Top 5 run scorers in the history of the IPL

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli

With IPL 2019 just around the corner, cricket fans are waiting with more excitement than ever.

Ever since Brendon McCullum started the ritual back in the inaugural game on 18th April 2008, the IPL has always been lit up by the fireworks produced by the batsmen. After all, it is a batsman's game, as announced Baz, with his unbeaten 158 off just 73 deliveries.

A team scoring 222 runs in only 20 overs was a big deal back in 2008. It was the perfect way to kickstart the grandest cricket league in the entire world. The journey of the IPL has been quite sensational since that game, but when you look back into the vault, that unbelievable knock by McCullum will remain special forever.

Many world-class batsmen have graced the IPL with their presence over the years. From Sachin Tendulkar to Ricky Ponting and from Sanath Jayasuriya to Stephen Fleming, everyone has played a remarkable role for their respective franchises.

Apart from such batting legends, there have been a few players who have taken centre-stage in garnering all the acclaim and appreciation. Here, we take a look back at the last 10 years to find out the batsmen who have been scoring runs the most consistently in the IPL.


#5 Robin Uthappa

Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa

Robin Uthappa is a cricketer who will likely be remembered for what he couldn’t achieve rather than what he did. He was in the Indian national team since 2006 but failed to make the most of his opportunities.

After winning the first T20 World Cup in South Africa, Uthappa was highly rated as a T20 player as he played a significant role in that victorious campaign. Mumbai Indians bought him in the opening season of the IPL, but he didn’t remain there for long.

In the next season, he went to Royal Challengers Bangalore for two years where he started to make an impact. Pune Warriors came to the scene in 2011 and signed him for another two seasons before Kolkata Knight Riders welcomed him in 2014.

Uthappa is a remarkable batsman with a sound technique and unpredictable footwork. He isn’t afraid to go down the track against a fast bowler to hit him over his head. His athleticism in the field also makes him a complete player.

Uthappa has also kept wickets for the Kolkata Knight Riders, which shows how dedicated he is. He has scored 4086 runs in 165 IPL matches playing for four different teams. It has taken him 158 innings to score these many runs at a strike rate of 131.84.

#4 Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir is an unsung hero of the golden generation of the Indian cricket team. He was always a leader no matter - while opening the innings with the bat and leading his team on the field. After an illustrious career with the Indian cricket team, he announced last year that he would be hanging up his boots.

Always a Delhi boy by heart, Gambhir started his IPL journey with Delhi Daredevils, but that association came to an end in 2011. Kolkata Knight Riders pounced on the opportunity to sign him in as their skipper, which was a masterstroke.

Gambhir lifted two IPL titles in the next three years to make the City of Joy erupt with pride and happiness.

His records with the bat has also been impressive through these years. He has scored 4,217 runs in the IPL at an average of 31.23. Gambhir has also scored the most fifties (36) in the Indian Premier League, along with the most boundaries (491) in the league.

#3 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma has evolved into one of the best batsmen that limited overs cricket has ever seen. His journey in the IPL has been very successful too, as he is one of the very few players with four IPL titles.

After lifting the trophy in the second year with Deccan Chargers, the Hitman went back to his home team Mumbai Indians in 2011. Since arriving in Mumbai, he has been in sublime form with the bat and has also led them to three titles.

Rohit makes batting look incredibly easy to the eye when he is at his best. The Mumbaikar has transformed into one of the best opening batsmen of his generation.

For Mumbai Indians, he has often batted at number four to give more opportunities to the youngsters in the team.

He has scored 4493 runs so far in the IPL throughout the 10 seasons, for both Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians.

#2 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli

Unarguably the best batsmen in the world across all the three formats, Virat Kohli has been a star since his U19 days - when he led the Indian team to World Cup glory. He has proved himself consistently in all the three formats in the international arena.

In 2018 Kohli became the only player to win the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year, the ICC Men's Test Player of the Year and the ICC ODI Player of the Year in the same year.

Kohli is such a technically gifted batsman that he makes batting look effortlessly easy. He has been in the Royal Challengers squad since the inaugural season in 2008.

Now the captain of the team, Kohli has often led his team to victory with his bat over the years.

Kohli finds himself in the second position in the list of all-time run scorers in the IPL. He has scored 4,948 runs in the IPL so far with an incredible average of 38.35 in 155 innings.

#1 Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina is one of the most explosive batsmen of his era and probably the most underrated batsman in the Indian cricket team. He was a prominent part in the Golden generation of Indian team under MS Dhoni.

In the IPL, Raina has been the best batsmen of the last decade. He is an epitome of fearless and attacking cricket which is vital in modern day cricket.

Raina is has made it a habit of score 400+ runs in nearly every season of the IPL he has played. Chennai Super Kings has been his permanent home from the beginning of the IPL, though he led Gujarat Lions for two seasons when CSK was banned from the IPL.

Raina is sitting at the top of the chart with 4,985 IPL runs at a strike rate of 138.47. He is a good striker of the ball along with an exceptional fielder, which makes a valuable asset for any T20 team.

Follow Sportskeeda for all the updates on IPL 2019 purple cap, points table, schedule, news, live scores, orange cap and fantasy tips.

Check RCB Squad 2024 Details. Follow Sportskeeda for IPL 2024 Live Score, Schedule, Points Table

Quick Links

Edited by Musab Abid