The 2012 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was the fifth season of the tournament. It was held from April 4 to May 27, 2012, and a total of 76 matches were played between nine teams.
Kolkata Knight Riders emerged as the champions of the 2012 IPL, defeating Chennai Super Kings by 5 wickets in the final. It was Kolkata Knight Riders’ first IPL title, having finished runners-up in the 2011 edition of the tournament.
Several players put up outstanding performances throughout the tournament, with some even breaking records along the way. Here are some of the standout performers from the 2012 IPL:
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Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
West Indian opener Chris Gayle was the highest run-scorer of the 2012 IPL, amassing 733 runs in 15 matches at an average of 61.08 and a strike rate of 160.74. The left-hander hit one century and seven half-centuries during the tournament, and was once again the mainstay of the Royal Challengers Bangalore batting lineup. -
Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders)
West Indian spinner Sunil Narine was the highest wicket-taker of the 2012 IPL, picking up 24 wickets in 15 matches at an economy rate of 5.47. The off-spinner’s variations proved to be very difficult for batsmen to handle, and he played a crucial role in helping Kolkata Knight Riders win their first IPL title. -
Gautam Gambhir (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Indian opener Gautam Gambhir was the second-highest run-scorer of the 2012 IPL, scoring 590 runs in 17 matches at an average of 36.87 and a strike rate of 143.55. The left-hander hit five half-centuries during the tournament and played a crucial role in helping Kolkata Knight Riders win their first IPL title. -
Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians)
Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga had another great season with the ball in 2012. He picked up 22 wickets in 15 matches at an economy rate of 6.53, and was very effective in the death overs for Mumbai Indians. -
Dale Steyn (Deccan Chargers)
South African fast bowler Dale Steyn had a great season with the ball for Deccan Chargers, picking up 18 wickets in 12 matches at an economy rate of 5.66. The right-arm fast bowler was very accurate and bowled at a lively pace, making life difficult for the opposition batsmen.
These five players were undoubtedly the standout performers of the 2012 IPL, but there were several other players who put up impressive performances as well. Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bangalore scored 364 runs in 16 matches, while Dwayne Bravo of Chennai Super Kings picked up 19 wickets in 18 matches. Sachin Tendulkar of Mumbai Indians and Shane Watson of Rajasthan Royals also had good seasons with the bat, scoring 324 and 255 runs respectively.
Overall, the 2012 IPL was another exciting season of T20 cricket, filled with some memorable performances from the best players in the world. The league continued to attract the biggest names in cricket and was watched by millions of fans around the globe, cementing its place as one of the most popular cricket tournaments in the world.