5 Test specialists to have been highly successful in IPL
Rahul Dravid: The ‘Wall’ has to fight the Test specialist status in his international career as well. He broke this label and emerge one of the finest cricketers in ODI’s. Similarly, he fine tuned his game when it came to T20 cricket or IPL. He improved his shot-making abilities and strike rate to feature among the best IPL players. His captaincy brought out best in players as he led Rajasthan Royals to play-offs in 2013 IPL and to the final of 2013 Champions League T20. In T20 cricket, he played 109 matches, scoring 2586 runs at an average of 27.51 and strike rate of 113.87 with 11 fifties.
Jacques Kallis: The South African all-rounder too was one of the best players in Test cricket. He too has to fight his Test specialist status to emerge one of the effective players in IPL. He improved his strike rate, running between his wickets and played useful cameos to become a utility play for his franchisee, Kolkata Knight Riders. His bowling and fielding became an asset too. He made a brilliant fifty in the 2012 IPL final for KKR to help his team get their maiden IPL title. In 176 T20 matches, he scored 4416 runs at an average of 30.88 and strike rate of 119.35 and also took 114 wickets.
Mahela Jayawardene: The Sri Lankan batsman was also deemed a Test specialist cricketer, but he improved his game to become the highest run-getter in T20Is. He struggled initially to find a foothold in IPL, but once he was promoted as opener for Kings XI Punjab in 2010 IPL, he impressed everyone with his power hitting, scoring the most runs for his franchisee in that edition at an average of 43.90. He continues to ply his trade from other domestic T20 tournaments across the cricketing world. Overall, Jayawardene has played 198 T20 matches, scoring 4797 runs at an average of 28.72 and strike rate of 133.18 with 2 tons and 33 fifties.
Michael Hussey: T20 cricket is not about just sixes and fours and you still can be successful playing conventional cricket. Michael Hussey is an example of that. He is an accumulator and likes to grind it out in the middle, and this quality came of great help to him in T20 cricket. He was highly successful in the IPL opening the batting for Chennai Super Kings. He played 150 T20 matches, scoring 4404 runs at an average of 38.29 with a strike rate of 136.29.
Anil Kumble: The former Indian leg-spinner has had to struggle keep his critics at bay in ODIs during his international career. He was later relegated to Test cricket only. But the attacking mindset and bowling by Kumble helped him stake a claim in IPL as he led Royal Challengers Bangalore to runners-up position in 2009 IPL. In that edition, he emerged as the second highest wicket-taker for RCB with 21 wickets at an economy rate of 5.86. Overall, he played 54 T20 matches, taking 57 wickets at an average of 24.36.
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