IPL 2023, Virat Kohli Names His Two GOATs of IPL; Not MS Dhoni And Rohit Sharma

IPL 2023, Virat Kohli Names His Two GOATs of IPL; Not MS Dhoni And Rohit Sharma – In the upcoming IPL 2023 match against Punjab Kings on April 20th, former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli shared his picks for the two Greatest of All Time (GOAT) players in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Kohli identified two individuals who have made a significant impact on their respective IPL franchises over the years.

Virat Kohli Names His Two GOATs of IPL

Despite acknowledging that it was a difficult decision, Virat Kohli ultimately selected former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) teammate AB de Villiers and former Mumbai Indians bowler Lasith Malinga as the two Greatest of All Time (GOAT) players in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In a conversation shared by JioCinema, Kohli declared, “AB de Villiers and Lasith Malinga are the GOATs of IPL.”

AB de Villiers

Having shared a dressing room with AB de Villiers during the latter’s tenure with RCB in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Virat Kohli recognizes the immense impact the South African cricketer has had on the team’s culture and his sizable fan base.

In terms of IPL statistics, de Villiers has amassed over 5000 runs in 140 matches, boasting an impressive average of 39.70. What’s even more impressive than his average is his strike rate, which surpasses 150. Additionally, de Villiers has scored three centuries in the tournament, further solidifying his status as a top IPL performer.

AB de Villiers IPL Career, Stats

AB de Villiers, a South African cricketer, is a prominent member of the Bangalore franchise in the Indian Premier League. Born on February 17, 1984, de Villiers is currently 39 years old and hails from Pretoria, Gauteng. He is a right-handed batsman and made his IPL debut in 2008.

Throughout his IPL career, de Villiers has played in 184 matches and scored a total of 5162 runs, with an impressive average of 39.70. He has also recorded three centuries and 40 half-centuries, with his highest IPL score being an unbeaten 133 runs. In addition, de Villiers has hit 413 fours and 251 sixes in his IPL career.

His last IPL match was against Kolkata in October 2021 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, where he scored 11 runs off 9 balls.

Year	Mat	N.O.	Runs	HS	Avg	S/R	100	50	4s	6s	CT	ST
2021	15	4	313	76*	31.30	148.34	0	2	23	16	15	0
2020	15	4	454	73*	45.40	158.74	0	5	33	23	10	1
2019	13	3	442	82*	44.20	154.00	0	5	31	26	6	0
2018	12	2	480	90*	53.33	174.54	0	6	39	30	6	0
2017	9	1	216	89*	27.00	132.51	0	1	12	16	6	0
2016	16	3	687	129*	52.84	168.79	1	6	57	37	19	0
2015	16	3	513	133*	46.63	175.08	1	2	60	22	8	0
2014	14	2	395	89*	35.90	158.63	0	3	26	24	7	0
2013	14	4	360	64	36.00	164.38	0	2	34	15	8	0
2012	16	5	319	64*	39.87	161.11	0	3	26	15	4	5
2011	16	4	312	65	34.66	128.39	0	2	21	14	7	2
2010	7	0	111	45	15.85	93.27	0	0	7	0	6	0
2009	15	4	465	105*	51.66	130.98
	184	40	5,162	133*	39.70	151.68	3	40	413	251	118	8

Lasith Malinga

In contrast, Lasith Malinga has played a crucial role in the triumphs of Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The unconventional pace bowler has etched his name in the IPL history books, claiming 170 wickets from 122 matches.

It is worth noting that Malinga was instrumental in Mumbai Indians’ five IPL title victories. His performance in the IPL 2019 final against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) played a pivotal role in securing the title for MI, which ultimately marked his final assignment in the tournament.

Lasith Malinga IPL Career, Stats

Lasith Malinga, a Sri Lankan cricketer, is a valuable member of the Mumbai franchise in the Indian Premier League. Born on August 28, 1983, Malinga is currently 40 years old and hails from Galle. Known for his fast seam bowling, he made his IPL debut in 2009.

Throughout his IPL career, Malinga has played in 122 matches and taken an impressive 170 wickets with an average of 19.80. He concedes an average of nearly 7.14 runs per over, with a best individual figure of 13/5.

Year	Mat	Inn	Ov	Runs	Wkts	AVG	Eco	Bst	4w	5w
2019	12	12	44.5	438	16	27.37	9.76	31/4	2	0
2017	12	12	44.5	382	11	34.72	8.52	5/2	0	0
2015	15	15	60	444	24	18.50	7.40	23/4	1	0
2014	10	10	39.1	253	16	15.81	6.45	23/4	1	0
2013	17	17	65.2	468	20	23.40	7.16	39/3	0	0
2012	14	14	55.3	350	22	15.90	6.30	16/4	1	0
2011	16	16	63	375	28	13.39	5.95	13/5	0	1
2010	13	13	49	344	15	22.93	7.02	22/4	1	0
2009	13	13	49.3	312	18	17.33	6.30	11/3	0	0
All IPL	122	122	471.1	3366	170	19.80	7.14	13/5	6	1