AB de Villiers, the “Superman” of the Indian Premier League, packed 14 unforgettable seasons into one blue-and-gold legend. Between 2008 and 2021 the South African great amassed 5 162 runs off only 3 403 balls, turning every 2.4 deliveries into either a boundary or a six. His 413 fours and 251 sixes—both top-five numbers in IPL history—underline the fearless arc of his blade, culminating in a jaw-dropping strike rate of 151. From his Delhi Capitals debut in 2008 to his decade-long reign at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he walked out 170 times, crossing fifty on 40 occasions and reaching three sensational hundreds, the highest a whirlwind 133*. De Villiers never bowled a single legal ball in the IPL, yet his bat alone won matches, hearts and highlight reels.

Hardik Pandya IPL career story: 11 seasons, 2749 runs at a 146 strike-rate, 148 sixes, 10 half-centuries Hardik Pandya has been one of the Indian Premier League’s most explosive batting all-rounders since his 2015 debut with Mumbai Indians. Across 140 innings he has unleashed 2,749 runs off just 1,871 balls, translating to a fearsome strike-rate of 146—the sort of number that turns middle-overs into match-winning passages. He has cleared the ropes 148 times and found the boundary another 207 times, underlining why captains post straight long-on and deep mid-wicket for him from ball one. His highest score of 91 and ten half-centuries show he can both finish innings and anchor them when required. While Pandya’s primary currency is runs, he has also delivered 78 wickets in 107 bowling innings, including one five-for and five three-wicket bursts. Operating at an economy of 9.18 and a strike-rate of 20.87, he often bowls the difficult overs at the death, trusting his cutters and the slower ball. Having represented Mumbai Indians for eight of his eleven campaigns and captained Gujarat Titans to the 2022 title, Pandya’s dual-skill value has made him a marquee name every mega auction.

Note: This overview is partially generated using AI and is based on statistical data. Please verify with official sources for complete accuracy.