IPL 2017: 5 most explosive batsmen this season

Rahul Tripathi has been superb form but narrowly misses out on this list

This IPL has witnessed some serious hitting, raining fours and sixes on every ground. While that wouldn’t come as a surprise in the shortest format of the game, the brutality has been of another level. That is the reason why we take a look at the most explosive batsmen at this IPL.

Interestingly, while David Warner is the only batsman to have crossed 500 runs, there are four who have crossed 400 and eight more who have crossed 300 runs. That is a lot of players who have had a good IPL. While any batsman could be explosive in the odd innings, a semblance of consistency needs to be expected.

At the same time, sacrificing explosiveness for sheer volume of runs would skew this list as well. Therefore, we chose to tread middle path and pick up a qualification mark that satisfies both criteria. We have rated batsmen with the highest strike-rates, provided they have made at least 200 runs in the IPL so far.

Just missed

We genuinely need to applaud some of the other sparkling batsmen at this year’s IPL, motoring along as if on a 6-lane highway. Aaron Finch, for example, has amassed 228 runs at a strike-rate of 165.21 with 19 fours and 15 sixes, a lot of them coming in a 34-ball 72 against RCB. Kane Williamson, despite his limited opportunities, has scored 232 runs at 162.23.

Rahul Tripathi, Pune’s surprise package, has been brilliant too with 353 runs at 152.81. Jos Buttler managed 272 runs at 153.67 to complete the set of batsmen who have managed more than 200 runs at a strike-rate of over 150. 

#5 Glenn Maxwell (263 at 169.67)

Maxwell has been explosive, but by his own standards hasn’t fired as the way he would have liked

Kings XI Punjab’s skipper started well but has had a quiet season overall by his own lofty standards. Maxwell hasn’t scored a single half-century and has generally come a little too late for the liking of Punjab’s fans. However, two innings, in particular, stand out for Maxwell – an 18-ball 40 against Mumbai Indians and a 20-ball 44* against Pune Rising Supergiant, both at Indore. While the former came in a losing cause, the latter helped KXIP win the game.

Maxwell also scored an unbeaten 43 from just 22 balls against RCB as well – that innings coming at Indore as well, helping his team chase down 149. His form had dipped a bit in the second half of the season, but he smashed a 25-ball 44 against KKR at Mohali reminded us once again about the destructive abilities the man brings forth. Nevertheless, the Big Show has entertained with 17 fours and 21 sixes.