With IPL approaching, cricket fanatics just can’t keep their calm and have already started celebrating, commemorating cricket’s biggest extravaganza. As usual, fans will be rooting for their favourite team and going all-out to ensure that their side secures a title in the last season before the mega-auction. Leading up to the new season, they too are watching highlights of the previous editions in an attempt to do their own analysis and figure out what went wrong for their favourite side. While doing all this, they surely won’t be spared by the thoughts of the league’s highest run-getter and wicket-taker, and several such significant stats. Providing them with some assistance, we will be focusing on one such stat in the present article. In the below piece, we look at 5 highest run-getters in the history of IPL:
1. Virat Kohli
The ‘Run-machine’ proudly tops the list, being the highest run-scorer in the league’s 13-years history. Kohli has garnered 5878 runs from 192 IPL games at an average of 38.16 and a strike rate of 130.73, including 5 centuries and 39 fifties.
His best score came against Punjab Kings during the 50th game at Bengaluru in 2016. In a rain-curtailed match, RCB posted 211-3 in 15 overs batting first, courtesy brilliant knocks of 113(50) by Kohli and 73(32) by Gayle.
With the target once again revised, the Kings had to chase 203 in 14 overs. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get any closer as RCB restricted them to 120-9 and won the contest comprehensively by 82 runs(D/L method). Chahal was the pick of the bowler for RCB with wonderful figures of 4-25.
2. Suresh Raina
The most consistent batsman for CSK in the history of the league, Raina attains the second spot in the list for the highest run-getters. The southpaw has mustered 5368 runs from 193 IPL games at an average of 33.34 and strike rate of 137.11, including a century and 38 half-centuries.
His highest score came against the Punjab Kings during the 45th game at Chennai in 2013. Batting first, CSK posted a commanding total of 186-4 in their 20 overs on the back of a wonderful century knock by Raina off just 53 balls.
The Kings too put up a fight during their batting innings, managing 171-6, owing to knocks of 73(51) by Marsh and 51(26) by Miller, losing the contest by 15 runs. Bravo was impressive with the ball for CSK, picking up 3-34.
3. David Warner
One of the mainstays for the Australian team and now SRH at the top of the order, Warner is the third-highest run-getter in the IPL. The attacking opener has scored 5254 runs from 142 IPL games at an average of 42.71 and strike rate of 141.54, including 4 centuries and 48 fifties.
His best innings came against KKR during the 37th game at Hyderabad in 2017. SRH while batting first, posted a hefty total of 209-3 in their 20 overs, owing to scintillating innings of 126(59) by Warner and 40(25) by Williamson.
KKR did offer some resilience during their batting innings, reaching 161-7 at the end of 20 overs and lost the contest by 48 runs. It was Uthappa who led the batting charge for KKR, smashing a counterattacking 53(28) to get them close.
4. Rohit Sharma
The most successful skipper in the history of the IPL, winning 5 titles for MI, Rohit Sharma is the fourth-highest run-getter in the league. The ‘Hitman’ has hammered 5230 runs from 200 IPL games at an average of 31.31 and strike rate of 130.61, including a century and 39 fifties.
His highest score came against KKR during the 58th match at Kolkata in 2012. Electing to bat first, MI posted a competitive total of 182-1 in their 20 overs, on the back of knocks of 109(60) by Rohit and 66(58) by Gibbs.
Playing on their home ground, KKR too put up a batting display in the abled presence of Kallis and Pathan, who scored 79(60) and 40(31) respectively, helping them reach 155-4 in their 20 overs. MI won the encounter comfortably by 27 runs and the game is still remembered for the Rohit Sharma masterclass.
5. Shikhar Dhawan
A flamboyant opener, who likes to take the attack to the opposition, Dhawan is the fifth-highest run-getter in the IPL. The Delhi batsman has stroked 5197 runs from 176 IPL games at an average of 34.41 and strike rate of 126.87, including 2 centuries and 41 fifties.
His best score came against Punjab Kings during the 38th game at Dubai in 2020. Choosing to bat first, DC managed a par total of 164-5 in their 20 overs, predominantly owing to a mind-boggling innings of 106(61) by Dhawan.
The knock, unfortunately, went in vain as the Kings chased the target down by 5 wickets and 6 balls to spare, courtesy blitzkrieg knock of 53(28) by Pooran, who diverted all the attention from a richly deserved century by Dhawan.
