#IPLGOAT - Grand Finale: AB De Villiers vs M.S. Dhoni

05/28/2016

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24 players, 14 match-ups and tens of thousands of votes; we have finally reached the Grand-Finale of #IPLGOAT. The incredible AB De Villiers faces off against Captain Cool, M.S. Dhoni in an epic battle to be crowned as the Greatest IPL Player of All Time. Vote now.

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.

Follow us on FB and Twitter to keep track of the GOAT contest! Vote to see your favourite player crowned as the Greatest IPL Player of All Time. #IPLGOAT

24 players, 14 match-ups and tens of thousands of votes; we have finally reached the Grand-Finale of #IPLGOAT. Along the way, there have been some exciting contests and epic battles. The good players have fallen by the wayside and the great players have been eliminated. Now only the greatest of the great remain to battle it out to become the greatest IPL Player of All Time. In this Grand-Finale, the incredible AB De Villiers faces off against Captain Cool, M.S. Dhoni in an epic battle to crown one of the 2 as the Greatest IPL Player of All Time.AB De Villiers has redefined the art of batting like probably no other batsman has done. With a bat in hand, there is not a thing that he cannot do and over the years, his batting exploits have thrilled and enthralled the fans. MS Dhoni, on the other hand, dons many hats; he is a brilliant wicket-keeper, fearsome hitter, clinical chaser and not least, an inspirational Captain. Dhoni over the years had become the very face of Chennai Super Kings and has in fact contributed immensely to the IPL's popularity. The path to the finalss has not been easy for either of the players. AB De Villiers had to battle past Raina, Gayle and Malinga to reach the finals. Dhoni pulled off the impossible by defeating both Tendulkar and Kohli and later Narine. These two are worthy contenders for the crown of the Greatset IPL Player of All Time. Cast your vote and decide who will become #IPLGOAT!

1. AB de Villiers

The Stats:

Matches: 119, Runs: 3252, Batting Average: 39.65, Strike Rate: 149.51

Claim to Greatness:

When AB de Villiers gets going, the bowlers are reduced to a mere side-show. He drives, he scoops, he pulls and he paddles; with a bat in hand, there is not a thing that he cannot do. To watch perfect deliveries sailing over the boundary, ball after ball, demoralizes the best of the bowlers. In one memorable innings, AB de Villiers scored 24 off a Dale Steyn over; the champion bowler could do little but applaud in awe and dis-belief. AB de Villiers averages just a tad under 40 and scores his runs at a strike rate of nearly 150. He has 3 centuries to his name and also contributes crucially in the field with 61 catches in just 83 matches.

2. Mahendra Singh Dhoni

The Stats:

Matches: Matches: 143, Runs: 3270, Batting Average: 39.39, Strike Rate: 138.91

Claim to Greatness:

MS Dhoni has played 142 IPL matches. Only his ex-teammate, Suresh Raina, has played more; 143 matches. What is staggering though is that he has led in all of those 142 matches and has kept wickets in almost all of them. If an All-Time IPL XI team is made, MS Dhoni would captain it. He has defined the Chennai Super Kings, one of the most successful IPL teams, and in turn, he is not just adored but has been adopted by the CSK fans. Chennai Super Kings, under MS Dhoni, have won 2 titles and have reached the playoffs in every single season, with a win percentage of above 60, an incredible achievement. MS Dhoni, though, is so much more than just a successful captain. As a batsman alone, he is an IPL legend. 3200 runs at an average of 39 and a strike rate of 138. Impressive figures, but there is more to it. With an ice-cool composure, Dhoni, over the years has engineered some sensational chases; his mere presence at the crease was enough to intimidate the bowlers. In addition to all these, he kept wickets; a true all-rounder indeed.