Who is the King of the Indian Premier League?

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is not only a sporting tournament, but an annual event that brings together the best cricketing talent from around the world. Amidst this grandeur, one question often sparks heated debates among fans – which players and teams are the best?

Is it those with the most championship titles? Or the ones with the most consistent performances? Perhaps it’s the players and teams who have given us the most unforgettable moments of sheer cricketing brilliance?

While these questions are fun topics to discuss, they are also important to consider when betting on sports and playing games such as fantasy cricket, as it can help you in identifying when players and teams have been potentially overvalued or undervalued by the odds.

There are several factors that can lead to a player or team having the metaphorical right to crown themselves ‘King’ of the IPL. Many would argue that it isn't just about one brilliant season or a few memorable matches, but rather consistency, unrivalled and proven talent, and an ability to rise to the big occasion.

Here are the key factors to look out for when reviewing the IPL’s best teams and players:

Championship titles

When judging which IPL players and teams have what it takes to lift the trophy, seeing who has the most championship titles is an obvious starting point. Obviously, just because a team or player has the won the IPL previously doesn’t mean they will do so again, but experience in winning tends to go a long way in this competition.

Consistency

Consistency is another crucial factor. Look out for teams and players that frequently reach the playoffs or consistently deliver award-winning and record-breaking performances when making your outright bets for the season.

Individual brilliance

Don’t forget about the players themselves. Be it the batsmen who post consistently big scores, the bowlers who can break down the best batting attacks or the fielders who take breath-taking catches, their performances can turn the tide of a match and have a significant impact on the tournament.

So, which players are the current ‘Kings’ of the IPL? Here’s a look at the stars who produce consistently strong performances and have recently had great seasons to show for it:

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has surprisingly never won the IPL, instead finishing as runner-up on three occasions with the Royal Challengers Bangalore, and yet he has scored the most runs in the tournament’s history (7,263). This record was helped by a return of 639 runs in 14 matches in 2023 for an average of 53.25, a season which included two centuries and six 50s at bat.

Rohit Sharma

Mumbai Indians’ Rohit Sharma has won an unmatched six IPL titles and asserted himself as one of the tournament’s most consistent batsmen. In 2023, he scored 332 runs in 16 innings with a strike rate of 132.80, his best stat for that metric in any season since 2018. His main strengths are timing and power, as well as his ability to motivate and lead his team.

KL Rahul

KL Rahul is one of the main reasons why the Lucknow Super Giants have reached the playoffs in both of their two IPL seasons to date, despite missing part of the 2023 season due to injury. He has averaged over 50 runs in all but two of the last seven seasons, with only Jos Buttler bettering his total of 616 in 2022.

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya’s simultaneous all-round and leadership abilities helped the Gujarat Titans to the IPL final in both 2022 and 2023 (as well as first in the league stage during both seasons). Key stats in 2023 included 346 runs in 15 innings with a strike rate of 136.76, and he led the Titans to victory in 22 of 31 matches as captain. His return to the Mumbai Indians ahead of the 2024 season will be interesting to follow.

When trying to determine the best team in IPL history, three stand out from the crowd for an obvious reason. They have the prestigious honour of being the only teams to win more than one IPL title: the Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Kolkata Knight Riders.

They have all had a great history in the competition, with 12 of the 16 IPL seasons up to 2023 having been won by one of the three teams and six finals having been contested by a combination of two. More impressively, they have reached 19 finals and 29 playoffs in the IPL between them. So how do their IPL records and stats compare? Let’s take a look:

As with any sporting league or competition, it’s easy to make a compelling argument for multiple players and teams being the best around. Certainly, when they step onto the field, the excitement reaches a whole new level with more fans than ever eager to see what will unfold.

However, the obvious point to make is that knowing which players and teams are the ‘Kings’ of the IPL can help you when gambling online. By looking at who has a positive record of leading their team to victory and which teams produce consistently strong results, you can see where value lies in the odds and make more informed bets.