IPL 2019: 5 batsmen who had the highest impact this season

IPL 2019 ended with a nail-biting final between two most successful teams in the history of the league. The season was one of the most closely contested ever, with as many as 32 games going down to the last over.

Also, like every other season, there were individuals who took the tournament by storm; some by their insane hitting, some by their unbelievable consistency and some by announcing themselves at the big stage. Here we look at 5 batsmen who made the highest impact this season (impact can be judged by a combination of batting average and strike rate):

Note: Only players with more than 350 runs have been considered.

#5 Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians)

The Mumbai Indians all-rounder had a dream season as a player. His power-hitting and the consistency with which he executed it was commendable. Even more striking was the fact that he did it against good balls off good bowlers.

Scoring 402 runs in 15 innings, Hardik averaged 44.66 this season. His runs came at an astonishing strike rate of 191.42, the second best of the season. His highest score of 91 came off just 34 balls in a losing cause against KKR.

#4 Jonny Bairstow (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Jonny Bairstow set the stage on fire in his debut IPL season (Pic courtesy - BCCI/iplt20.com)

Jonny Bairstow had the best debut season anyone could ask for. He just took the IPL by storm with his amazing consistency and brutal hitting.

Bairstow and David Warner stitched together 4 hundred-plus partnerships in just 10 innings, and they were a key reason for the blistering start SRH got in the season.

Bairstow ended the season with 445 runs in 10 innings as he left for national duties midway through the season. He averaged 55.62 and had a strike rate of 157.24. His stint included one brilliant hundred and a couple of fifties.

Follow Sportskeeda for all the updates on Cricket World Cup 2019, schedule, news, points table, live score, most runs, most wickets and fantasy tips.

#3 David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

David Warner became the first man to win the Orange Cap thrice (Pic courtesy - BCCI/iplt20.com)

Returning to the IPL after serving a one-year ban, David Warner continued from where he left in 2017. Warner’s consistency can be gauged from the fact that he has scored 500-plus runs in every season he has played for SRH. Also, he became the first player to win the Orange Cap thrice, with his 692 runs this year.

Warner left for national duties after 12 games, scoring 692 runs at an average of 69.2 and strike rate 143.86. He scored 9 fifty-plus scores including a hundred in his 12 innings.

Undoubtedly, Warner has been the best batsman of the IPL for half-a-decade now.

#2 MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)

MS Dhoni almost single-handedly guided the CSK batting line-up (Pic courtesy - BCCI/iplt20.com)

MS Dhoni is getting better with age in the IPL, or at least his stats from the last two seasons say so. After scoring more than 450 runs last season, Dhoni continued his rich vein of form, the only difference this year being that he played a lone hand for most of the season.

Having excelled in almost every kind of situation this year, Dhoni almost single-handedly carried CSK to the playoffs with the bat.

Dhoni’s dominance can be seen from the fact that he averaged above 100 this season before his controversial run-out in the final. He ended with 416 runs from 12 innings at an average of 83.2, the highest of the season, and had a strike rate of 134.62.

His career best 84* came in a losing cause against RCB where he almost pulled off a win needing 26 off the last over.

#1 Andre Russell

Andre Russell was at his devastating best this season (Pic courtesy - BCCI/iplt20.com)

Andre Russell took the tournament by storm with his monstrous hitting in the first half of the season, winning matches for KKR from virtually unwinnable positions. The fact that KKR stayed at the top of the table for a majority of the first half is largely due to Russell’s insane hutting. Also, the fact that they fell short of the playoffs is due to the under-utilisation of Russell as a batsman.

The Most Valuable Player of the season, Russell finished fifth in the Orange Cap list with 510 runs in 13 innings. He averaged 56.66 and had a strike rate of 204.81, the highest in the tournament.

Not only was Russell KKR’s highest run-getter, he also picked the most wickets for his side. Russell scored 4 fifties and hit 52 sixes, the most by any batsman this season. His highest score of 80* came against MI when he was sent in at number three.

Follow Sportskeeda for all the updates on World Cup 2019 schedule, news, points table, live scores, most runs, most wickets and fantasy tips.