Death overs, sometimes called slog overs, are the most thrilling four overs in a limited-overs match. The last four overs in Twenty20 cricket, known as the “death overs,” are when batsmen attempt to score as many runs as they can by using unconventional strokes, and the bowlers are typically the ones who suffer the most. The batter who can make the biggest impact in these last overs is the most dangerous in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Since he is the one that spectators flock to watch, an IPL death overs specialist batsman is essential.
Batters who play courageously and attempt big smashes in the final four overs are called death over specialists. In contrast, bowlers who give up fewer than seven runs per over in the final overs are regarded as the most economical. AB de Villiers is the IPL’s top death overs specialist batsman. He has repeatedly demonstrated his skill in the league and is deadly in the last four overs.
Let’s examine five batters who have scored the most runs in the last overs of the world’s most popular cricket league.
AB de Villiers – Royal Challengers Bangalore
AB de Villiers has 1421 runs and ranks third in the IPL death overs in run totals. Since joining RCB in 2011, the 360-degree batter, who can hit the ball to any part of the ground, has completed several games. He is among the league’s most productive batters.
One of the most superb knocks in the tournament is De Villiers’ undefeated 133 against the Mumbai Indians in 2015. It is also his most excellent score in all T20S and one of his three IPL hundreds. With 19 boundaries and four maximums, de Villiers scored 133 runs in 59 balls. Virat Kohli was a good backup, and the two put together a partnership of 215 runs. De Villiers’ unbeaten 105 against CSK in 2009, his unbeaten 89 against Hyderabad in 2014, and his unbeaten 79 against Gujarat Lions in 2016 are just a few of his outstanding IPL efforts.
In his 184 IPL appearances, the batsman has amassed 5162 runs, three hundreds, forty fifties, 413 boundaries, and 251 maximums. He is the best batsman in the IPL who specialises in death overs.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni – Chennai Super Kings
Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni is one of the best finishers in world cricket. In the IPL, Dhoni has amassed the highest total of any player with 2632 runs in the last overs.
Dhoni helped Chennai win the 2010 Indian Premier League by smashing an undefeated 54 in 29 balls against the Punjab Kings. He has also accomplished this on numerous previous occasions, including an undefeated 70 against RCB in 2018, a 40-ball 70 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011, and a 26-ball 51 against Mumbai Indians in 2013.
Dhoni’s most recent displays of valour in the final overs occurred against the Rajasthan Royals in 2019. Before their skipper saved them, CSK suffered  27 runs for three wickets in six overs after losing early wickets while batting first. Dhoni batted to the end, hitting a hat-trick of sixes against Jaydev Unadkat in the last over to reach 75 off 46 balls. CSK eventually won the game by eight runs. The former captain of India has amassed 5289 runs at a strike rate of over 138 from 267 IPL innings. Twenty-four half-centuries are included in this.
Rohit Sharma – Mumbai Indians
Rohit Sharma, the tournament’s most successful skipper and third-highest run scorer, has amassed 1481 runs in the IPL’s final overs. The top-order batsman has been the squad’s batting mainstay since joining the Ambani-owned team in 2011 and has helped them win multiple games.
For example, the 52-ball 94 against RCB in 2018, the 26-ball 50 against CSK in 2015, or the 60-ball 109 against KKR in 2012. Every IPL season, Rohit has delivered at least one batting masterpiece. In 2016, the right-hander had his most outstanding season, scoring 489 runs at a strike rate of 132.88 in 14 games, including five half-centuries.
Sharma has had an incredible IPL career thus far, amassing 6649 runs, two hundreds, forty-three fifties, and over 200 sixes.
Kieron Pollard – Mumbai Indians
Kieron Pollard, one of the IPL’s most devastating middle-order batters, has won multiple games thanks to his valiant efforts in the last overs. The West Indian has saved the five-time champions each time the top order has fallen short, and he has amassed the second-highest IPL death-overs total (1708).
When Mumbai played Chennai at Eden Gardens in the 2013 final, Pollard gave one of his most outstanding performances. Before Pollard arrived, Mumbai was in trouble after losing four wickets for 54 runs in 10 overs while batting first. Pollard blasted seven fours and three sixes to remain undefeated at 60 off 32, despite wickets tumbling at the other end. Chennai was limited to 125 after Mumbai posted 148.
In 189 IPL games, Pollard has amassed 3412 runs at a strike rate of around 150. In addition, he has taken 69 wickets.
Virat Kohli – Royal Challengers Bangalore
Virat Kohli has either opened the batting or come out at number two or three for most of his IPL career. In just three seasons, he batted at number four, and in one season, he batted at number five. With 1268 runs, the RCB captain is the fifth-highest run scorer in the final overs despite spending ten seasons at the top of the game.
One of Kohli’s greatest IPL knocks to date is his 113 off 50 balls against Punjab. However, against Gujarat that season, he had his finest knock in the final overs. Kohli opened the innings with Chris Gayle, scoring 109 off 55 balls before being removed on the final ball of the final over. Gujarat won by six wickets; therefore, even though it was his first IPL century, it was in vain.
With 8094 runs, Kohli holds the record for most runs scored in the competition.
Batters with the most runs in death overs in IPL
| S.No | Batter name | Teams played for | Runs In Death Overs | Innings | Strike Rate | Sixes |
| 1 | MS Dhoni | CSK, RSPH | 2632 | 161 | 187.33 | 162 |
| 2 | Kieron Pollard | MI | 1708 | 117 | 181.5 | 127 |
| 3 | AB de Villiers | DC, RCB | 1421 | 75 | 232.56 | 112 |
| 4 | Dinesh Karthik | DC, KXIP, MI, GL, KKR, RCB | 1364 | 105 | 182.84 | 73 |
| 5 | Ravindra Jadeja | RR, KTK, CSK, GL | 1307 | 122 | 158.04 | 63 |
| 6 | Rohit Sharma | Deccan Chargers, MI | 1149 | 74 | 196.07 | 78 |
| 7 | Hardik Pandya | MI, GT | 1086 | 73 | 185.95 | 79 |
| 8 | Virat Kohli | RCB | 1045 | 66 | 202.51 | 68 |
| 9 | Andre Russell | DC, KKR | 969 | 57 | 203.14 | 87 |
| 10 | David Miller | PBKS, RR, GT | 906 | 70 | 175.92 | 55 |
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