Top 5 foreign players with most runs in IPL history

Since the inception of the IPL in 2008, foreign cricketers have flooded the Indian domestic market to make a name for themselves in the biggest T20 cricket exhibition in the world. All players have been given a platform and opportunity to learn from the best players and coaches in the world, with complete freedom to express themselves.

There have been a number of foreign players who have made a mark in the IPL, thereby attracting more of them to the biggest league in the world.

Indian batsmen dominate the all-time run-getters chart in the tournament's history, with only three foreigners in the top 10. The list is led by Indian captain Virat Kohli who has amassed the most runs in the competition's history with 4932.

Here we take a look at the top 5 foreign players with the most runs in IPL history:

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#5 Brendon McCullum - 2881 runs

Former New Zealand captain and wicket-keeper batsman, Brendon McCullum currently plies his trade in the IPL for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. He is fifth on the list of foreigners with the most number of runs and 16th on the all-time list with 2881 runs.

The 36-year-old McCullum is one of a select few players to have played in every edition of the IPL. In the first ever IPL game in 2008, he thrashed his current side RCB all around the park at the Chinnaswamy, notching 158 runs for KKR.

The Kiwi has played 109 games for five franchises and is a veteran in all formats of the game. An explosive batsman, McCullum is a hard man to stop once he gets going, although the Kiwi has looked out of sorts this season.

#4 Shane Watson - 3046 runs

Watson has been one of the IPL's greatest ever players

One of the most devasting all-rounders in world cricket, Shane Watson was signed by the Chennai Super Kings this season. After spending a majority of his IPL career with the Rajasthan Royals he moved to RCB for a couple of seasons. Watson is fourth on the list of foreign players with the most runs and 14th on the all-time list with 3046 runs and counting for three teams.

Watson is a specialist all-rounder with the ability to play in any position in the batting order. Capable of bowling good overs at the death for his team, Watson, like McCullum, has played in every edition of the IPL thus far.

#3 AB de Villiers - 3831 runs

De Villiers has been a key figure for RCB

South African batsman and former captain, AB de Villiers currently plies his trade for the RCB, who he joined in 2011, after three seasons at the Delhi Daredevils. With 3831 runs and counting, in the history of the IPL, De Villiers is 10th on the all-time list and third on the list of foreign payers with the most number of runs.

The player has not lifted the IPL trophy during his entire career but remains one of the few to have featured in all the editions of the tournament. The South African is adored here in India, with his style of batting and personality.

A fan favourite of the Bangalore faithful, De Villiers, much like the franchise he plays for, will be eager to claim his first ever IPL triumph. However, that looks unlikely this season despite the player's great knocks.

#2 Chris Gayle - 3994 runs

Chris Gayle is a match-winner

The Carribean king of sixes, Chris Gayle is second on the list of foreign players with the most runs in the history of the IPL and 7th on the all-time list, amassing 3994 runs and counting. The West Indian has played 111 matches for KKR, RCB and KXIP together.

He has been in blistering form this campaign and will be eager to pick up his first ever IPL trophy this season. A handy off-spinner as well Gayle has picked up crucial wickets for his teams in the past. One of the most lethal opening batsmen in the game, the 39-year-old could continue playing for a few more years.

A real entertainer, Gayle has treated audiences to some spectacular batting performances and won matches by himself in this format of the game. A World T20 champion with the West Indies, only the IPL eludes the Carribean batsman.

#1 David Warner - 4014 runs

Warner connects with the ball

The foreigner with the most runs in IPL history is the Australian opening batsman, David Warner. The player has amassed over 4000 runs in the tournament for the Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad. He is sixth on the all-time list of players with the most runs.

Due to the ball-tampering scandal, he was forced to miss this season of the IPL and relinquish the captaincy.

Warner is one of the game's most aggressive and explosive opening batsmen and has won the IPL with the Sunrisers in the past.