Top 5 greatest performances by an overseas batter in IPL without winning Orange Cap that season ft. AB de Villiers

While the IPL is known for unearthing Indian talent year after year, overseas players have brought their fair share of skills and glamour to the league. Over the years, star overseas players have lit up the IPL stage with their incredible performances.

Talking of overseas batters, many have been instrumental to the success of their respective teams. Several big names have dominated with the bat, leaving their mark in a high-intensity league.

While many overseas batters have gone on to win the Orange Cap over the years, they have had memorable seasons even when not topping the batting charts. For instance, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) opener Mitchell Marsh had a fantastic IPL 2025 season, making 627 runs from 13 matches at an average of 48.23 and a strike-rate of 163.70, with a hundred and six half-centuries.

On that note, here are the five greatest seasons by an overseas batter (excluding Orange Cap-winning seasons) in IPL history.

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#5 Andre Russell in 2019

2025 IPL - Punjab Kings v Kolkata Knight Riders - Source: Getty

Star Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder and hard-hitting batter Andre Russell had his best-ever IPL season with the bat in 2019. Known for his big hitting at the back end of the innings, Russell has won several tough games for his side.

The right-hander piled on 510 runs from 13 innings in the 2019 season at an average of 56.66 and an impressive strike-rate of 204.81, with four half-centuries.

He also scored an unbeaten 80 that season, which remains one of his best-ever IPL knocks. Russell has had a huge impact with the bat down the order, single-handedly destroying bowlers when he gets going.

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#4 Chris Gayle in 2013

Deccan Chargers vs Bangalore Royal Challengers - IPL 2012 - Source: Getty

Chris Gayle is among the top overseas batters in the history of the IPL, making his mark during his long and memorable stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The left-hander established himself as a power-hitter who would take any opposition to the cleaners on his given day.

Gayle plundered big runs with remarkable consistency over the years in the league. In the 2013 season, the left-hander smashed 708 runs from 16 matches at an average of 59 and a strike-rate of 156.29 with a hundred and four fifties. This was also the year he scored the record-breaking 175 not out off just 66 balls, which remains the highest individual score in the league even today.

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#3 AB de Villiers in 2016

Rajasthan Royals vs Bangalore Royal Challengers - IPL 2012 - Source: Getty

Another former RCB batter features on this list. Part of the famous trio alongside Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers left everyone in awe of his unbelievable batting and effortless shots.

A key member of the RCB set-up, AB de Villiers played several memorable knocks in the IPL. However, his performance during the 2016 season stands out. The right-hander was RCB's second-highest run-getter that year after Kohli, playing a big role in their run to the final.

He scored 687 runs from 16 matches at an average of 52.84 and a strike-rate of 168.79, with a hundred and six half-centuries, including a brilliant match-winning innings in the first qualifier to single-handedly win them the game.

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#2 Faf du Plessis in 2023

Rajasthan Royals v Royal Challengers Bangalore - IPL 2023 T20 - Source: Getty

Yet another former RCB batter makes this list of overseas batters. Faf du Plessis played three seasons for the franchise from 2022 to 2024, and captained the side as well. He also opened the batting and scored consistently in these three seasons, taking them twice to the playoffs.

Faf du Plessis had a terrific season in 2023 despite not being the Orange Cap winner. The right-hander amassed 730 runs from 14 matches at an average of 56.15 and a strike-rate of 153.68, with eight half-centuries to his name as well. Although they failed to make the playoffs that year, Du Plessis had a wonderful season with the bat.

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#1 David Warner in 2016

David Warner - Source: Getty

Former SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) skipper and batter David Warner had a magnificent season in 2016. While he scored heavily, he also led SRH to their first IPL title that year, beating RCB in he final.

Playing 17 matches in the 2016 season, David Warner piled on 848 runs at an average of 60.57 and a strike-rate of 151.42 with nine half-centuries. Even in the final, Warner played a brilliant knock, leading from the front. The left-hander scored a 38-ball 69, hitting eight fours and three sixes at a strike-rate of 181.57 as they posted 208/7 on the board after batting first.