An IPL for openers and big-hitters
Batting stats and trends from IPL 2015, that set the season apart from previous editions
In each of the seven previous seasons of the Indian Premier League, opening batsmen averaged less than 30. In IPL 2015, they averaged 31.4, almost two runs better than their second-best IPL season - the 2012 edition - in which openers averaged 29.62. Their strike rate of 130.48 was also the best for any season. Further evidence of their domination was the fact that eight out of the top-nine run-getters in IPL 2015 were openers, with David Warner leading the way (562 runs at an average of 43.23). AB de Villiers is the only non-opener on this list.
IPL season | Mat | Ave | SR | 50+ | Opening stand |
2015 | 59 | 31.40 | 130.48 | 48 | 35.09 |
2012 | 75 | 29.62 | 125.95 | 59 | 31.76 |
2010 | 60 | 29.56 | 130.21 | 45 | 30.54 |
2008 | 58 | 29.46 | 130.42 | 43 | 32.41 |
2014 | 60 | 28.54 | 125.44 | 42 | 30.72 |
2011 | 73 | 28.52 | 124.91 | 50 | 32.51 |
2013 | 76 | 27.25 | 120.18 | 51 | 28.96 |
2009 | 57 | 23.65 | 117.88 | 32 | 24.00 |
Teams scored at a run-rate of 10.31 runs per over during the last five overs of an innings this IPL, the highest for any season. Not only were the runs scored at a good rate, the average of 20.04 in this period is also the second-best for any season. Mumbai Indians played a significant role in pushing the overall run-rate up in IPL 2015, by scoring at a rate of 12.21 in the last five overs of an innings. They averaged 26.52 in this period, almost six runs better than any other team.
IPL season | RR | Ave |
2015 | 10.31 | 20.04 |
2014 | 10.03 | 20.97 |
2008 | 9.94 | 18.09 |
2010 | 9.58 | 19.71 |
2013 | 9.57 | 18.15 |
2012 | 9.52 | 18.44 |
2009 | 9.13 | 17.67 |
2011 | 9.10 | 18.28 |
Teams batting first in IPL 2015 only lost 24 matches, the least in an IPL season, despite the fact that three IPL seasons (2011, 2012 and 2013) had about 75 matches per edition while this IPL only had 59. The team batting first won 32 matches, and their win-loss ratio of 1.33 is the best for any season.
IPL season | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | W/L ratio |
2015 | 59 | 32 | 24 | 1 | 1.33 |
2010 | 60 | 31 | 28 | 1 | 1.11 |
2013 | 76 | 37 | 37 | 2 | 1.00 |
2009 | 57 | 26 | 30 | 1 | 0.87 |
2012 | 75 | 34 | 40 | 0 | 0.85 |
2011 | 73 | 32 | 40 | 0 | 0.80 |
2008 | 58 | 22 | 36 | 0 | 0.61 |
2014 | 60 | 22 | 37 | 1 | 0.59 |
There were 93 scores of 50 or more from 59 matches this season, and the ratio of 1.6 fifty-plus scores per match was the best for any IPL season. Warner scored seven fifties this season, the second-best for a batsman in a single IPL season after Chris Gayle (8 in 2012). Lendl Simmons made six 50-plus scores as well, the most by any Mumbai Indians batsman in a single season.
IPL season | Mat | Ave | SR | 50+ | 6s | 50+/mat | 6s/mat |
2015 | 59 | 25.37 | 131.97 | 93 | 692 | 1.58 | 11.73 |
2014 | 60 | 26.70 | 129.04 | 94 | 714 | 1.57 | 11.90 |
2008 | 58 | 24.39 | 128.98 | 89 | 622 | 1.53 | 10.72 |
2010 | 60 | 24.63 | 126.76 | 92 | 585 | 1.53 | 9.75 |
2012 | 75 | 24.87 | 123.46 | 102 | 731 | 1.36 | 9.75 |
2013 | 76 | 23.57 | 121.23 | 101 | 673 | 1.33 | 8.86 |
2011 | 73 | 24.51 | 120.71 | 95 | 639 | 1.30 | 8.75 |
2009 | 57 | 22.01 | 116.61 | 70 | 506 | 1.23 | 8.88 |
Bishen Jeswant is a stats sub editor at ESPNcricinfo. @bishen_jeswant