The 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will begin on Saturday, March 22, and the cricket frenzy fans are ready with unbridled excitement to support their favorite teams. As expected all the 10 teams would be hoping to be as competitive and aggressive as they can be in the World's best T20 League. Match winners and X-factor players will play a key role for teams during this fast-paced tournament.
Teams having such players in their playing 11s will naturally have an edge over other teams. Over the years in IPL, we have seen game changers like AB de Villers, Chris Gayle, Suresh Raina, Jasprit Bumrah, and Lasith Malinga take the game away within the blink of an eye. The upcoming 18th edition of the IPL will also see such players in different teams. Here at Criczop, we list the five biggest match winners who feel will have an impact on their respective teams.
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Sunil Narine - Kolkata Knight Riders
Undoubtedly, KKR's talismanic all-rounder, Sunil Narine, is one of the biggest match winners in IPL. The West Indian superstar also won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the year award in IPL 2024 season, by scoring 488 runs in 16 games and picking more than 10 wickets. Narine opened the batting for KKR last year and absolutely demolished every team in the power play. Such was Narine's assault that the opposition teams failed to stop runs flowing from his blade.
This season also, he will be KKR's biggest player with bat and ball in hand. The veteran also has the best economy rate for bowlers in IPL history as he concedes runs below six runs per over.
Also Read: IPL 2025: Massive headache for RR as pacer Jofra Archer admitted to hospital
Rishabh Pant - Lucknow Super Giants
IPL's costliest player, Rishabh Pant will turn out for LSG this season. The southpaw can single-handedly win matches for his team and also can pull off outrageous shots. The wicketkeeper-batter was naturally one of the most sought-after names in the IPL mega auction, and he richly deserved the 27 Crore price.
So far in the IPL the southpaw has scored 3284 runs in 111 games at a strike rate of close to 150. Pant's ability to dominate from ball one sets him apart from the rest of the other players.
Yuzvendra Chahal - Punjab Kings
A lot of stuff is happening about Chahal off the field, and he would love to put a full stop by performing on the field for his new franchise PBKS. The leg spinner is IPL's highest wicket-taker and absolutely deserves the INR 18 Crore that he got in the auction. Each of the IPL years that the 33-year-old has played, he keeps picking up wickets and is mostly in the top-10 bowlers list for that season. Chahal also won the purple cap in the IPL 2022 edition for RR by managing to pick 27 wickets.
The leg spinner is one of the best bowlers in the middle phase of the innings and can turn the match within a few overs. PBKS would be hoping Chahal's Midas touch continues in the IPL 2025 season.
Rajat Patidar - Royal Challengers Bengalaru
Spin basher, tormentor of spin, or Spinner's boss are some of the nicknames of Rajat Patidar. The stylish right-hand batter's strike rate of 186 against spinners is one of the best in IPL history. Last year, Patidar played a key role in RCB miraculously, making the IPL playoffs. The 31-year-old scored 395 runs at a strike rate of over 160 and single-handedly won games for RCB. He also hit 33 sixes, which was fourth highest in the IPL 2024 season.
Not only against spin, but the RCB skipper is also pretty effective against pacers too. He has all the shots in his armory, and when he gets going he is a sight to behold.
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Jasprit Bumrah - Mumbai Indians
The number one ranked Test bowler Jasprit Bumrah is currently the best all-format bowler. The pacer is in form of his life, and is enjoying tormenting the opposition teams. Bumrah is lethal in the power play and an equal potent force in the death overs as well. The 32-year-old was the lone bright spot for MI last season, managing to pick 20 wickets in 14 IPL games.
What sets Bumrah apart from the rest is his economy rate, which is just 7.2 runs per over. Bumrah's four overs is like a gold dust for MI as often he strikes in those overs, and changes the game of the match completely.
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