Cricket
Cricket
Guide

Best All-Rounders in IPL History: Top Performers Ranked (2025)

IPL has unearthed many talented all-rounders in its 17-year-old history. Here’s a sneak into the top ten who made a huge difference while playing for their respective franchises.

Arijit Kundu
Arijit Kundu

Last Updated: 2025-01-07

Chad Nagel

11 minutes read

Ravindra Jadeja and Suresh Raina

Ravindra Jadeja and Suresh Raina//Getty Images

In the cricketing realm, all-rounders are a different breed capable of making contributions in the three facets of the game -- batting, bowling, and fielding. For any team to succeed at the highest level, it is important to have a key all-rounder who can chip in with both Willow and the sphere whenever the team requires. 

The value of a three-dimensional cricketer can be well understood with the Indian Premier League where numerous auctions saw an all-rounder fetch the maximum price. Ravindra Jadeja, Yuvraj Singh, Chris Morris, Ben Stokes, and Sam Curran, among others, earned whooping prices in the IPL history due to their three-dimensional ability. However, when it comes to performances, not all who earn more make the cut of best all-rounders in IPL history. In this piece, we shall dig an additional layer of their numbers to discover the best all-rounders in IPL history.

Sources

With the help of trustable data from ESPNcricinfo, IPL.com, and SportsBoom proprietary analytics, we derive the scores for the top ten best all-rounders in IPL history. The numbers extracted are collated into a comparable form, and after the score extractions of each player, IPL’s no. 1 all-rounder is determined.

Methodology

Versatility is key to becoming a successful all-rounder in competitive cricket. To verify who is the best all-rounder in IPL, we look beyond superficial numbers and opt for an insightful analytical path. 50 percent of the weightage is given to the runs scored by the all-rounder followed by 20 percent of the weight to the number of wickets. The remaining 30 percent is offered to the bowling average of the cricketer. Since wickets and tight bowling can be far more important entities in T20 cricket, the bowling’s weight is distributed in 2:3 proportion to wickets and bowling average.

The following procedure follows fairness by offering equal attention to both batting and bowling, which is crucial in detecting the best all-rounder in IPL history. 

Best All-Rounders in IPL History

RankPlayerRunsWktsAvgScore
1S K Raina55282545.80.83
2R A Jadeja295916030.40.67
3S R Watson38799229.10.66
4K A Pollard34126931.20.60
5Y K Pathan32044233.00.56
6J H Kallis24276535.20.53
7H H Pandya25256433.50.53
8G J Maxwell27713735.20.53
9A D Russell248411523.00.52
10Yuvraj Singh27503629.90.49
Sportsboom Event Table Logo

SportsBoom Suggest

As per the table above, Suresh Raina emerges as the best all-rounder in IPL history with a score of 0.83. There’s a difference of 0.16 between the first and second in the above chart, due to Raina’s batting prowess. With Ravindra Jadeja and Shane Watson occupying the second and third position respectively, the top three on the list consist of Chennai Super Kings all-rounders. While five of them are overseas players, the rest are Indian all-rounders who make the cut for the top ten best all-rounders in IPL.

1. Suresh Raina

Popularly known as the ‘Chinna Thala’ or ‘Mr. IPL’, Suresh Raina is among the top five run-getters in IPL. Representing most of his IPL career for one of the most successful franchises (Chennai Super Kings), the elegant batter mustered 5528 runs in 205 matches with an impressive strike rate of 136.76. He averages 32.52 in his illustrious career, striking 39 half-centuries and a solitary ton against the Kings XI Punjab in Chennai.

Raina donned the yellow hat for eight years before captaining the Gujarat Lions in the 2016 and 2017 editions when CSK was handed a two-year ban. His 25-ball 87 against the Kings XI Punjab in 2014 was one of the best innings of the IPL. 

The Uttar Pradesh-bred cricketer was not just a gracious batter but also handy with the ball. Mahendra Singh Dhoni used his off-breaks quite wittily, which helped CSK earn multiple wins. Although he wasn’t a regular spinner, Raina scalped 25 wickets at an economy of 7.39. Unfortunately, one of India’s finest T20 cricketers failed to attract bids during the IPL 2022 mega auction due to his lack of form, which led to his ultimate retirement from the format. 

