Since the inception of the IPL, overseas players have played a significant role. Although there can be only four foreign recruits in each playing 11, most of the season awards are picked off by the overseas players, showing how important they are to each franchise. You can also read here the best XI of IPL 2020 here.
Here are the top 5 overseas players of IPL 2020:
5. AB de Villiers:
Abraham Benjamin de Villiers has been one of the standout overseas performers throughout the tournament’s history. Let alone this season; he can easily stake a claim in the top 5 overseas players of all time in IPL history.
Although RCB failed to win the trophy once again, de Villiers won them a few matches independently. If not for his heroics, they would have loitering near the bottom of the table. He was the second-highest run-scorer for a number 4 batsman, only behind Ishan Kishan.
- Innings(Not Outs): 14(4)
- Runs: 454
- Average: 45.40
- Strike Rate: 158.74
4. Trent Boult:
Despite being one of the world’s best all format fast bowlers, he could never cut in the IPL. Boult was not only the highest wicket-taker during the powerplay but was by far the best swing bowler and the best-left arm pacer in the league.
During the offseason, Boult was traded from the Delhi Capitals to the Mumbai Indians and boy, did he make sure his former team regretted that decision! He picked up 25 wickets, 9 of which came in 4 games against his former team. He beats Rashid for this spot purely because Rashid was already a proven overseas star in the IPL.
- Innings(Overs): 15(57.2)
- Wickets: 25
- Economy Rate: 7.97
3. David Warner:
David Warner has been the hallmark of consistency in the IPL. It is really scary to think that this was his least prolific campaign since 2014, and he still managed to finish the season as the 3rd leading run-scorer. I just had to find a way of including him on this list for these reasons alone.
His strike rate was slightly on the lower side during the initial stage of the tournament. Still, after Saha’s addition to the team, it gave him more freedom, and we started seeing the free-flowing David Warner who took the attack to the opposition bowlers.
- Innings(Not Outs): 16(2)
- Runs: 548
- Average: 39.14
- Strike Rate: 134.64
2. Kagiso Rabada:
Kagiso Rabada has slowly but surely established himself as one of the leading bowlers in the IPL. He is a genuine wicket-taker if there ever was one. He is such a serial wicket-taker that he dismissed at least one batsman for 25 consecutive matches before going wicketless against SRH.
He almost broke Bravo’s record for most wickets in a single IPL season. While Rabada was head and shoulders above all other overseas players based on pure stats, his only criticism from my side was that he picked up most of his wickets during the death overs, which made him a one-trick pony.
- Innings(Overs): 17(65.4)
- Wickets: 30
- Economy Rate: 8.34
1. Jofra Archer:
Jofra Archer was the cream of the crop as far as overseas players are concerned. He only picked up 20 wickets and played a few cameos at the back end of the innings. His all-round performance earned him the prestigious MVP award.
His side’s bowling attack was entirely dependent on him, making his contributions even more valuable. His spells during the powerplay overs were vital to his team winning or losing that particular match. Here’s why Archer is lethal with ball in his hand. Moreover, he was far more economical compared to the other bowlers on this list.
- Innings(Overs): 14(55.4)
- Wickets: 20
- Economy Rate: 6.55
