Alright, so today I got super curious about who’s actually the big boss of IPL batting stats. Grabbed my laptop, opened a spreadsheet, and started digging. First thing? I needed raw numbers, man.
Step 1: The Data Hunt
Dove straight into IPL records – total runs, averages, strike rates, all that jazz. Took ages to compile because stats were scattered everywhere. Typed like mad copying-pasting numbers till my fingers cramped. Made columns for centuries, fifties, not-outs. Real messy stuff.
Step 2: Filtering Legends from Benchwarmers
Scrapped anyone who played under 50 matches – ain’t no part-timers in GOAT talks. Sorted the spreadsheet by total runs first. Kohli sitting pretty at the top? No shocker there. But then…
- Compared averages: Hussey’s name popped up with crazy 54+
- Strike rates: ABD and Pollard exploding off the chart
- Century counts: Gayle and Warner going brrr
Notebook was drowning in highlighters now. Yellow for runs, pink for SR, green for average. Looked like rainbow vomit.
Step 3: The “Aha!” Moment
Stared at the numbers. Kohli’s total runs and consistency were bonkers – man’s a run machine. But AB de Villiers? His strike rate was murdering bowlers mentally. Debated hard: longevity vs impact. Weighed ’em:
- Kohli: Everest of runs ✅
- ABD: Pure firepower ✅
- Gayle: Entertainer king ✅
Slammed my fist – why pick one? Made a hybrid leaderboard split by categories. Felt smart until…
Step 4: Reality Check
Numbers don’t lie, but context does. Remembered Raina’s clutch playoffs, MSD’s ice-cold finishes. Added pressure performance notes. Suddenly KL Rahul’s recent tear mattered too. Paper margins filled with scribbles.
Final Rankings? Listen Up
Here’s where I landed after three coffees and a headache:
- Run King: Kohli (Mount Runmore)
- Impact Emperor: ABD (changed how batting’s done)
- Big Stage Boss: Dhoni (those finals, man)
Lost an hour arguing with myself whether consistency trumps carnage. Verdict? Depends if you want steak or dynamite for dinner. Spreadsheet’s saved as “IPL_Batting_*” – feels like I just waded through stats mud wrestling. Worth it.
