The middle overs are one of the most important parts of a T20 match, as teams either have to carry forward the momentum for the powerplay or have to recover from wicket losses. Moreover, it requires extraordinary skills to manage the gaps and reach the boundary as the field gets spread, unlike the power plays. Notably, the West Indian giant Chris Gayle, known as the Universal Boss for his batting exploits, has 169 sixes in 76 matches, the most by any batter in that phase. Even though he stands ninth in the list in terms of strike rate, he still crosses 150 with the highest boundary average per over in the top 10. Apart from Gayle, Virat Kohli has 300 boundaries in the middle overs—the most for a batter in this. He also has over 4000 runs, which none have ever managed to get in the middle overs in IPL history. Speaking about strike rate, around 12 players have managed to have a strike rate over 150 in the middle overs, even though only three batters have a strike rate over 170. Here we will discuss the top five batters with the best middle-order strike rate. 1 | Sunil Narine: Primarily a spin bowler, his big hitting capacities made his then captain Gautam Gambhir promote him to the opening slot. Batting in the 7-12 overs, Narine has amassed 537 runs facing He tops the list with a strike rate of 177.81. Overall he has he has 1780 runs in 122 innings and a strike rate of 166.51. 2 | Phil Salt: The England batter Phil Salt ranks second in the list. The top-order batter has played his IPL game in 2023 and has 310 runs playing 177 balls. So far, he has played for Delhi capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers, playing crucial roles for the last two, winning them trophies in 2024 and 2025, respectively. 3 Virender Sehwag In 2011, the former Indian opener Virender Sehwag registered the highest strike rate of 217.47 scoring 224 runs off just 103 balls. Overall, he has 1102 runs, with a strike rate of 173.54 in the middle. 4 | Nicholas Pooran The present middle-order batter of Lucknow Super Giants, Nicholas Pooran, stands fourth in the list. Across his IPL career, he has piled up 1,480 runs in overs 7 to 15 at a stunning strike rate of 167.80, underlining his ability to keep the scoring rate high once the powerplay ends. Facing 882 deliveries in this phase, Pooran has struck 88 fours and 115 sixes, highlighting his boundary-hitting dominance. Since 2021, his average of 43.80 in the middle overs reflects remarkable consistency, particularly against spin, which usually controls this period of the innings. After joining Lucknow Super Giants, Pooran’s impact has only grown. In the 2024 season alone, he smashed 297 runs in overs 7 to 16 at a strike rate of 171.67, reinforcing his reputation as a reliable middle-order accelerator who sets up explosive finishes. 5 | Abhishek Sharma Abhishek Sharma has emerged as a major force in the IPL middle overs, making a significant impact between overs 7 and 15. He has scored 666 runs in this phase at an impressive strike rate of 166.08, highlighting his attacking intent once the powerplay ends. Facing 401 balls, Sharma has struck 43 fours and 44 sixes, underlining his clean and fearless hitting ability. His numbers place him among the top performers in IPL history for strike rate in the middle overs. Sharma’s success is largely built on his proficiency against spin, a phase where bowlers usually look to apply the brakes. His aggressive approach ensures sustained momentum, a trait that stood out during his explosive 2024 IPL season, where his overall strike rate crossed the 200 mark. Batter Strike Rate Innings Runs Balls 4s/6s Sunil Narine 177.81 40 537 302 42/41 Phil Salt 175.14 15 310 177 29/17 Virender Sehwag 173.54 42 1102 635 101/57 Nicholas Pooran 167.80 72 1480 882 88/115 Abhishek Sharma 166.08 39 666 401 43/44