Some of the league’s biggest names stepped up their game and enjoyed breakout seasons. Here is a peek at them.
As IPL 2024 concludes, several seasoned players elevated their performances remarkably:
Sunil Narine: The Batter
Sunil Narine surprised many by returning as an opener and having his best season with the bat, scoring 488 runs at an average of 34.85 and a strike rate of 180.74. He doubled his number of 50-plus scores and smashed his maiden T20 hundred. Additionally, Narine took 17 wickets with an economy of 6.69, marking an outstanding season.
Jasprit Bumrah: Miserly Best
Jasprit Bumrah was exceptional in a high-scoring season, achieving his best economy rate of 6.48, surpassing his 6.63 in 2019. He was the most economical bowler in the powerplay (6.00) and at the death (6.06), conceding less than six runs per over in seven out of 13 games.
Virat Kohli: Strike-Rate Mastery
Freed by the Impact Player rule, Virat Kohli achieved his highest IPL strike rate of 154.69. His aggressive approach in the powerplay resulted in a strike rate of 161.47, significantly improving from his previous best of 139.54 in 2018. Against spinners, he struck at 137.08, his best since 2017.
Abhishek Sharma: Six Appeal
Abhishek Sharma, opening for Sunrisers Hyderabad, hit 42 sixes—the most in IPL 2024 and for an Indian in a single edition. He scored 484 runs at an average of 32.26 and a strike rate of 204.21, becoming the first batter to score 400 runs in a T20 league without facing 30 balls in any innings.
Sanju Samson: Consistency Achieved
Sanju Samson crossed 500 runs in a season for the first time, amassing 531 runs at an average of 48.27 and a strike rate of 153.46. His consistent performance earned him a place in India’s T20 World Cup squad.
Riyan Parag: Repaying Faith
Riyan Parag, after leading the runs chart in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, became the highest run-scorer for Rajasthan Royals and the third-highest overall in IPL 2024. He scored 573 runs at an average of 52.09 and a strike rate of 149.21.
Dinesh Karthik: Spinners’ Nemesis
In his final IPL season, 38-year-old Dinesh Karthik excelled against spin, scoring 63 runs off 38 balls without getting out, achieving a strike rate of 165.78. His overall performance included 326 runs at a strike rate of 187.35, briefly putting him in contention for India’s T20 World Cup squad.
These players, through their remarkable performances, made IPL 2024 a memorable season.
