The Indian Premier League is the biggest T20 league in the cricketing world. Not only because it goes on for two months but also for the quality of cricket. Being an overseas player in the IPL is not an easy job. Every team can have only four overseas players in their playing XI and so each overseas player has added pressure because they are expected to be the match-winner for the respective teams.
We have seen many overseas players who have done well at the international level haven’t been able to crack the code of the Indian Premier League. Having said that, there are some overseas players who have managed to perform consistently in the IPL and win Man of the Match awards. All these players have been part of the IPL for many years. So, let us have a look at the five overseas players with the most Man of the Match awards in the history of the IPL.
5. Kieron Pollard – 14
Kieron Pollard who has been part of the Mumbai Indians franchise is the fifth overseas player with the most man of the match awards in the history of the IPL. He has won 14 Man of the Match awards. Pollard was picked in the 2010 IPL Auction in a tiebreaker by Mumbai Indians and since then he has been part of the same franchise.
Pollard has played 178 games and scored over 3000 runs at a strike rate of just under 150. Not only that but he has contributed with his bowling and his incredible fielding. Pollard has always performed in tough situations and managed to win games for MI which they weren’t supposed to win. Pollard is one of the greats of the IPL.
4. Shane Watson – 16
Shane Watson who has won 16 Man of the Match awards in the IPL is fourth on the list. Watson has been an underrated performer in the IPL. He has delivered for multiple teams which include – Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and the last being the Chennai Super Kings.
In the 2018 IPL Final, Watson single-handedly demolished the SRH bowling line-up and helped CSK win the title. He was repeating it in the 2019 IPL Final before he got run-out in the last over. Watson retired from IPL after the 2020 IPL season.
3. David Warner – 17
David Warner who is probably one of the greatest IPL openers has won 17 Man of the Match awards for two franchises. Warner who has played 150 matches has scored over 5000 runs at an average of 41.60 and a strike rate of 139.97.
David Warner is the only player to score more than 500 runs for five consecutive IPL seasons. Not only that but he has also led the SRH team to an IPL title in 2016. He is one of the most consistent players in the history of the IPL and hence deserves to be on this list.
2. Chris Gayle – 22
Chris Gayle who is also known as the Universe Boss lit up the IPL in his prime. People used to come to watch only for this guy and he used to entertain them with some big sixes. Gayle played 142 matches and scored just under 5000 runs at a strike rate of 148.96.
Gayle who was not even part of the initial RCB squad in 2011 came in as a replacement and took them to the Final in that season. Chris Gayle has been a treat to watch and it is an end of an era as he won’t be part of the IPL for this season. It will be very difficult for any player to replicate what Gayle did in the IPL.
1. AB De Villiers – 25
AB De Villiers who is a freak and is also known as Mr.360 tops the list with 25 Man of the Match awards in the history of the IPL. ABD who recently retired from IPL has been one of the best overseas players in the history of the IPL if not the best.
The South African great has turned so many matches that it is difficult to keep a count of. He has helped RCB win matches in which they had absolutely no chance. IPL won’t be the same without AB De Villiers and it will be difficult for fans, especially RCB fans to watch their team with this great player.
