All-rounders are key members of any cricket team, especially in the shortest format. The longer formats require specialists more than all-rounders, but
T20 is a stage where multi-skilled players thrive.
With the Impact Player rule coming into effect in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in recent years, the importance of all-rounders has dropped by a few notches. However, some all-rounders have still kept themselves not just relevant but indispensable members of their sides.
On that note, let's take a look at some of the best performances from all-rounders in IPL finals over the years.
Top 5 all-round performances in IPL finals history
5. Ben Cutting vs RCB, IPL 2016
Ben Cutting was a renowned name in Australian domestic cricket for his all-round contributions. He was a destructive lower-order batter and a fast bowler who had the knack of picking up big wickets. In the IPL 2016 final, he etched his name into the annals of Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) legacy.
Cutting played a brilliant knock against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, smashing an unbeaten 39 off 15 balls. His blitzkrieg helped SRH get past the 200-run mark. Chasing a 209-run target, Bengaluru were restricted to 200/7. Cutting picked up the important wickets of Chris Gayle and KL Rahul.
4. Kieron Pollard vs CSK, IPL 2013
Kieron Pollard is known for his aggressive batting approach and ability to hit huge sixes. However, his bowling ability is underrated. In the IPL 2013 final, Pollard produced an all-round effort to help Mumbai Indians (MI) win their first IPL title.
Batting first on a sluggish Eden Gardens surface, MI were meandering along until Pollard walked out to bat in the 10th over and slammed an unbeaten 60 off 32 deliveries. His knock helped MI get to a fighting total of 148/9. In the second innings, Pollard finished with decent figures of 1/34 in his four overs, despite bowling most of his deliveries to an in-form MS Dhoni.
3. Jacques Kallis vs CSK, IPL 2012
Jacques Kallis started his IPL career at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru before moving to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and becoming an IPL legend. The South African stalwart is considered one of the finest seam-bowling all-rounders to have played the game.
In the IPL 2012 final, KKR conceded 190/3 against the Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk. The score could have been much higher had Kallis not dismissed a well-set Michael Hussey in the 18th over. However, Kallis' real heroics were saved for the second innings. After KKR lost the wicket of skipper Gautam Gambhir in the first over, he forged a 136-run stand with Manvinder Bisla. He scored 69 off 49, playing second fiddle commendably as the Knights won by five wickets with two balls to spare.
2. Hardik Pandya vs RR, IPL 2022
Hardik Pandya was appointed captain of the Gujarat Titans (GT) in their maiden IPL appearance in 2022. The Baroda all-rounder led the team from the front during the season. However, his best bowling performance came in the final against the Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad.
In the first innings, he took the important wickets of Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, and Shimron Hetmyer. Hardik finished with sensational figures of 3/17 in four overs. Chasing a paltry 131-run target, Gujarat lost two wickets within the powerplay. However, Hardik played a patient knock of 34 off 30 balls before Shubman Gill and David Miller took the debutants home with seven wickets and 11 balls to spare.
1. Yusuf Pathan vs CSK, IPL 2008
Yusuf Pathan was in spectacular form during the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008, representing the Rajasthan Royals. The spin-bowling all-rounder had already smashed three fifties in 15 matches, heading into the final against the Chennai Super Kings.
In the summit clash, Yusuf contributed remarkably well with the ball, as he bagged three wickets and conceded just 22 runs in his four overs. In the second innings, Rajasthan were chasing a 164-run target. Swapnil Asnodkar and Shane Watson could not capitalise on their starts. Niraj Patel and Kamran Akmal departed cheaply. Yusuf needed to step up, and he did so by playing a crunch knock of 56 off 39 balls. Rajasthan won the match off the last ball, with three wickets to spare, and the Baroda-born earned the Player of the Match award.
