5 Cricketers Who Are Big Hits In IPL But Flopped In T20 Internationals

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has often been the basis for all the cricketing boards to choose cricketers from to represent in the international arena. As one of the most competitive T20 tournaments in the world where the best cricketers battle for supremacy with one another, performances in IPL show their true potential. It makes them ready to play top-level cricket freely and fearlessly, without any baggage.

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But not all players, who perform splendidly in the IPL shine in the international arena. Such cricketers are not able to step up to the competitive nature of the top-level cricket despite years of telling performances in franchise cricket. With too many players vying these days for spots, their only way out is to perform in the given opportunities or make way for their compatriots.

We take a look at five cricketers who are big hits in IPL but have mediocre records in T20 Internationals:

Piyush Chawla:

Veteran leg-spinner Piyush Chawla is one of the most-capped bowlers in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Piyush Chawla has featured for Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Chennai Super Kings since 2008, taking 156 scalps in 164 games at 27.32. The 32-year old was also part of the Knight Riders’ winning campaign in 2014, hitting the winning runs in the final.

But Piyush Chawla’s international career hardly took off. The Uttar Pradesh-born wrist-spinner featured in only seven T20 internationals, taking four wickets at a mediocre average of 37.75. Chawla’s last T20 international came way back in December 2012 against England and is unlikely to feature in further fixtures, given the likes of Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar, and Kuldeep Yadav already in the frame.

Hardik Pandya:

Dynamic all-rounder Hardik Pandya has become an irreplaceable member of the Mumbai Indians’ line-up. Since Hardik Pandya’s IPL debut in 2015, Mumbai Indians has clinched four titles and the 27-year old has played an integral role in all three facets for them. In 87 IPL fixtures, Pandya has 1401 runs at 27.47, keeping a strike rate of 157.24.

The right-handed batsman also has four fifties and chipped in with 42 wickets. However, the seam-bowling all-rounder has not impressed in international T20Is. In 48 T20Is, Pandya averages a shade under 20, with 42 as his highest score, alongside 41 scalps. While the Indian team might not require the all-rounder to score a fifty in the shortest format too often, given he bats in the lower order, the aforementioned numbers are not a true reflection of his talent.

Shikhar Dhawan:

Shikhar Dhawan had been in sublime form in the first phase of IPL 2021, playing risk-free cricket and crafting match-winning knocks for the Delhi Capitals to become the top run-getter. Shikhar Dhawan is the second-highest run-getter in history, amassing 5577 runs in 184 matches at 35.29, keeping a decent strike rate of 127.35. He also has two centuries.

But the southpaw doesn’t have attractive numbers in T20 internationals. Though Dhawan has 11 fifties in 64 games, he averages only 27.88 with a strike rate of 127.42. It is also worth noting that the selectors have dropped him far too often based on one or two outings in a particular series. Hence, there have been a lack of opportunities.

Sanju Samson:

Sanju Samson is yet another promising young batsman, who has not translated his IPL performances into a massive one in international cricket. Though Sanju Samson’s IPL numbers are not hugely impressive, he makes even the best bowlers look mediocre when on song. The right-handed batsman has three centuries in IPL history, averaging 28.9 in 114 games, keeping a strike rate of 134.83.

But Samson’s highest score in T20 internationals is 23 in seven games, maintaining a strike rate of 118.57. The 26-year old has started promisingly in most of the matches but has not converted it into big scores. At 26, he will receive plenty of opportunities to make his mark in the international arena; however, he has to make them count.

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AB de Villiers:

AB de Villiers has been the heart and soul of the Royal Challengers Bangalore, which he joined back in 2011. The former South African skipper has transformed into a batting powerhouse, putting the ball in any part of the ground he wishes to. Over the years, De Villiers has made a habit of crafting match-winning and game-changing knocks, often rescuing the team from precarious situations.

As such, the right-handed batsman has 5056 runs in 176 IPL matches at 40.38 with a healthy strike rate of 152.38. He has also belted three centuries in the T20 league. However, his T20I numbers are far from impressive. The veteran averages only 26.12 in 78 games with 1672 runs, along with ten half-centuries. De Villiers’ strike rate is also way low with 135.17 as against his IPL strike rate of over 150.

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