Top 5 run scorers in IPL history

The IPL throughout its existence has treated us some brilliant batting performances like Brendon McCullum's 158* for KKR against RCB in the very first match, the 229 and 215 runs partnership between Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, 36 half-centuries scored by David Warner and Gautam Gambhir each to name a few.

Who can forget the exploits of Chris Gayle? Gayle's multiple records include - the highest individual score (175* vs Pune Warriors in 2013), most sixes by a player in an innings (17 against Pune Warriors in 2013), most number of sixes hit by a player in the history of IPL - 292 & the most centuries scored by a player in the history of IPL - 6.

Surprisingly in spite of all those records, Gayle's name does not feature in the list of top five run scorers in IPL history. So who are they? Let us take a look.

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#5 Robin Uthappa - 4129 runs

Robin Uthappa playing for KKR.

Robin Uthappa started his IPL career with Mumbai Indians in 2008. The right-handed batsman scored 320 runs for them in the 14 matches he played for them with the highest score of 48.

He then moved on to Royal Challengers Bangalore where he spent 2 seasons (2009 & 2010). In those two seasons, he scored 549 runs for RCB. He scored 3 half-centuries and his highest individual score was 68.

From 2011 to 2013, he was a part of the now defunct Pune Warriors. In those three seasons, he scored 1103 runs which also included 4 half-centuries and a highest score of 75. Since then, he has been a part of Kolkata Knight Riders for five straight seasons.

He has scored 2157 runs for the Kolkata based franchise with the help of 15 half-centuries. He also scored his highest ever individual score playing for KKR - 83*. His 660 runs in IPL 2014 was the most number of runs scored by a player in that edition of the tournament and played a major role in KKR winning the trophy that year.

#4 Gautam Gambhir - 4217 runs

Gautam Gambhir led KKR to two IPL titles.

Gautam Gambhir began his IPL career with Delhi Daredevils before moving on to Kolkata Knight Riders before moving back again to Delhi in 2018. In the first three seasons, he played for Delhi, he scored a total of 1097 runs with 8 half-centuries. His 534 runs in IPL 2008 was the second highest runs scored by a player in the tournament.

The southpaw then played for KKR from 2011 to 2017. In that period, he became the highest run scorer for the team, scoring 3035 runs that included 27 half-centuries. But his greatest achievement for KKR was leading the team to two IPL titles - in 2012 and 2014.

In 2018, appearing for Delhi Daredevils, he played just 6 matches scoring 85 runs with one half-century. Gambhir's highest score in IPL is 93. His 36 half-centuries is the joint highest (along with David Warner) in the history of the tournament.

#3 Rohit Sharma - 4493 runs

Rohit Sharma has 4 IPL titles to his name

No other player in the IPL has more IPL titles to his name than Rohit Sharma - 4. He won one title with Deccan Chargers and three with Mumbai Indians.

Rohit played the first three editions of the IPL with Deccan Chargers before being picked up by Mumbai Indians in 2011. He scored 1170 runs playing for Deccan Chargers which included 8 half-centuries. He was also a part of the 2009 IPL winning Deccan Chargers team. His 1170 runs were the second highest number of runs scored by a Deccan Chargers player.

Playing for Mumbai Indians, Rohit has scored 3323 runs which is the record for the most number of runs scored by a Mumbai Indians player. The record includes 1 century and 26 half-centuries.

He also led Mumbai to three IPL trophies - in 2013, 2015 and 2017. Playing for Mumbai, he also scored his highest individual total of 109*. In his entire IPL career, Rohit has hit 184 sixes which is the fifth highest by any player in the history of IPL.

#2 Virat Kohli - 4948 runs

Virat Kohli is the second highest run-scorer in the history of IPL.

Virat Kohli is the only player in the list who has played for a single franchise in his entire IPL career. He is also the only player in the list who does not have an IPL title to his name.

Playing for RCB since the beginning of his career, Kohli has scored a total of 4948 runs that includes 4 centuries and 34 half-centuries. 973 runs scored by him in the 2016 IPL is the most number of runs scored by a player in a single edition of the tournament. This feat also earned him the Most Valuable Player of the tournament in 2016 - the only player in this list to have received this award.

His four centuries is the joint second highest (along with Shane Watson) by a player in the history of the tournament. He was also a part of not one but two double hundred run partnership with AB de Villiers. Kohli's highest individual score is 113.

#1 Suresh Raina - 4985 runs

Suresh Raina is the all-time leading run scorer in IPL.

Apart from Rohit Sharma, the only player to have more than two IPL titles to his name in this list is Suresh Raina. Raina has played all throughout for Chennai Super Kings barring the seasons 2016 and 2017 where he played for Gujarat Lions.

In his stellar IPL career, the southpaw has scored 4985 runs (of which 841 was scored playing for Gujarat Lions) with 1 century and 35 half-centuries (he scored 6 of them playing for Gujarat Lions). His 35 half-centuries are the second highest number of half-centuries scored by a player in IPL.

Raina also has 3 IPL titles to his name. 185 sixes hit by Raina is the fourth highest by a player in the history of IPL. Apart from CSK, he was also the leading run scorer for Gujarat Lions.

Apart from his batting, he is a useful fielder also. He has taken 95 catches which is the record for the most number of catches taken by a player in the IPL.

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