This project delves into the analysis of the Indian Premier League (IPL) twenty-over (T20) cricket tournament match data spanning from 2008 to 2020. The primary focus of this analysis revolves around player performance, specifically batting and bowling, as well as examining the influence of the coin toss on match outcomes.
Cricket, often hailed as "a gentleman's game," boasts a rich heritage dating back to 1709 in England. It has evolved into a beloved sport with global reach, notably during the era of the British Empire. In India, cricket has transcended borders, uniting diverse communities and identities.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) introduced the Indian Premier League in 2007, establishing an annual professional T20 franchise. Corporate entities invested in city-based teams strategically positioned across India, vying for the coveted title of IPL champions. The tournament's international appeal allowed team owners to draft players through auctions, drawing from a pool of global cricket talent. The IPL brand has witnessed remarkable growth, its value soaring from $2 billion USD in 2009 to a staggering $5.7 billion USD in 2019.
As a Trinidadian residing in the West Indies, cricket holds a special place in my cultural identity. It has played a pivotal role in uniting the Caribbean region on the global stage, with the West Indies cricket team, comprising top talents from the region, achieving victories against renowned international teams, including those from England and Australia. West Indian and Trinidadian cricketers have showcased their skills on the IPL stage, further elevating the tournament's reputation and leading to the emergence of related competitions, such as the Caribbean Premier League.
Similar to India, cricket is a prevalent social activity in my homeland, fostering discussions and camaraderie. This inspired my exploration of IPL match data from 2008 to 2020. In this project, I aim to address key questions to provide valuable insights into past IPL tournaments.
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Season summary:
a. Were there the same amount of matches per season? If not which year has the most and least matches?
b. Which season had the highest runs scored and wickets taken? -
Overall team winners:
a. Which team played the most amount of matches? Did this team have the highest overall win ratio?
b. For the team which had the highest win ratio, which other team defeated them the most?
c. How did they lose those matches? -
Toss decision:
a. What was the most common and least common match result type?
b. Which team won the toss the most?
c. Does the winning the toss have any impact winning the match? -
Batsman:
a: Who was the leading overall runs scorer in the IPL? Which season was his best?
b: Who was the top six hitter in the IPL? Is it also the top runs overall run scorer? How many six run boundaries did he attain overall?
c: Which batsman scored the highest total in any one single match?
d: What were the top scoring overs in the match where the player made the all time high individual score? -
Bowlers:
a. Who was the leading overall wickets taker in the IPL? Which season was his best and what was his most common dismissal type?
b. Who was the most expensive bowler in the IPL? Which season was his best and what was his most common dismissal type?
c. Which bowler took the most wickets in any one single match across the entire IPL? Were the dismissals of any specific type and which overs did the batsmen lose their wickets? -
Player of match:
a. Which player attained "player of match" the most in the IPL? Which player receive the most amount of "player of match" awards in any one season? -
IPL tournament winners:
a. Which teams won and lost the most IPL final matches?
b. What is the probability that the toss winner win the match? Does the choice to bat or field impact the chance of winning?
c. What is the most common win type?
Click HERE to view the analysis.