2. Ravindra Jadeja

Yet another all-rounder that gleamed for CSK is Ravindra Jadeja. The Gujarat-bred cricketer made it to the limelight after becoming a valuable part of the inaugural title-winning side Rajasthan Royals (RR). Following five years with RR, he became the highest-priced player in the IPL auction in 2012  as CSK snapped him for a whooping INR 9.8 Crores. Right after, he became the go-to man of the skipper as Jadeja’s three-dimensional excellence rose to the occasion during the franchise’s hay days.

The 36-year-old has smashed 2959 runs at an impressive strike rate of 129.72. With the ball in hand, the left-arm orthodox spinner has bucketed 160 scalps and is the tenth highest-wicket-taker in IPL history. He averages 30.40 with the white cherry at a healthy economy of 7.62. 

Jadeja is not just a name for the CSK brand, but an emotion after Dhoni. Fondly, he’s known as ‘Sir Jadeja’ or ‘Rockstar’ due to his ability to make an impact in a game at times of adversity. Apart from his batting and bowling, he is renowned for his stupendous fielding and is labeled as one of the best on the field by several pundits.

3. Shane Watson

One of the best all-rounders that arrived from Australian shores, Shane Watson represented three IPL franchises in his 13-year IPL career. He made his debut for the Rajasthan Royals under Shane Warne’s leadership and was adjudged Player of the Tournament for the inaugural champions. He represented the franchise for seven years before RR was banned for a couple of years in 2016. Right after, Royal Challengers Bengaluru snaped him in 2017 but the all-rounder failed to shine for the Bengaluru-based franchise despite leading the team for a couple of matches.

Watson’s second breakthrough in the lucrative league came with the Chennai Super Kings where he shone with both bat and the ball. He was CSK’s leading run-getter during IPL 2019, scoring 398 runs across 17 matches. One of the prime highlights from Watson’s IPL career was his batting heroism in the IPL 2019 final where he scored a 59-ball 80 with a bleeding knee that required six stitches.

The Aussie scored 3874 runs in 145 matches at an average of 30.99 and a strike rate of 137.91. With the ball, Watson bucketed 92 wickets at an economy of 7.93.

4. Kieron Pollard

Regarded as one of the best finishers from the Caribbean islands in the 21st century, Kieron Pollard is not just a name but an emotion for the Mumbai Indians fans. He has pulled the team out of adversity on numerous occasions spanning across 13 editions of IPL. 

Made his debut in 2010, Pollard has been through the thick and thin of the franchise, winning as many as five silverware for the franchise. He is not just an exceptional lower-middle order batter but also a witty operator with the cricket ball and a stupendous fielder. Pollard at the V region is as safe as a house. He made 103 grabs in his IPL career, the joint-third-most after Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina

MI showed immense faith in Pollard’s all-round abilities due to which he was retained in every IPL auction until the Trinidad star chose to retire in 2022. However, he is still an integral part of the MI family, monitoring the franchise’ day-to-day proceedings as an integral support staff.

5. Yusuf Pathan

One of the hard-hitting all-rounders from Baroda’s domestic setup, Yusuf Pathan, elder brother of Irfan Pathan, gained the spotlight during IPL’s inaugural edition. He took the tournament by storm with his incredible power-hitting for the Rajasthan Royals including a century in just 37 balls against MI in 2010.

Yusuf was snaped by the Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 3.25 Crores in the IPL 2010 auction. He won a couple of IPL titles with the Shahrukh Khan-co-owned franchise in 2012 and 2014. KKR also exercised the RTM card for the 42-year-old ahead of the 2015 season before releasing him in 2017. 

Yusuf failed to flourish for the Sunrisers Hyderabad between 2017-2018, and as a result, saw the climax of his IPL career. He struck the ball at an impressive 142.97 across 174 games, piling up 3204 runs and scalping 42 wickets at 27.31.

6. Jacques Kallis

One of the all-rounders to be featured in the Greatest of All Time, Jacques Kallis didn’t quite have the perfect start to the lucrative league with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He featured for the franchise between 2008 and 2010 but failed to leave a sparkle with his all-round skill. Subsequently, KKR acquired the South African great for the fourth edition, and the ploy changed the franchise’s fortunes for the good as Kallis was one of the pivotal factors behind KKR’s rise as champions in 2012 and 2014. 

