his brutal batting display often being termed as Gayle-storm.

A similar Gayle-storm occurred in 2011, where he made butchering the opposition bowling attacks, a routine. The Universal boss slammed 608 runs consisting of two centuries with a sky-high strike-rate of 183.13 and earned 409.5 points to become the most valuable player of the tournament.

#5 Sunil Narine (2012)

The unexplored cricketer in 2012, Sunil Narine assaulted the opposition batting line-ups in his maiden appearance in the cash-rich tournament & took everyone by surprise. His bravado sweetened the kitty of Kolkata Knight Riders with an IPL trophy.

The West Indies mystery spinner bagged-in 24 wickets with a miser economy rate of 5.47, choking Kings XI Punjab with a 5-wicket haul on his way to become the most valuable player of the season.

#6 Shane Watson (2013)

In the sixth edition of the IPL, Shane Watson achieved a unique feat of becoming the only cricketer to win two 'man of the series' award in the history of the tournament, which none of the others has been able to imitate till now.

In 2013, the big Aussie scored 543 runs at a strike-rate of 142.89 that includes his maiden IPL ton, took away 13 wickets at an economy of 7.15 & hooked up 6 catches to gain 386 points, 37 more than the runner-up Chris Gayle.

#7 Glenn Maxwell (2014)

The first leg in IPL 2014 turned out to be career-defining for the Big Show, who scored the 90s for fun. Glenn Maxwell continued to shine back in India and went on to score 552 runs in the season at a ferocious strike-rate of 187.75. His stellar outing included 36 sixes and 48 fours.

Accumulating 286 points in all, Maxwell was just half a point ahead of Dwayne Smith from Chennai Super Kings who finished at 285.5 points. Perhaps those 9 catches that he held on to in the entire season made the difference in the end. His accomplishment drove Kings XI Punjab to their first ever IPL final.

#8 Andre Russell (2015)

The Caribbean all-rounder set the IPL 2015 on fire with his all-around performance for Kolkata Knight Riders. Skipper Gautam Gambhir put the significant onus of finishing the innings on Andre Russell.

No matter how many wickets have fallen, if acceleration is the utmost necessity, the West Indian would walk in all guns blazing. That is the reason why he has batted at no.3,4,5,6 and even 7 for KKR.

In 2015 season, he scored 326 at 192.29, picked 14 wickets & took 6 catches, thereby topping the table with 312 points.

#9 Virat Kohli (2016)

The Royal Challengers Bangalore captain, Virat Kohli, has a knack of achieving milestones very late in his career, but when he pulls it off, he makes it a part of his daily routine, like maiden ODI Century, test double century, and similarly IPL century.

The 29-year-old achieved this feat in the 9th edition but followed it with another three to set the record of most IPL centuries in a season. In 2016, the modern-day legend scored 973 runs at 152.03, slamming 4 centuries & 7 fifties, only to sit at the top with 356.6 points.

#10 Ben Stokes (2017)

The best all-rounder in international cricket at present, Ben Stokes fetched the highest price at the IPL auctions. He justified his price-tag by walking away with the 'Most Valuable Player' award in his maiden IPL season. Stokes' step on the gas led Rising Pune Supergiant to the finals, where he was badly missed as Mumbai Indians snatched the last-ball thriller to win their third title.

The English all-rounder scored 316 runs, including a ton and contributed with the ball even at the death & grabbed 12 wickets in all.