When it comes to IPL and numbers, the charts are dominated by Indian players whether it is in batting, bowling or fielding. There are some exceptions. Lasith Malinga of Sri Lanka is the leading wicket-taker in IPL history while Chris Gayle is the leading six-hitter and century-maker. It is normal in the batting that the likes of Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma dominate the batting. However, there is one overseas player who has bettered all these players by his sheer consistency. His run-making prowess has been the reason for his side to regularly make it to the playoffs. The person in question is Australian batsman David Warner, who is the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad.
How can Warner be as consistent as Virat Kohli, the leading run-getter and who managed a mind-numbing 973 runs in a single edition of the tournament. Well, here is the ultimate proof. When David Warner slammed his 48th fifty during the final league game between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians, he went past 500 runs in IPL 2020. In the process, he created a new record.
This was the sixth consecutive time that David Warner has crossed 500 runs in a single season of the IPL. Ever since 2014, David Warner has regularly crossed 500 runs. In IPL 2018, he did not play for Sunrisers Hyderabad as he was banned for the ball-tampering scandal. No other batsmen has ever managed this feat in the IPL
From IPL 2014 till now, in every season, Warner has scored 528, 562, 848, 641, 692 and 529 so far. In all the seasons, his average has been over 40 and his strike-rate over 140, except in the current season. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, as well as Suresh Raina has never achieved this consistency. The closest anyone has ever done it is Raina, Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan who scored 500 runs in two consecutive seasons.
Brilliant consistency
David Warner is the only overseas player to score 5000 runs and above in the IPL and is breathing down Virat Kohli’s neck for the most number of runs. When Virat Kohli scored 973 runs in the IPL 2016, David Warner almost matched him with 848 runs with the only difference between the two being that Kohli had more centuries (4) as compared to Warner (1).
In this period from 2014 to 2020, Warner has smashed 38 fifties and two centuries for Sunrisers Hyderabad as they have joined Chennai Super Kings as the only other team to have made it to five consecutive playoffs. The reason for their consistency has been Warner and his brilliance at the top.
David Warner is also nearing on 50 fifties in the IPL and that will make him the first player to achieve this feat. In the IPL, the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been totally overshadowed by David Warner, who is Mr. Reliable and Mr. Consistent in this tournament.
