Although there are only four spots for them in a playing XI, the overseas players’ contributions play a huge role in defining the success of a team in the Indian Premier League.
Here, we look at the five overseas players who performed the best in IPL 2017.
DAVID WARNER
It has been another fabulous IPL season for David Warner as he managed to score 641 runs from 14 matches at an average of 58.27.
Such numbers are all set to ensure the Sunrisers Hyderabad captain wins the Orange Cap for the second time in three seasons.
Warner’s best performance came in Sunrisers’ home fixture against Kolkata Knight Riders where he scored 126 from just 59 deliveries, which was his first century since joining the franchise in 2014.
HASHIM AMLA
Over the years, there have been some questions raised about Amla’s ability in T20 cricket despite having a very good record in the format at the international level.
In this year’s IPL, Amla further proved his credentials in the shortest form of the game as he notched up two centuries.
Before leaving the tournament for national duties, the Kings XI Punjab opening batsman scored 420 runs at an average of 60.00 and a strike-rate of 145.83. And in the process, he proved that batsmen with proper techniques can prosper in the tournament.
STEVE SMITH
Steve Smith came into the tournament in superb form and he has been in good touch with the bat, as well as with his captaincy, in the ongoing season.
In 14 matches, the Australian batsman has managed 421 runs which makes him the second highest run-scorer among overseas players this season. It is also his best runs tally in a single season in the IPL.
Smith has consistently got off to starts this season but will be a little disappointed that he has only two half-centuries to show for it.
BEN STOKES
Although Ben Stokes is reputed as one of the finest cricketers on the planet today, there were some doubts if he would be worth the $2.16 million that Rising Pune Supergiant acquired him for at the IPL auction.
Stokes proved all the doubters wrong with some splendid performances with both bat and ball that were pivotal in Pune reaching the playoffs.
The England all-rounder amassed 316 runs and picked up 12 wickets in what was an outstanding season for him, which included three Man-of-the-Match efforts.
RASHID KHAN
Khan’s splendid performances for Afghanistan saw him acquired by Sunrisers for $620k at the IPL auction earlier this year.
Despite being just 18 and playing in the IPL for the first time, Rashid was able to trouble some of the top batsmen in the world, with a lot of them finding it hard to pick his googly.
Having taken 17 wickets from 14 matches this season, Rashid was definitely one of the stars of the tournament.
What was most impressive about the Afghanistan leg-spinner was that he conceded just 6.62 runs per over which was among the best in the league.
