The Indian Premier League has garnered a reputation for being one of the most thrilling cricket leagues in the world, providing an opportunity for several cricketers to make their mark. Over the years, numerous cricketers have showcased their skills and made a name for themselves in the tournament. Tamil Nadu, the southern state of India, has produced exceptional cricketers who have shown their mettle in the cash-rich league. These players have not only represented their respective franchises with distinction but have also played a pivotal role in their success over the years.
From match-winning performances to consistent contributions, these Tamil Nadu cricketers have played a crucial role in their team’s success in the Indian Premier League. In this article, we will take a closer look at the top 5 Tamil Nadu cricketers who have made a mark in IPL history. These players have not only won matches for their franchises but have also earned the respect and admiration of cricket fans across the globe. So, let’s dive into the list of the top 5 Tamil Nadu cricketers in IPL history and revisit their remarkable performances.
Here are the top 5 Tamil Nadu Cricketers in IPL history:
5. T Natarajan
T Natarajan. (Photo Source: Twitter)
The left-arm pacer scripted the perfect rags-to-riches story during the 2017 edition of the Indian Premier League. In the 2017 auction, Punjab Kings (fka Kings XI Punjab) bought T Natarajan for INR 3 crore from his base price of INR 10 lakh. He was the most expensive uncapped player in the auction in 2017. At the time of the auction, Natarajan’s father worked as a daily wager in the power loom sector, while his mother owned a roadside food stall.
A total of four teams were involved in the bidding war for the left-arm pacer, and the credit for the same can be given to his performance in the inaugural edition of the Tamil Nadu Premier League. In TNPL, Natarajan represented Dindigul Dragons and picked ten wickets in seven games at an average of 19.8. Natarajan came to the limelight because he could bowl toe-crushing yorkers at will, which helped him make his India debut. In his IPL debut, Natarajan was unsuccessful as he managed to pick up just two wickets in six games and was released by the franchise in the auction the next year.
In 2018, Sunrisers Hyderabad bought Natarajan at the auction for his base price of INR 40 lakh. He debuted for the franchise during the 2020 edition of the league and finished as the second-highest wicket-taker behind Rashid Khan with 16 wickets at an average of 31.5. In 2021, Natarajan played just two games after being sidelined due to a knee injury during the first leg and then tested positive for Covid in the second half. In 2022, Natarajan picked 18 wickets in 11 games for SRH and again finished as the second-highest wicket-taker.
4. Lakshmipathy Balaji
Lakshmipathy Balaji. (Photo by Anesh Debik/Getty Images)
Lakshmipathy Balaji was one of the players Chennai Super Kings signed after the auction of the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League for INR 19.88 lakh (USD 50,000). Balaji finished the season with 11 wickets in nine games at an average of 26. He picked the first-ever hat trick in IPL on May 10, 2018, against the Punjab Kings. Balaji was also the first Indian bowler to pick a fifer in IPL.
In 2009, Balaji was the third-highest wicket-taker for CSK, with 13 wickets at an average of 8.46. In his last season with CSK in 2010, Balaji played seven games and picked seven wickets at a good economy of 8.87. He played in 29 games for CSK in IPL and picked a total of 31 wickets at an average of 26.1, an economy of 8.64, and a strike rate of 18.13. Balaji is still one of the two bowlers who have taken a five-wicket haul in the IPL so far.
In 2011, Kolkata Knight Riders bought Balaji for INR 2.3 crores (USD 500,000). In 2012, Balaji picked 11 wickets in eight games at an average of 14.72, an economy of 5.43, and a strike rate of 16.27. He picked 33 wickets for KKR in 35 games at an average of 27.88. Punjab Kings bought Balaji for INR 1.8 crores in 2014, and this was his last appearance in the league.
3. Murali Vijay
Murali Vijay. (Photo: IANS)
The 39-year-old opener represented a total of four franchises in the Indian Premier League. He went on to play 106 games in IPL and scored 2619 runs at an average of 25.93. Murali Vijay was the first Indian batter to score two centuries in IPL. He made his IPL debut with Chennai Super Kings in 2009 and could score only 60 runs in four games.
Vijay enjoyed a memorable outing during the 2010 edition of the league, scoring 458 runs in 15 games at an average of 35.23 and a strike rate of 156.84. He also scored his maiden century that season and was the first Indian batter to achieve this feat for CSK. He scored over 300 runs each season until 2013 and parted ways with CSK in 2014. In 2014, Delhi Capitals (fka Delhi Daredevils) picked Vijay for INR 5 crore.
He was back in the auction pool in 2015 and was picked by Punjab Kings. In 2016, Vijay was named the side’s captain and finished as the leading run-scorer with 453 runs in 14 games at an average of 34.84. In 2018, Vijay was back in the CSK squad and played his last game in 2020. Vijay played a total of 70 games for CSK and scored 1708 runs at an average of 25.87 and a strike rate of 125.12.
2. Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Dinesh Karthik was a part of the Indian team that won the 2007 T20 World Cup and was picked by the Delhi Capitals in the inaugural auction. He played for the team till 2010 before shifting his base to Punjab Kings. He was transferred to Mumbai Indians in 2012 for the next two seasons and was re-bought by the Capitals in 2014 for INR 12.5 crore. In 2015, Royal Challengers Bangalore shelled out INR 10.5 crores to have the services of Karthik.
Karthik played for the now-defunct Gujarat Lions in 2016 and 2017. In 2018, Kolkata Knight Riders picked Karthik and made him the captain of the squad. Karthik reunited with RCB during the 2022 edition of the league. He has scored 4386 runs in 232 IPL games at an average of 26.58 and a strike rate of 132.47.
Karthik has hit 20 half-centuries in the league and is among the top ten run-scorers in the league’s history. His best season with the bat came in 2013 while he was a part of the Mumbai Indians. Karthik scored 510 runs in 19 games at an average of 28.33 and a strike rate of 124.08. MI won the title that year, which has been Karthik’s only IPL title until now.
1. Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravi Ashwin. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
The 36-year-old bowler is probably the most successful player in IPL’s history from Chennai. He has taken a total of 161 wickets in 187 games in IPL at an average of 28.63, an economy of 6.96, and a strike rate of 24.6. Ravichandran Ashwin is among the top five leading wicket-takers in IPL. He made his IPL debut in 2009 with Chennai Super Kings and played just two games.
He became a regular member of the team from the 2010 edition and remained with them till 2015. In 2016, Ashwin played for Rising Pune Supergiant and missed the 2017 edition due to a sports hernia. In 2018, Punjab Kings picked Ashwin for INR 7.6 crore and captained the side for the next two editions. In 2020, Ashwin was transferred to Delhi Capitals and was picked by Rajasthan Royals in 2022 for INR 5 crores.
Ashwin had taken ten or more wickets each season from 2010 to 2020. With the bat, he has scored 648 runs at a strike rate of 116.55 and made his maiden half-century last season. Ashwin enjoyed a lot of success while he was a part of CSK and finished as the third-highest wicket-taker for the team, with 90 wickets in 97 games at an average of 24.22. Despite so many wickets to his name, Ashwin has picked a four-wicket haul only once in his IPL career.
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