IPL: 5 batsmen with the highest average
We hear a lot of talk about averages and consistency in Test and ODI cricket. However, with all the big-hitting, a lot of people feel that batting average is not as important in T20 cricket. And when T20 cricket started, many felt that consistency would be hard to achieve.
However, batsmen have gone onto attain consistency in the shortest format. We see Virat Kohli redefine the art of T20 batting and becoming extremely consistent. With consistency, the average automatically shoots up. Hence, here we look at 5 batsmen who have the best average in IPL history.
Note – Batsmen with a minimum of 500 runs have been considered
#5 Shaun Marsh – 39.95
This might be a surprising name in the list of best averages, but Shaun Marsh has been one of the most consistent batsmen for Kings XI Punjab. He represented Punjab for 9 years (missing out in 2009). With 2477 runs in 71 games at an average of 39.95, Marsh is currently the highest run-getter for KXIP in IPL history.
He is one of the foreign stars who came into the international scene due to the IPL. Marsh had a fabulous debut season in 2008 where he amassed 616 runs (which included 5 fifties and 1 hundred) in 11 innings at an average of 68.44 and a strike-rate of 139.68. He was the winner of the first Orange Cap. On the back of this performance, the senior Marsh made his international debut in West Indies in June that year.
After missing out in 2009 and a large part of 2010, in 2011, Marsh was once again at his best. He scored 504 runs in 13 innings at an average of 42.00 and a strike-rate of 146.51. He then went on to register more than 300 runs in the next couple of seasons as well.
He’s been an integral part of KXIP over the years and has had one the best averages in the IPL (39.95).