Graeme Smith – Rajasthan Royals – 2008
Smith was the top run-scorer for the inaugural champions. He scored 441 runs in 11 matches as Rajasthan Royals, under Shane Warne, beat Chennai Super Kings in the final. His opening partnership with Swapnil Asnodkar was one of the defining features of their title run.
Herschelle Gibbs – Deccan Chargers – 2009
The only IPL final played on South African soil produced a Proteas hero. Gibbs scored an unbeaten 53 off 48 balls in the final as Deccan Chargers beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by six runs in Johannesburg. It was the most important knock of his IPL career.
AFRICA PICKS: LSG vs RCB – IPL Preview
Albie Morkel – Chennai Super Kings – 2010 & 2011
Morkel played 78 matches for CSK across his time there, scoring 827 runs at a strike rate of 144.83 and taking 76 wickets at an economy of 8.09, and was part of their back-to-back title wins in 2010 and 2011. His most memorable moment came in the 2011 semi-final, when he hit 28 not out off 10 deliveries to take CSK to a six-wicket win with two balls to spare.
Jacques Kallis – Kolkata Knight Riders – 2012 & 2014
Kallis won two titles with KKR. In the 2012 season he scored 407 runs and took 15 wickets. His standout performance came in the 2012 final against Chennai Super Kings, where he scored 69 off 49 balls.
Imran Tahir – Chennai Super Kings – 2018 & 2021
Tahir won two IPL titles with CSK. He took 18 wickets in the 2018 title-winning season. He remains one of only four South Africans to lift the trophy twice.
Lungi Ngidi – Chennai Super Kings – 2018
The Durban-born fast bowler claimed 11 wickets in seven matches at an average of 14.18 during CSK’s 2018 title campaign. It was his debut IPL season and among the most impactful bowling performances by a South African in a title-winning year.
ALSO: Klaasen leads SA stars lighting up IPL charts
Faf du Plessis – Chennai Super Kings – 2018 & 2021
Du Plessis won two IPL finals with CSK and was Player of the Match in the 2021 final, scoring 86 off 59 balls to take CSK to 192 against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Quinton de Kock – Mumbai Indians – 2019 & 2020
De Kock crossed 500 runs in both of MI’s consecutive championship seasons, providing the platform their batting order relied upon in both title campaigns.
ALSO: Ahmedabad confirmed as new IPL final venue
David Miller – Gujarat Titans – 2022
Miller scored 481 runs at an average of 68.71 as Gujarat Titans won the title in their debut season. His finishing ability proved decisive in a campaign few predicted GT would complete.
Photo: Carl Fourie / Gallo Images
