'Dhoni kahan hai?' - Fans fume over Star Sports as they exclude MS Dhoni from nominees of greatest Indian T20 League batters

MS Dhoni (Source: Twitter)

The Indian T20 League is arguably the greatest domestic T20 competition in the world. Over the years, several batters have graced the field and brought the tournament alive with their scintillating shots. While there have been several legendary batters who’ve played in the Indian T20 League only a few have been able to etch their names in the annals of history.

Recently, the official broadcaster of the Indian T20 League, Star Sports, revealed the nominees for the greatest Indian T20 League batters who were Chris Gayle, AB De Villiers, David Warner, and Suresh Raina.

Chris Gayle is undoubtedly the greatest Indian T20 League batter ever. He has amassed 4965 runs at an average of 39.72 and a strike rate of 148.96. He has six hundreds and 31 fifties to his name. Apart from having a stellar record, the southpaw also has the fastest hundred in the history of the tournament to his name i.e of 31 balls.

He also has the most number of sixes in the history of the tournament i.e 357 to his name.

On the other hand, AB De Villiers has the best strike rate among batters who have scored over three thousand runs in the tournament. He also has the second most sixes in Indian T20 League history i.e 251. He ranks on sixth position in the list of all-time run scorers in the tournament having 5162 runs to his name in 170 innings at an average of 39.71 and a magnificent strike rate of 151.69. His average is also the third-best among players who have over three thousand runs to their name giving him a deadly combination of consistency and brutal hitting.

David Warner has the most number of Orange Caps under his belt i.e three in the years 2015,2017 and 2019 respectively which speaks volumes of his consistency in the tournament.  The 36-year-old became the fastest player to reach the 5000-run mark in the history of the competition achieving the milestone in just 135 innings.

Warner has the highest number of fifties in Indian T20 League

Warner is the only batter in the list of the top 15 highest run-getter in the tournament, to average over 40. He also has the most number of half-centuries in the history of the Indian T20 League i.e 53. He further has the third-best strike rate in the tournament among batters who have over four thousand runs to their name.

Suresh Raina is touted as Mr Indian T20 League for his consistent performances in the tournament. He has amassed 5528 runs at an average of 32.52 and a strike rate of 136.76. The southpaw has one hundred and 39 fifties to his name.

Meanwhile, Twitter was abuzz with reactions on the nominees presented by Star Sports. Here are some of the Tweets:

It should be Warner vs Gayle vs Abd vs Kohli
Raina was greatest till initial 7-8 seasons… no doubt
But another 6-7 seasons have been completed now.

— Saket (@SaketSu76126269) February 10, 2023

None of them scored 973 runs with 4 centuries in a single season.

— Kohli.world18 (@sakethking18) February 10, 2023

Where is KL? The legend. the champion. The Bradman of today’s era!

— Copywriter (@copyrighter19) February 10, 2023

Dhoni ?

— Slog Sweep-189 (@SloggSweep) February 10, 2023

Player of the tournament (2017)

Matches:43 Runs: 920 Highest: 107 50s: 2 100s: 2 SR: 134.5
Wickets : 28 BBI :3/15
Ben Stokes Greatest IPL Batters in my Book. pic.twitter.com/va3aW170eb

— Fahadhasan Mushfiqur (@FahadHa94174463) February 10, 2023

I haven't followed IPL as such
But know that Rohit Sharma is the most title winning captain
Why is he not here? 🤔

— Em!N€nt $oC!@li$t (@Insane__Emi) February 10, 2023

What about Dhoni and Rohit 🙄

— Raghav (@TheRaghavvvv) February 10, 2023

This list should also include kohli in it .. how can they exclude him from the list. He has been the most consistent after Raina i guess to perform in almost most of the seasons.

— DANISH (@danish__khaan) February 10, 2023

People wondering why Virat and Rohit is not in the list , if they were in the list then it'll become one-sided to win for other players for they are not included to give a fair chance to this players

— Narhari (@musicians_on) February 10, 2023

It's between
Surest Raina and David Warner...
Both have been a proven performer over the years...almost scoring 400+ runs in 80% of the IPL seasons and even more...

— _Bobbaboiii_ (@IMNamanYadav9) February 10, 2023