Baap of IPL — Who Truly Holds the Crown?

By Published On: October 15, 2025
IPL cricketers batting under floodlights with the title "Baap of IPL".

The Indian Premier League is one of the biggest cricket tournaments in the world. Players, fans, and teams gather every year for this cricket festival. The debate gets louder each season – who is the baap of IPL? Fans across India argue between Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, or star players like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma.

Some support teams that win many titles. Others support players who break records. In this indusbet article, we examine the stats, performances, and fan opinions to find the real king of IPL baap.

What Does “Baap of IPL” Mean?

Baap of IPL means the “boss” or “leader” of the Indian Premier League. Fans give this title to a player or team that wins more than others. The title shows someone has great skill, wins often, and makes a big impact on the league.

Many factors decide who is baap of IPL. Batsmen need high runs and many centuries. Teams need trophies and high win rates. Good captains turn average players into winners. Playing well for many years proves real talent and staying power.

This title carries more weight than “king of IPL” or “godfather of IPL”. A king rules through talent. The “Baap” earns respect through repeated wins across many seasons. The word shows total control and superiority over everyone else for years. Fans give this honor only to those who changed cricket and set records that others cannot match.

Top Contenders for Baap of IPL — Players & Teams

The debate about who is the baap of IPL includes many famous names and winning teams. Each person or team has strong reasons to claim this title.

MS Dhoni — The Leader & Legend

MS Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings to five IPL titles. This makes him one of the best captains in IPL history. He stays calm under pressure. He reads the game very well. These skills helped him win many matches that looked lost. Dhoni finishes games with his bat. He makes smart decisions as captain.

He hit 239 sixes in his IPL career. He took CSK to 12 playoffs and 10 finals. His work built a winning culture that survived bad seasons. CSK won 58% of matches under him. Fans call him the baap of IPL team management. No other captain won so much for so long.

Virat Kohli — Run Machine

Virat Kohli scored more IPL runs than anyone else. He has over 8,552 runs with a high average. His 2016 season was the best ever by one player. He scored 973 runs with four centuries that year. Kohli scored 50 or more runs more times than any other player. This shows he performs well in all match situations. He has eight centuries in IPL. This is the most by anyone.

Jos Buttler is second with seven centuries. Kohli never won the trophy as RCB captain. But his batting records make him a strong baap of IPL player candidate. He and AB de Villiers scored 229 runs together against Gujarat Lions in 2016. This remains the highest partnership in IPL history.

Rohit Sharma — Captain King

Rohit Sharma won five IPL titles as Mumbai Indians captain. This is more than any other captain in IPL history. He builds championship teams. He makes important decisions at key moments. Mumbai Indians won the league under him in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. Rohit also scored runs while managing the team.

He scored two centuries and hit 261 sixes in IPL. He looks calm but competes hard. This brings out the best in his teammates. These wins make him the top choice for baap of IPL team honors. Mumbai Indians won 56% of matches and reached 9 playoffs under him.

Other Contenders

Chris Gayle changed power hitting in IPL with 357 sixes. This is the most by any player ever. His hitting scared bowling teams. He once scored 175 not out. This helped RCB score 263/5, the highest team total. AB de Villiers brought new ideas and steady performance. He hit 251 sixes and three centuries. One of his best innings was 129 runs off 52 balls against Gujarat Lions.

People call him “Mr. 360” because he hits the ball anywhere. He won the most Man-of-the-Match awards. Sunil Narine changed T20 bowling with mystery spin that confused batsmen for years. Each player dominated their area completely. Fans still debate their claims to the baap of IPL player title.

Team vs Player — Which “Baap” Counts More?

The baap of IPL debate has two sides: great individual play versus team success. Player records show personal skill. Team trophies show how good an organization is.

Individual players win matches through amazing performances that go beyond team limits. Kohli’s run records and Gayle’s six-hitting show personal greatness. This does not depend on team results. These players performed well no matter how their team did overall.

Teams need many match-winners working together under strong leadership and smart planning. Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians built dynasties through balanced squads and winning cultures. They kept winning even when star players had bad seasons. This proves that having depth in the team matters.