The South African generally opened the batting or took control of the middle order with the willow. He also had the uncanny ability to command as a pure seam bowler who could bowl across phases. He ended with 2427 runs and 65 wickets across 98 matches, spanning across seven seasons of the tourney. 

7. Hardik Pandya

Currently, one of the best all-rounders in the world, Hardik Pandya was a great find groomed by the Mumbai Indians management. He made his debut in 2015 as a batter who could play cameos lower down the order and bowl some overs of seam-up. With time, Hardik’s game improved quickly and his impressive IPL outings helped him gain an international cap. 

The Gujarat-bred represented MI between 2015 and 2021 before the newly formed Gujarat Titans showed interest in fetching and appointing him as the captain. Apart from winning three trophies with MI, Hardik led the Titans to their maiden IPL title in their inaugural outing in 2022. They also became the runners-up the next year before a historic switch back to MI last year. MI appointed him as Rohit’s successor for the 17th edition but the move didn’t pay dividends as the franchise finished as the wooden spoon.

When it comes to performances, his best with the bat came in 2022, racking up 487 runs at an average of 44.27 for GT. With the ball, the all-rounder bagged 18 wickets at a strike rate of 14.22 in 2018 for MI.

8. Glenn Maxwell

Popularly known as the ‘Big Show’, Glenn Maxwell had little to show what he possessed when he made his debut for the Delhi Daredevils in 2013. The next season, he was snapped by the Mumbai Indians but faltered with the bat in fewer opportunities. 

Maxwell’s breakthrough season came in 2014 for the Kings XI Punjab, where he went berserk in UAE conditions, mustering 552 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 187.75. However, he failed to maintain consistency for the franchise for the next six seasons before RCB acquired his services after winning a bidding war with CSK. 

Maxwell had a blast with RCB in 2021, smashing 513 runs in 15 innings at an impressive strike rate of 144.10. His average read 42.75 the particular season. However, scoring 52 runs across ten innings after a couple of shilly-shally outings in 2022 and 2023 forced RCB to release the Australian ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Apart from his batting, Maxwell has taken 37 wickets in 134 games at an economy of 8.28. He is currently part of the Punjab Kings unit, which reacquired him in the latest edition.

9. Andre Russell

One of the explosive power-hitters in modern-day cricket, Andre Russell initially represented the Delhi Daredevils in 2012 and 2013. During the 2014 IPL auction, KKR acquired his service and since then it has been a homely affair with the Caribbean powerhouse. 

Be it with the bat or be it with the ball, Russell has been influential behind KKR’s success into a successful IPL unit. Having played 126 IP games, the Jamaican has a whooping strike rate that reads 174.93 while picking up 115 scalps at a bowling strike rate of 14.76. Since 2015, his batting strike rate has fallen below just 150 twice - in 2020 and 2023. 

Russell has snatched games from the opposition on numerous occasions for KKR with many match-winning performances coming against RCB. He was also one of the prime factors behind KKR’s IPL winning run in 2014 and 2024 with 19 scalps in the latest edition. 

10. Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh may be one of India's biggest match-winners, but his IPL numbers haven’t matched on a similar level. Yet he managed to be a part of the top ten list, and that speaks volumes of the all-rounder’s calibre. 

The Punjab-based star was a marquee player in the inaugural edition and captained the Kings XI Punjab. Following his failure, he was a part of the Pune Warriors India in 2011 and 2012 before becoming the expensive cricketer in 2014 auction after featuring for RCB. His hot and cold performances continued, making him a part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab between 2016-18. 

However, Yuvraj was released by his first franchise before 2019 and Mumbai Indians gave the veteran an opportunity where he shone with 53 runs on debut before smacking hattrick of sixes against Yuzvendra Chahal.

Recommended Articles

Players of Chennai Super Kings celebrate with the trophy after their victory against the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20
Subhayan Dutta
Sports Writer
Last Updated: 2024-04-26
5 minutes read
Ramandeep Singh takes the catch to dismiss Rahul Tripathi
Arijit Kundu
Sports Writer
Last Updated: 2024-04-05
5 minutes read
Mahendra Singh Dhoni at a press conference
Kaylan Geekie
Sports Writer
Last Updated: 2024-03-28
5 minutes read
Arijit Kundu
Arijit KunduSports Writer

Arijit, a young Sports Journalist, can be best described as a cricket nerd, who cherishes the wooden sphere beating the edge of the bat more often than a six middled off the willow.