Ranking the Best Batsmen in IPL History
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the world’s most exciting domestic franchise-based T20 cricket league. Over the years, the IPL has witnessed some of the most enthralling pieces of T20 action, giving many cricketers a platform to exhibit their talents and entertain their fans.
The batsmen have been key to taking IPL to the nooks and corners of the world by consistently blazing it away with big runs and capturing the fans’ imagination. In this article, we will reward those batsmen and rank the top 10 batsmen in IPL history depending on their performance statistics and impact on their respective teams and the tournament.
Methodology
The method with which the top 10 batsmen for IPL can be arrived at is quite simple. The key to the ranking is the consistency of performances based on runs, averages and strike rate alongside the fifties scored and centuries made. We will also highlight the best score made in individual innings by that particular batter.
We will base our IPL top 10 batsmen rankings on these metrics, keeping in mind these are historically easiest to understand the basis to rank the players and to assert their overall abilities, apart from the impact they’ve managed to have on their respective teams’ fortunes.
A deeper narrative of these players’ contributions will also be provided beneath each name so that the reader can truly appreciate these players and soak in their actual worth to the teams and the IPL as a tournament. These batters have made IPL what it has become: the greatest, grandest celebration of the shortest format of the game of cricket.
Top 10 Batsmen in IPL History
Rank 1: Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
Virat Kohli is ranked No.1 for being the top run-getter in the history of the IPL. The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) former skipper and batting great stands numero uno in the list of highest run-makers with 6,624 runs collected in 223 matches he has played for the famed franchise. Kohli has held his own in the IPL after initial stutters, averaging 36.19 with a strike rate of 129.14 – which may seem low-key but tells us how consistent an anchor batter he has been for the RCB.
The 2016 ipl best batsman, Kohli had a breakthrough campaign that year as he finally dominated the game’s shortest format and compiled a whopping 973 runs in just 16 innings. His four centuries and multiple other notable efforts that season helped RCB make the final of the competition after five years at the time. The result in IPL 2016 remains RCB’s best result to date.
Unfortunately for Kohli, even his feat couldn’t help the Bangalore franchise bag their maiden IPL trophy. However, the batter would be pleased with his immense contribution. There have been times when his form has dipped, and his scoring rate has been in question on the outside, but the right-hander has been the tried and tested man of the RCB franchise with his record featuring 44 fifties and overall five centuries and a best of 113.
Rank 2: Shikhar Dhawan (Punjab Kings)
Appointed captain of Punjab Kings (PBKS) for IPL 2023 after one fruitful campaign with the side, Shikhar Dhawan has been a true journeymen cricketer of the IPL. The experienced left-hander has turned out for multiple IPL franchises over the years and has been resilient and flexible in adjusting to the demands of different teams, roles and their unique set of challenges.
Given this, Dhawan’s record reflects well on a player that has managed to tide through it all and stood strong. He was second-ranked on the list with 6,244 runs at an average of 35.07 and a strike rate of 126.34. Dhawan has been majorly asked to play an anchor by whatever franchise he has happened to represent, but that changed when he played for Delhi Capitals (DC) at the start of the pandemic years, where he was probably the best batsman in ipl 2020, showing an expanded attacking range. He also featured as one of the IPL 2021 best batsman, finishing as the highest run-getter for the Capitals.
The southpaw from Delhi has now played a whopping 206 matches in IPL history with 47 half-centuries and two hundreds, including his best of 106*, both of which came up in that breakthrough season with DC played on difficult surfaces in UAE. Dhawan would be hoping he can add to his body of work in the IPL with PBKS, who would want him to lead from the front come IPL 2023. The IPL saw him emerging as their best batsman in 2022.
Rank 3: David Warner (Delhi Capitals)
Arguably the most impactful player in the history of the IPL to date, Australian batting giant David Warner is ranked No.3. Warner, who started off his journey in the IPL with Delhi Daredevils before moving to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for a legacy-defining association and has since returned to the Delhi franchise, has been the best overseas player of the league by a good distance.
The explosiveness and consistency that the Aussie maverick has displayed over the years are remarkable and put his body of work right up there among the finest-ever IPL cricketers. Warner has been a leading run-getter in multiple editions of the IPL, including being the best batsman in ipl 2019. His overall tally reflects the man’s contribution to enriching the league: Warner has made an astonishing 5,881 runs from 162 matches played in the IPL. He is averaging 42.00 with a strike rate of 140.69.