Trophy counts favor teams because IPL is a team sport. Teams work together to win championships. Mumbai Indians’ five titles and CSK’s five championships are bigger than any personal stats for pure winning. But players create special moments that define eras and inspire future generations.

The answer depends on what fans value more: teams that keep winning or individual players who change games. This is why the question of which team is baap of IPL stays hotly debated.

Baap of IPL Over the Years — Trends & Evolution

Public opinion on who is the baap of IPL shifted as different players and teams won titles. In 2008, Rajasthan Royals shocked everyone by winning the first IPL under Shane Warne’s leadership.

CSK grew strong by winning back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011. This started their dynasty. From 2013 to 2015, MI and CSK had fierce rivalry. Both won championships. MI took the 2013 title under Rohit Sharma. Fans began discussing captaincy and multiple wins.

Virat Kohli dominated 2016 with 973 runs and four centuries. Fans called him the baap of IPL player that year. But he did not win the trophy, so the title faded. CSK returned in 2018 after two years away and won, proving their strength.

MI won consecutively in 2019 and 2020. This strengthened Rohit’s claim as baap of IPL 2019 and baap of IPL 2020. From 2021 to 2023, CSK bounced back. Dhoni showed he remained the baap despite his age.

How Fans Choose Their Baap — Metrics & Perception

Fans judge baap of IPL candidates using many factors that mix stats with other qualities. Total runs matter most for batsmen. Kohli’s 8,552 runs and eight centuries set the standard. Strike rates show which players hit aggressively and which ones just collect runs. This favors big hitters like Gayle over steady scorers.

Trophy counts are very important. Winning shows a player’s real value beyond personal records. Rohit Sharma’s five titles and Dhoni’s five championships give them an edge over high-scoring players who never won. CSK’s 10 final appearances compared to MI’s 6 finals also affect how people see consistency.

The ability to finish games strongly affects how fans see players. Big performances in crucial moments create lasting memories. Media coverage and social media debates make certain stories bigger through viral videos of amazing sixes or match-winning plays. Having charisma and fans also matters.

The “Dhoni factor” and “Yellow Army” loyalty give CSK an emotional advantage. Regional pride affects choices too. Fans support players from their home states or favorite teams. They do this no matter what the pure statistics say. The debate about who is the baap of IPL will likely never end. Different fans value different achievements.

Conclusion

The baap of IPL title is a tough question to answer. Various individuals have excelled in diverse aspects. MS Dhoni can be seen as the best leader and overall team success having won the title five times, been in the final 10 times, and reaching the playoffs 12 times. No one can compare to Virat Kohli as far as scoring is concerned with 8,552 runs and 8 hundreds.

Rohit Sharma is the one who can blend brilliant captaincy with five triumphant campaigns for Mumbai Indians. Each player changed their role and set records that others find very hard to match in modern cricket. The debate celebrates the greatness that makes this tournament special. Fans can believe in the baap team of IPL or the baap of IPL player. Both views honor excellence.

 

FAQs

Who is called the Baap of IPL?

Many players claim this title. MS Dhoni gets it for his leadership and five titles with CSK. Virat Kohli gets it for his batting records with 8,552 runs. Rohit Sharma gets it for his captaincy success with five Mumbai Indians championships.

Is Dhoni the Baap of IPL?

Many fans think MS Dhoni is the baap of IPL. He led Chennai Super Kings to five titles. He played in 10 finals and reached 12 playoffs. He won important matches under pressure many times throughout his career.

Which team is considered Baap of IPL?

Both Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have strong claims with five championships each. But CSK is ahead with 10 final appearances versus MI’s 6 finals. CSK also has a 58% win rate compared to MI’s 56%. This makes the baap of IPL team debate ongoing.

Who was Baap of IPL in 2019/2020?

Rohit Sharma made his claim stronger in both seasons. Mumbai Indians won the trophy in 2019 and 2020 back to back. This proved their power. But Virat Kohli still had his position as the player with most runs in IPL history.

Can a player and team both be Baap of IPL?

Yes, the title works differently for individuals and teams. One measures personal greatness through runs and records. The other shows team success and steady winning across many seasons.

 

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Written by : Rocky

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