Summary:
The IPL has treated us to some breathtaking displays of batsmanship. But do you know who the highest run-getters in IPL history are? If the answer is no, here’s your chance to know.
Main Text:
Like any T20 tournament, the IPL is heavily tilted towards batsmen. With just 20 overs at their disposal, the batsmen go all out to score quickly and put up imposing totals on the board. Add to it the powerplay, white ball, and bowling restrictions, and the bowler is always at the receiving end.
But do you know who the top scorers in the history of IPL are? If you don’t, here is your chance to be in the know. However, before moving forward, let’s give you a few spoilers. Four of the highest scorers belong to India. All of them have featured in the IPL since the inaugural season in 2008. Plus, only two of them were a part of the first IPL winner team.
Table: Top 10 Scorers from 2008 to 2022
| Name | Team(s) | Inns | Runs | HS | Avg. | SR | 100 | 50 |
| Virat Kohli | RCB | 203 | 6389 | 113 | 37.36 | 130.04 | 05 | 42 |
| Shikhar Dhawan | DC, MI, PK, SRH | 195 | 5911 | 106* | 34.77 | 126.70 | 02 | 44 |
| Rohit Sharma | DC, MI | 212 | 5691 | 109* | 30.92 | 130.31 | 01 | 40 |
| Suresh Raina | CSK, GL | 200 | 5528 | 100* | 32.51 | 136.73 | 01 | 39 |
| David Warner | DC, SRH | 152 | 5514 | 126 | 41.45 | 139.59 | 04 | 51 |
| AB de Villiers | DD, RCB | 170 | 5162 | 133* | 39.70 | 151.68 | 03 | 40 |
| Chris Gayle | KXIP, KKR, RCB | 141 | 4965 | 175* | 39.72 | 148.96 | 06 | 31 |
| MS Dhoni | CSK, RPS | 197 | 4838 | 84* | 39.65 | 135.44 | 00 | 24 |
| Robin Uthappa | CSK, KKR, MI, RR, RCB | 190 | 4828 | 87 | 27.90 | 130.59 | 00 | 26 |
| Gautam Gambhir | DD, KKR | 152 | 4217 | 93 | 31.00 | 123.88 | 00 | 36 |
1. Virat Kohli
Who else but King Kohli! He’s the most accomplished of the modern-day batsmen with an impeccable technique, insatiable appetite for runs, mental strength, and sublime elegance. Kohli scores freely, regardless of the format, conditions, or opposition. The best part is that he plays risk-free cricket and yet ends up maintaining stunning strike rates across all formats. Accumulating runs year on year, he has earned the moniker- run machine.
Even the IPL couldn’t stay immune to his impact. He started his IPL career with Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2008 and has remained their batting mainstay to date. Kohli, in 15 editions, has amassed a staggering 6389 runs, averaging 37.36 and striking at 130. The 2016 edition was the highlight of his IPL career where he ended up scoring a record 973 runs in just 16 outings. No other batsman has even aggregated 800 runs in a single edition, thus far.
In the very edition, Kohli even went on to score four centuries, a mark that still stands. Also, his average of 81.08 is yet to be matched by any batsman in any edition. That’s not all, Kohli even featured in a record-breaking partnership of 229 runs with AB de Villiers in a league game against Gujarat Lions. Kohli just raised the bar in batsmanship in that season. For the first time in 7 years, Kohli will play as a player in the current edition, not as the captain. Bowlers beware!
2. Shikhar Dhawan:
Shikhar has always remained in the shadows of stalwarts like Rohit and Virat. However, he is an outright match-winner regardless of the format. He is strong on the off-side but is equally impressive with his pulls and hooks. As a top-order bat, he might be more adept at playing pace and swing but can also handle spin well. Although at the fag-end of his career, Shikhar continues to do what he does best – provide great starts and score big runs for his team.
When it comes to the IPL, Shikhar is the second-highest run-getter with 5911 runs. These runs came in 195 innings at an average of 34.77 and a strike rate of 126.70 with two hundreds and 44 fifties. The southpaw has been a part of four franchises since his debut in the inaugural IPL season in 2008. These include Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Punjab Kings. In the current season, PBKS would be relying on him for fabulous starts.
3. Rohit Sharma:
With 5691 runs, Rohit Sharma is third on the leaderboard. Regarded as one of the most talented batsmen in the current era, Rohit is all class. With a perfect blend of immaculate timing, lazy elegance, and the ability to pick gaps, he makes batting look easy. When he is on song, none can match his strokeplay. He’s a game-changer not only with the bat but also as a leader. All five IPL titles came Mumbai Indians’ way under his inspirational leadership.
Solely as a batsman, Rohit took 212 innings to amass 5691 runs at an average of 30.92 and with a strike rate of 130. He has just one hundred to his credit, which is surprising given his abilities with the white ball. Rohit kickstarted his IPL career with Deccan Chargers and later moved to Mumbai Indians. Yes, he was a part of Deccan Charger’s first IPL winner squad in 2009.
4. Suresh Raina:
“Mr IPL” makes his way to the fourth position on the leaderboard. While Raina has been a standout performer for Team India in white-ball cricket, he always saved his best for the IPL. His record speaks for itself. In 200 innings (mostly for CSK), the left-hander accumulated 5528 with the help of a ton and 39 half-tons. What makes his contribution special is the fact that he is the only middle-order batsman to feature in the all-time highest run-getters in the IPL. As a side note, Raina briefly represented the Gujarat Lions when CSK was facing a ban.
5. David Warner:
Warner might not be the most attractive batsman but he’s mighty effective. Like most Aussie opening batsmen, he is strong on the front foot but his back-foot drives are also a treat. His balance is good, allowing him to generate power to stroke the ball hard. He has been a phenomenon in the IPL as well, scoring 5514 runs in 152 innings. That makes him the only non-Indian batsman to make his way into the top 5 run-scorers in IPL history. Also, at 41.45, Warner has the best average among all the players on our list. If you are into cricket betting, you can’t ignore him. He has to be in your scheme of things most of the time.
