Top 10 most notable IPL records

The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League is all set to begin at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on 29 March, with the final of the tournament most likely to be held on 24 May. According to various media reports there might be no double headers this time, and the starting time is also all set to be shifted from 8 pm to 7:30 pm.

The auction for the 2020 IPL season was held at Kolkata on 19 December. New ground was broken as Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins became the most expensive foreign purchase at the auction. He was picked up by former champions Kolkata Knight Riders for a massive Rs 15.5 crore, while fellow Aussie Glenn Maxwell went back to Kings XI Punjab for Rs 10.75 crore.

Over the 12 editions played so far, many incredible records have been broken and created. Here’s a look at the top 10 most notable all-time IPL records so far.

#1 Most runs

Virat Kohli

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli has scored the most runs in the IPL. In 177 matches, Kohli has amassed 5,412 runs to his name at a strike rate of 131.61, and an average of 37.84.

Kohli has five hundreds and 36 fifties to his credit in the T20 league, with a best of 113. Even as RCB have struggled for consistency, Kohli has continuously tried to keep them afloat with his splendid performances.

#2 Highest individual score

Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle’s 175 not out is the highest individual score in the history of the IPL. The maverick left-hander’s unbelievable innings came in the 31st match of the 2013 edition, playing for RCB against Pune Warriors at Bengaluru on 23 April 2013.

Gayle whacked a humongous 17 sixes to go with his 13 fours in his 66-ball knock. Among Pune bowlers, Aaron Finch was taken for 29 in one over, Ali Murtaza for 45 in two, and Mitchell Marsh for 56 in three.

RCB posted a mammoth 263 for 5 on the board, and won the game by a massive margin of 130 runs.

#3 Highest strike rate

Andre Russell

KKR’s swashbuckling all-rounder Andre Russell has an unbelievable strike rate of 186.41 in the IPL. Playing for KKR right now and Delhi Daredevils earlier, he has pulled off several wins from seemingly impossible situations.

In 64 matches, Russell has 1,400 runs to his name with eight fifties. The West Indian has smashed 96 fours and 120 sixes in the IPL

#4 Most sixes

Chris Gayle -- A six-hitting phenomenon

For a number of casual fans, the IPL is all about hitting sixes. Chris Gayle’s philosophy is on similar lines.

In 125 matches across Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders and RCB over the years, the 40-year-old has smashed as many as 326 sixes. The fact that AB de Villiers is next on the list with 212 should be a clear indicator of how much Gayle loves going for the maximum compared to the others.

#5 Most fours

Shikhar Dhawan

Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan, who has represented Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the past and now plays for his home team Delhi Capitals, holds the record for most fours in the IPL.

In 159 matches, Dhawan has dispatched the ball to the fence 524 times. Overall, the left-hander has 4,579 runs to his credit at a strike rate of 124.80.

Suresh Raina of Chennai Super Kings is second on the list with 493 runs.

#6 Most wickets

Lasith Malinga

Sri Lanka legend Lasith Malinga, who is a permanent fixture for Mumbai Indians in the IPL, holds the record for most wickets in the league. In 125 matches, Malinga has 170 wickets to his name at a strike rate of 16.62 and an average of 19.80.

He has maintained a highly acceptable economy rate of 7.14, and has one five-wicket and six four-wicket hauls to his name. Malinga has been one of the key factors behind MI becoming the most successful franchise in the T20 league.

#7 Best bowling figures

Alzarri Joseph

West Indian pacer Alzarri Joseph holds the record for the best bowling figures in the IPL. He made a dream debut for Mumbai Indians against Sunrisers Hyderabad on 6 April 2019, claiming 6 for 12 in 3.4 fours with one maiden.

Joseph’s heroics saw Sunrisers crumble to 96 all out in a modest chase of 137. Joseph picked up the major scalp of David Warner for 15 before adding the likes of Vijay Shankar and Deepak Hooda, and then running through the tail.

Just a few days later though Joseph was taken for 53 in three overs by Rajasthan Royals. Things got worse as he was ruled out of the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury.

#8 Most hat-tricks

Amit Mishra

Veteran leg-spinner Amit Mishra has recorded the most hat-tricks in the IPL - three.

The first one came playing for Delhi Daredevils against Deccan Chargers in the 37th match of the inaugural season at Delhi. Mishra claimed the last three wickets of Ravi Teja, Pragyan Ojha and RP Singh as the Chargers faltered in their chase of 195.

His second hat-trick was for the Chargers against KXIP in the 67th match of the 2011 season at Dharamsala. Punjab were chasing 199 and, in the 16th over, Mishra sent back Ryan McLaren, Mandeep Singh and Ryan Harris as the batting side crumbled to 116 all out.

Mishra’s third hat-trick was for SRH vs Pune Warriors in the 22nd match of the 2013 season at Pune. The Warriors needed only 120 to win. However, in the 19th over, Mishra had Bhuvneshwar Kumar lbw, and Rahul Sharma and Ashok Dinda bowled, to finish off the Warriors at 108.

#9 Most four-wicket hauls

Sunil Narine

Kolkata Knight Riders’ mystery spinner Sunil Narine has picked up the most four-wicket hauls in the IPL. After 110 games, he has as many as six four-fors to his name.

Narine has claimed a total of 122 wickets at a strike rate of 20.96, an average of 23.31, and an economy rate of 6.67. The 31-year-old also has a five-wicket haul to his name.

Mumbai Indians’ Lasith Malinga also has six four-fors to his name. However, he has played 122 matches, and hence is second on the list.

#10 Most dot balls bowled

Harbhajan Singh

Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who was an integral part of Mumbai Indians for many years but is currently with Chennai Super Kings, holds the record for the most dot balls in the tournament.

Having played 160 matches, Harbhajan has bowled 1,249 dot balls. In these games, the Turbanator has 150 wickets to his credit at an average of 26.44, and a strike rate of 22.49.

Malinga follows Harbhajan in the list, with 1,155 dot balls in 122 IPL encounters.