OPINION
Follow UsNote – The ratings are based on criclytics player ratings in IPL 2020
Kolkata Knight Riders
Pat Cummins
Total MVP Points – 899
Number of matches as KKR’s MVP - 3
Despite a lot of big names, KKR struggled to find consistent performances. As a result, the side kept fluctuating between wins and losses and never looked threatening in the tournament.
After starting the tournament with a couple of expensive spells, Pat Cummins found his mojo while bowling with the new ball. He bowled 67.3% of his overs in the Powerplay at an economy of 6.6. While Varun Chakravarthy took most wickets for KKR – 17, Cummins was the second-highest wicket-taker for KKR with 12 wickets.
What helped Cummins gain extra MVP points was his contribution with the bat. He was KKR’s sixth-highest run-getter with 146 runs that came at a strike-rate of 128.1. He ended up scoring more runs than their pre-tournament MVPs – Andre Russell and Sunil Narine.
Kings XI Punjab
Mohammed Shami
Total MVP Points – 791
Number of matches as KXIP’s MVP – 0
This is one of the most surprising choice for MVP for a team in this edition. Even more so because Mohammed Shami never emerged as KXIP’s best player in the match on any occasion. Yet, while there was always a KL Rahul or a Mayank Agarwal to overshadow him on the night, Shami’s consistent performance ensured that no other player ended laying more impact than him in their squad at an aggregate level.
Not only was Shami KXIP’s leading wicket-taker with 20 wickets, but he stood tall at crucial junctures. Getting better at executing his yorkers at the death, he was one of the most lethal finishers with the ball this season.
Starting the tournament with a fiery spell again DC to a superb death over display against them in the reverse fixture, Shami was the most-improved T20 cricketer this season. His Super Over against the mighty Mumbai Indians was one for the ages.
Chennai Super Kings
Sam Curran
Total MVP Points – 893
Number of matches as CSK’s MVP – 5
Before Ruturaj Gaikwad came along, there was only one man who was carrying the CSK ship. He was Sam Curran. Making a name for himself among the veterans, the most delightful aspect of Curran’s performance this season was his flexibility.
Curran swung the ball upfront and executed his yorkers at the death. He batted at the top of the order when needed and was always lethal in the last few overs. He was CSK’s highest wicket-taker with 13 dismissals against his name. Moreover, he scored a crucial 186 runs in the tournament while batting at different positions.
He ended being CSK’s MVP on the night as many as five times. Also, he is among the only three players to earn a perfect 10 on the report-card three times. Marcus Stoinis and Jasprit Bumrah are the other two.
Rajasthan Royals
Jofra Archer
Total MVP Points – 1126
Number of matches as RR’s MVP – 5
Jofra Archer is the MVP of IPL 2020, let alone being the MVP for Rajasthan Royals. In a side filled with some of the best international stars, Archer carried RR with economical spells and wickets in every game.
In the Powerplay, Archer bowled at an unparalleled economy of 4.3. Overall, he took 20 wickets at an economy of 6.6 and a record of 16.7 balls per wicket. Such was the difference in class between him and the others was that the rest of the pacers combined took 21 wickets at an economy of 10.54 and 35.24 balls per wicket.
From an overall perspective, if we look at bowling alone, Jasprit Bumrah has the highest MVP points. What helped Archer to get extra MVP points were his 113 runs that came in just 63 balls. Archer ended up being RR’s MVP on the night as many as five times, twice earning a perfect 10.
An honourable mention goes out to Rahul Tewatia. With 1008 points, he was RR’s second most valuable player while being the third most valuable overall in IPL 2020.