The BCCI committee, led by Lalit Modi, created the Indian Premier League (IPL), a significant yearly cricket competition in India. Ever since its beginning, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has revolutionised the short format of cricket by drawing teams and individuals with incredible performances. Athletes get recognition for their exceptional work in many categories, including the highly sought-after IPL Most Valuable Player (MVP) title.
The world’s top cricket players compete in the fiercely competitive Indian Premier League (IPL). A franchise must play well over two months, consisting of 16–17 matches, to win the IPL trophy. A captain needs to put up a winning formula and guide his team to the pinnacle of performance.
2008: Shane Watson (RR)
After being the least costly team in the first-ever season of the world’s most lucrative team, the Rajasthan Royals, captained by Shane Warne, emerged as the first IPL winners. The team’s triumph was greatly aided by all-arounder Shane Watson, who amassed 472 runs at a strike rate of 151.77 and claimed 17 wickets at an average of 22.52. Watson’s all-around performance with the bat and ball earned him the title of inaugural Most Valuable Player in the IPL.
2009: Adam Gilchrist (DCh)
Australia’s 2007 World Cup final hero, Adam Gilchrist, guided the Deccan Chargers to their first IPL championship in 2009. He amassed 495 runs at a strike rate of 152.3 in the semi-final matchup against Delhi Daredevils, including 29 massive blowouts and an 85-run knock in one go. Gilchrist received another award for being the season’s Most Valuable Player.
2010: Sachin Tendulkar (MI)
Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was unfamiliar with the T20 competition. In the third IPL, he scored 618 runs at an average of 47.54, leading the Mumbai Indians. With 86 boundaries in the 2010 IPL season, Tendulkar’s batting was distinguished by his ability to find openings in the opposition’s defence. His proficiency with the shortest format demonstrated his skill in the game.
2011: Chris Gayle (RCB)
The player who concluded a dismal season with KKR in 2010 is no longer Chris Gayle, as he is currently known. Gayle became a beast after joining Royal Challengers Bangalore, smashing two hundreds to raise his career total to 608 runs. In addition, he was awarded the Most Valuable Player and the Orange Cap.
2012: Sunil Narine (KKR)
A mysterious bowler named Sunil Narine made a big impression in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after joining Kolkata’s side in 2012. He was unknown before he started the IPL, but after a captivating performance in IPL 5, he soon attracted notice from across the world. Selectors throughout the world were drawn to Narine because of his remarkable 5.47 economy rate and perplexing deliveries on a sluggish Eden Gardens surface.
2013: Shane Watson (RR)
Australia’s Shane Watson, an all-around player with the Rajasthan Royals, became the only player to win the MVP award twice in 2013 after overcoming difficulties. Watson defeated Chris Gayle by 37 points with 59 boundaries, 6 catches, 13 wickets, and 22 sixes. His 61-ball 101, which marked his first IPL century, was also the first century of the 2013 IPL.
2014: Glenn Maxwell (PBKS)
After failing to make the Australian team in 2014, Glenn Maxwell performed admirably in the 7th IPL season, amassing 552 runs at a strike rate of 187.75 with 36 sixes and 48 fours. Even though Kings XI Punjab fell to the Knight Riders in an exciting final, Maxwell would have loved the 2014 season for his outstanding performance despite missing out on his first IPL century.
2015: Andre Russell (KKR)
Andre Russell, the Caribbean Knight of Kolkata, was a formidable player in the 2015 Indian Premier League, amassing 326 runs to support KKR’s potent batting lineup. With a strike rate of 192.29, his 21-ball 51 against Kings XI Punjab enabled KKR to reach their goal of 183. Russell was a star performer in the competition, taking 14 wickets in addition to making 6 catches.
2016: Virat Kohli (RCB)
The captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Virat Kohli, was playing at his best in the ninth IPL season, amassing 973 runs and coming dangerously close to 1,000 runs in one campaign. In addition, he won the Orange Cap with four centuries, the most by a batsman in a single IPL season. Kohli’s thirst for T20 runs had taken the IPL by storm, even though his season had been underwhelming.
2017: Ben Stokes (RPS)
Before playing in the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL), Ben Stokes, the league’s “Most Valuable Player,” was well-liked in the IPL. Stokes was scheduled to play for the Rising Pune Supergiant after he was purchased for Rs. 14.5 crore after intense bidding. In addition to his previous distinction of Most Expensive Overseas Player, he demonstrated his value by earning the title of Most Valuable Player.
Before going on national service, Stokes scored 316 runs at a pace of 31.60. With a brilliant century against the Gujarat Lions, he ignited the IPL and played a key role in Pune’s death-bowling. With an economy rate of 7.18, he amassed a total of 12 wickets.
2018: Sunil Narine (KKR)
When Narine was named MVP again in 2018, he made it two in a row. With 17 wickets, 137 dot balls, 40 fours, and 23 sixes, he amassed 379.5 points. The Trinidadian took a catch as well. Sunil Narine is a player with the Kolkata Knight Riders from the West Indies.
2019: Andre Russell (KKR)
Despite not being able to win the championship in any of the three seasons, KKR had three MVPs in a row. With 369 points, West Indian Andre Russell was the winner this time. Another all-rounder, Russell bowled 61 dot balls, grabbed 11 wickets, and hit 31 fours and 52 sixes.
2020: Jofra Archer (RR)
Jofra Archer, a West Indian who plays for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and England in international cricket, was awarded the MVP of 2020. Archer had a brilliant 307 points. The fast bowler claimed 20 wickets, hit 10 sixes and five fours, bowled 175 dot balls—the most by any MVP in a single season—and took five catches.
2021: Harshal Patel (RCB)
Harshal Patel of Royal Challengers Bangalore emerged as the season’s MVP, claiming 32 wickets—tied with Dwayne Bravo for the most by any bowler in a single season. The pacer’s 264.5 points, the lowest of any MVP in IPL history, came from bowling 122 dot balls and taking three catches in addition to his wicket total.
2022: Jos Buttler (RR)
After Archer, Jos Buttler was the second player from the Rajasthan Royals to win MVP. When the Royals advanced to the final in 2022, Buttler was at the height of his game. He struck 83 fours and 45 sixes, took nine catches in his role as a wicketkeeper, and became the first batter to be named MVP of an IPL season. Buttler also owns the record for the most points scored by an MVP in IPL history, at 387.5.
2023: Shubman Gill (GT)
After his Gujarat Titans club finished as runners-up in the 2023 Indian Premier League, Shubman Gill became the first batter to be named MVP. With 33 sixes and 85 fours, the elegant right-hander amassed 343 points. In addition to being a versatile fielder, Gill recorded the most catches of any MVP who wasn’t a wicketkeeper in league history with six throughout the season.
Conclusion
A yearly cricket tournament in India, the Indian Premier League (IPL) was established by the BCCI committee, which is led by Lalit Modi. Teams and individuals putting up outstanding performances are drawn to the competition, and athletes are honoured for their efforts in some categories, including the IPL Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy. The Rajasthan Royals, captained by Shane Warne, won the maiden Indian Premier League, and Shane Watson took home the MVP award.
The Deccan Chargers won their maiden IPL title in 2009 under the leadership of Australia’s Adam Gilchrist, with notable support from Sunil Narine and Sachin Tendulkar. In 2013, Shane Watson was named MVP twice, and in the 2015 Indian Premier League, he was one of the best players.
