Another season of the cash-rich Indian Premier League is just around the corner, closely followed by the anticipation of the 2024 opener between RCB and CSK.
The entire spectacle is a rollercoaster, but there’s one thing that remains a constant – every game we honour the standout performer with the “Player of the Match” award.
But before we go on the list of players with most ‘Player of the Match’ awards, let us talk about this cricketer who has dominated T20I and tops the list of most number of ‘Player of the Match’ awards. This cricketing maestro is often famous for hitting the ball to every corner of the ground with a flick of his bat, bowlers and fans alike in awe. Yes, it’s none other the Mr 360 himself, AB De Villiers.
AB de Villiers, the mercurial South African wicketkeeper-batsman, has been a regular figure in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since its inception in 2008. Over the years, the right-hander has displayed his extraordinary batting prowess, amassing 5,162 runs at an impressive average of 39.71 from 184 matches. With 40 fifties, 3 hundreds, and a high score of 133, the South African ace has left an indelible impression on the tournament.
Known for his innovative shot-making and the ability to strike from 360 degrees, he became a flag bearer of sorts of T20 batting worldwide as he first turned out for the Delhi Daredevils, moving to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for a remarkable $1.5 million in the 4th season of the tournament during his 11-season journey where scored nearly 5,000 runs at an incredible strike rate of 158.63.
Post the conclusion of the IPL season in 2021, de Villiers announced his decision to call time on his career in all forms of the game, drawing the curtains on a stellar career that enthralled cricket lovers across the world.
AB’s remarkable feats have seen him set the record for the highest number of ‘Player of the Match’ awards in IPL history, further solidifying his spot as one of the greats.
List of Top-5 players with the most ‘Player of the Match’ award in IPL history:
-AB de Villiers : 25 Awards
-CH Gayle : 22 Awards
-RG Sharma : 19 Awards
-DA Warner : 18 Awards
-MS Dhoni : 17 Awards
