Top 10 batsmen who have scored most runs in an IPL season

In its brief history, IPL has seen some amazing knocks, be it is Chris Gayle's 175* or Brendon McCullum's 158* in the opening match of the IPL. But only few have managed to maintain the level of consistency required to finish as the top run-getter in the entire tournament.CSK's Suresh Raina leads the pack with the most runs in IPL history, but let us take a look at the top 10 batsmen who have hit most runs in a single IPL season.

#10 Jacques Kallis 572 runs

Jacques Kallis finds himself at 10th place thanks to his exploits with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2010 edition. The South African smashed 572 runs in his 16 innings at an average of almost 48. Kallis hit 67 boundaries in the tournament - second only to the eventual Orange Cap winner Sachin Tendulkar.

#9 Matthew Hayden 572 runs

Occupying the ninth place is the retired Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden. Hayden was in fabulous form in the second edition, when he smashed 572 runs in just 12 matches for the Chennai Super Kings. With an average of over 50, the Australian was not just consistent but also explosive as well as his strike rate of almost 145 shows.

#8 Gautam Gambhir 590 runs

One of the main reasons why Kolkata Knight Riders won the 2012 IPL was the form of their skipper and opening batsman Gautam Gambhir. The stylish left-hander scored 590 runs in 17 matches, including six fifties - second only to a rampant Chris Gayle. All of this was at a brisk pace of over 143 and an average of almost 37.

#7 Chris Gayle 608 runs

At number seven is the only player to have won the Orange Cap twice in IPL. Chris Gayle took the IPL by storm in 2011 when he smashed 608 in just 12 games for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. His whirlwind tournament saw him finish with a strike rate in excess of 180 and average almost touching 70. He also scored two hundreds and hit 44 sixes - the most of any player in the tournament.

#6 Shaun Marsh 616 runs

Blasting his way into No. 6 on the list of most runs in a single IPL tournament is Shaun Marsh - the first Orange Cap winner. Opening the batting for Kings XI Punjab, Marsh scored 616 runs in just 11 matches at an astounding average of 68.44, whilst his strike rate was almost 140. The Australian scored a century and also had five fifties to his name - the most by any batsman that year.

#5 Sachin Tendulkar 618 runs

In fifth place is the one and only Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 618 runs in the 2010 edition for the Mumbai Indians. He amassed those runs in just 15 games and at an average of 47.53 and scored five fifties in the process. The Orange Cap winner also finished with the most fours in the tournament (86).

#4 Virat Kohli 634 runs

Coming in at Number four is Virat Kohli, who smashed 634 runs in his 16 games for the Royal Challengers Bangalore last season. Average 45 and striking at almost 140, it is fair to say that Kohli was consistently getting quick runs for his side and the Indian batsman also finished with six fifties - joint-highest of any player in the tournament.

#3 Chris Gayle 708 runs

After two consecutive Orange Caps, Chris Gayle had to settle with second place last season and is third on this list. In any other season, his tally of 708 runs at a strike rate of over 150 and average of almost 60 would have been enough, but not last year. Even still, Gayle smashed a mind-boggling 51 sixes last time around – twice as many as the batsman in second place.

#2 Mike Hussey 733 runs

Second on this list, is “Mr.Cricket” himself with 733 runs in his 17 games for the Chennai Super Kings last season. Hussey’s 733 included a highest score of 95 and six fifties – the joint-best along with Virat Kohli. The model of consistency, Hussey also hit 81 fours and 17 sixes in the tournament as he claimed his first Orange Cap.

#1 Chris Gayle 733 runs

Top of the pile, once again is the West Indian Chris Gayle. Although Gayle scored the same amount of runs in 2012 as Hussey managed last time, he did so in just 15 matches, compared to Hussey’s 17. Gayle’s 733 came at an average of over 60 and a strike rate in excess of 160. The West Indian also hit seven fifties - the most by any player in IPL’s brief history and scored a jaw-dropping 59 sixes, almost thrice as much as the player in second place.

Can Maxwell or Smith break Gayle’s record this time around? Or will Gayle go one better? Its time to wait and watch.