The ascendancy of the Caribbean players in the IPL

In 2003, the curtain-raiser of the T20 format raised many eyebrows. Several cricket pundits questioned the move, accentuating that the truncated format would imperil the fortune of the other two formats. Fast forward to 2020, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has fundamentally changed the whole dynamics of the game and has also influenced the ODI and Test format. 

West Indies, a cluster of several islands located in the North Atlantic Ocean, has specifically produced players who have exhibited guileful skill and gladiatorial intensity in the T20 format.

In an exclusive interview with Harsha Bhogle, Ian Bishop heaped praise on Dwayne Bravo and also admitted that the Windies players have found a great forum to showcase their credentials. 

"These guys have found a great platform to showcase the short, powerful, guileful, and speedy display of their skills. T20 is all about machismo, that is who Dwayne Bravo is."- Bishop was quoted as saying in a show called 'Cricbuzz In Conversation.'

Highly competent bowler, intimidating with the bat, and an agile fielder, Dwayne Bravo makes for a perfect all-rounder, particularly in the T20 format - the characteristic which captivates Ian Bishop. 

The former West Indies fast bowler underlined the significance of the IPL and also spoke about the reciprocal relationship between the West Indies and the lucrative tournament.

"They have done a lot for the IPL and the IPL has done a lot to them. It has also helped them develop a structure and professionalized these guys to a big extent." - Bishop added. 

Sunil Narine was an unknown entity until he burst onto the IPL scene, and the wily spinner was central to Kolkata's triumphant run in 2012 and 2014. Thanks to a scintillating show in the IPL, Narine forced his way into the West Indies squad. 

With 122 wickets, Sunil Narine has emerged to be the potent weapon for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. 

Sunil Narine - IPL career stats

Chris Gayle and Andre Russell have a penchant of hitting towering sixes and taking the long handle to the opposition bowling attack. In the IPL, Andre Russell has the record of hitting a six in every 6.25 balls. 

Best ball per six ratio among the West Indian players 

Chris Gayle has always entrusted power-hitting methodology over conventional strokeplay. The Jamaican-born batsman played a very big part in RCB's rise as a batting powerhouse.

Chris Gayle - IPL Career Stats  

Matches: 125 | Runs: 4484 | SR: 151.03 

With 368 fours and 326 sixes, Chris Gayle has scored 76.44% of his runs from boundaries. The talismanic southpaw also holds the record of scoring most number of runs (3428) from boundaries in the IPL. 

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The Indian Premier League ( IPL) is definitely the most powerful forum for any player to showcase their capabilities in the midst of huge crowds.

Cricket enthusiasts can't fathom IPL without the Caribbean flavour; the numbers also act as a testament to the strong aura they've built around the tournament.