#IPLGOAT: Bravo vs Narine vs Ashwin
The #IPLGOAT is a knockout competition to determine the greatest IPL player of all time. We have done our homework and have come up with a list of 24 players. It will be a knock-out competition. Each day, you will see head to head matchups, with the winner progressing to the next round. The round of 24 will be followed by the Quarter-Finals, then the Semi-Finals, and ultimately the Grand Finale to determine the Greatest IPL player of all time. So what are you waiting for? Cast your vote and make it count.
Beware though, do not get carried away by merely the exploits of the current IPL; remember that you are selecting the Greatest IPL player of All Time! Choose wisely.
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1. Dwayne Bravo
The Stats:
Matches: 102, Runs: 1234, Batting Average: 23.28, Strike Rate: 125.53, Wickets: 117, Bowling Average: 22.61, Economy Rate: 8.23
Claim To Greatness:
After playing the first three seasons for Mumbai Indians, Dwayne Bravo truly came into his own after being acquired by Chennai Super Kings. His impressive performances ensured that he became an integral part of the much feared, all conquering, Chennai Super Kings team. In his first season for CSK, he was devastating with both the bat and the ball. He scored 461 runs at an average of 57 and at a frightening strike rate of 178. Additionally, he was also the highest wicket taker for CSK. His performance in the 2013 IPL was even more impressive with him taking 32 wickets at a jaw-dropping average of 9.15 to win the purple cap for himself. He won the purple cap for the 2nd time in 2015, to become the only player to win the purple cap twice. In addition to all these, he is a sensational fielder, and thus stakes his claim to being the greatest IPL all-rounder. As an added bonus, he is the darling of the masses and brings in the glamour element to the IPL with his impromptu dances and wacky celebrations.
2. Sunil Narine
The Stats:
Matches: 62, Wickets: 80, Bowling Average: 18.67, Economy Rate: 6.07
Claim To Greatness:
IPL is a tournament dominated by batsmen. The boundaries are small, the pitches are flat and the bats are broad. One bowler though, who has thoroughly dominated the batsmen is Sunil Narine. He has bamboozled the best of the batsmen, casting a spell and bewitching both the opponents and the fans alike. In a format where an economy rate of 8 is considered impressive, he has an economy rate of 6.07! No other bowler has managed even an economy rate of 6.5. His variety and control has made him almost impossible to negotiate. So complete has been his domination that, he is the bowler with the most 4 wicket hauls, despite playing only 62 matches. His record also boasts of a hat-trick. His best performance came in 2012, when he took 24 wickets at a staggering average of 13.5 and conceded less than run a ball. This stunning performance was one of the main reasons for Kolkata Knight Riders lifting the trophy that season and Sunil Narine was rewarded with the player of the series award, the only time thus far that a bowler has won it.
3. Ravichandran Ashwin
The Stats:
Matches: Matches: 109, Wickets: 96, Bowling Average: 25.43, Economy Rate: 6.53
Claim To Greatness:
Chennai Super Kings have been the most successful team in the IPL and Ashwin has been the most successful bowler of Chennai Super Kings. Over the years, Ashwin has been Dhoni’s go-to bowler and he has delivered more often than not. Often, Ashwin has been given the responsibility of bowling during the power-plays and death overs and he has usually risen to the occasion spectacularly. Apart from his stock delivery, the off-spinner also possesses a carrom-ball, a leg-spinner, a googly and other exotic deliveries in his arsenal. And he has used them to great effect; his economy rate of 6.53 is second only to Narine. He has also made handy contributions with the bat lower down the order.