The evolution of T20 cricket over the last decade has been surprising. From just being classified as a supplement to the longer formats, T20 cricket has undoubtedly become one of the toughest formats.

Fast-paced, entertainment and glamour - Since its advent, Indian Premier League played a key role in revolutionizing the shortest format of the game. 

The fourth edition of the IPL witnessed the revolutionary phase of the fast-growing T20 format. The pacers relied more on the knuckleballs, spinners resorted to bowling the doosras, and the batsman employed the method of reverse sweeps - epitomizing the shift in the approach to the modern-day sport. 

IPL 2011 synopsized in numbers

• A total of 810 wickets were registered in the tournament, eclipsing the numbers of the previous three editions. The pacers accounted for 56.79% (460) wickets from the total tally.
• The RCB batters recorded an average strike rate of 133.64, the most by a team in the tournament.
• With 9292 runs between them; CSK, RCB, MI, and KKR batted their way into the playoffs. In 2011, Chennai Super Kings amassed a total of 2500 runs - the highest aggregate of runs scored by a team in the 2011 edition.

• In 2011, Royal Challengers Bangalore scored the highest number of runs from boundaries - forming 59.13% (1460 runs) of the total runs.
• Continuing the trend, the teams batting second won 54.16% (39) of matches from the total tally.
• A total of 21050 runs were scored in the tournament - the highest aggregate of runs recorded in a single season compared to the first three editions of the IPL.
• 1913 fours and 639 sixes - In 2011, 54.56% (11,486) of runs encompassed from the boundaries.
• Sreenath Aravind recorded the best bowling strike rate of 13.14 from 13 matches. (min 25 overs bowled)
• In 2011, the Gayle-Kohli liaison played a central role in RCB's successful campaign - scoring 1,165 runs and contributing 47.18% of runs for RCB.