The IPL has borrowed from American sports the concept of an MVP (Most Valuable Player), although until the end of 2012, it was known by the more traditional Man of the Tournament award.
In 2013, the league decided to use a rating system, which, with a few tweaks, is still being used to this day. A player earns 2.5 points for every four that they hit and 3.5 points a six, 3.5 points for every wicket, while a dot ball is rewarded with one point. Every catch taken or stumping is rewarded with 2.5 points.
Shane Watson was the inaugural Man of the Tournament in 2008. He was followed by compatriot Adam Gilchrist the following year.
In 2010, Sachin Tendulkar became the first Indian to win the award, and in 2011, it was the turn of another great IPL batter Chris Gayle. West Indian Sunil Narine was the last Player of the Tournament.
When it became the MVP, Watson won it for a second time, and Narine and Andre Russell have since joined him in becoming two-time winners in its various forms.
Watson’s haul of points in 2013, 386, remains the highest garnered by any player. The lowest, on the other hand, was the 264.5 accumulated by Harshal Patel last year, although he could also point to the fact that he won the Purple Cap as well.
The MVP award goes to somebody whose franchise reaches the knockout stages at least – the more matches played, the more points on offer.
One exception to this rule is the English fast bowler Jofra Archer who won the award in 2020. That was despite his franchise, the Rajasthan Royals, finishing bottom of the regular table that year.
He was the second English player to collect the award. The other was Ben Stokes back in 2017 for Rising Pune Supergiant, one of two franchises that temporarily replaced the banned Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals as they sat out their suspensions for the involvement of their owners in illegal betting activity.