The only time the veteran leftie wasn’t quite successful was the year he was perturbed by off-field disturbances in the SRH camp, never really finding his feet to be among the contenders for the best batsman in ipl 2021 feat. Warner not managing to even be in the race for the ipl best batsman 2021 tag was a sign of a player not feeling on top of the world, reeling from indifferences within the SRH set-up.
Warner has struck 55 half-centuries and 4 centuries in the IPL with a best of 126 runs made. The left-hander has been incredibly consistent with his run-making abilities and has had a deep impact with the willow for whichever team he has happened to play for, which is one of the hardest things to achieve in T20 cricket that is designed to curtail consistency and makes it extremely difficult for players to regularly make their presence felt. He was also Delhi Capitals’ best batsman in IPL 2022, finishing with 432 runs at an average of 48 and strike-rate over 150.
Rank 4: Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians)
After initially shining bright and establishing his talent for the now-defunct Deccan Chargers, Rohit Sharma took his game a notch higher when he became one of the Mumbai Indians (MI). Appointed captain not soon afterwards, he has had a rich legacy as the man at the helm, taking the franchise to a whopping five IPL titles in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020 editions of the IPL. These victories have helped MI transition from the underachievers of the IPL to the most successful team.
Along the way, Rohit has continued to make contributions with the bat in hand. He hasn’t always been the most consistent batter for MI but has found means to reign supreme on opposition attacks when the team has needed it the most. His tally reflects that: the player averages 30.30 with a strike rate of 129.89 but has scored 5,879 runs in 222 innings, including 40 half-centuries and a standalone century.
Rohit’s ability to rise up to the challenge when required can be gauged from the fact that 3,576 runs of his overall tally have arrived in victories. In these matches, he has taken his average to nearly 40 and gone at a much better SR of 134.99, making 25 fifties and a best of 109*.
Rank 5: Suresh Raina (Chennai Super Kings)
Mr IPL, the Chinnathala. Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batting stalwart Suresh Raina is ranked fifth in our list for his position in the list of top run-getters in the league’s history. Raina, who was easily the IPL’s most consistent player until the twilight of his career, deserves praise and accolades for his contribution to CSK’s rich body of work as a franchise in the toughest T20 league
An able right-hand man to the franchise’s legendary skipper and wicketkeeper-batter MS Dhoni, Raina played all roles for CSK: be it the anchor, be it the aggressor. CSK could bat the left-hander at No.3, keep him lower down the ground, ask him to field in the deep, close-in or even deliver his useful part-time off-breaks. Raina did it all and gave it his absolute best each time for the four-time champions.
It reflects positively in his brilliant record as a player. Raina collected a whopping 5,528 runs in 205 matches of the IPL while averaging 32.31 and retaining a strike rate of 136.73. His tally features 39 half-centuries, one standalone hundred and the best of 100*. Raina had the range to be able to adjust to different challenges and find ways to succeed against a varied set of attacks in the IPL, making the most of it for CSK and briefly for now-defunct Gujarat Lions, whom he captained for two seasons in 2016 and 2017 when his original franchise was facing a controversial absence.
Rank 6: AB de Villiers (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
If Kohli is the reigning gem on the RCB jewel, AB de Villiers is the diamond. One of the strongest pillars of strength and greatness in IPL cricket, the South African batting legend is ranked sixth in the list of highest run-getters in the league’s history. De Villiers, who initially played for the Delhi Daredevils in the IPL, was tremendous for RCB until his retirement from the league after the 2021 edition of the tournament, where perhaps he displayed a few signs of decline and was never really in contention to be the 2021 ipl best batsman.
The man was a gentle giant and a beast with the bat in hand for opposition teams on the field. His tremendous ability to play the ‘360-degree’ game by finding the boundary options all across the playing arena through exceptional and extravagant strokes set the right-hand maverick apart. De Villiers’ ultimately finished with a tally of 5,162 runs in the IPL across 184 matches, averaging 39.70 with an astounding strike rate of 134.99. He made three centuries and 40 half-centuries in the league, including a best of 133 not out.
There was no unchartered territory or means by which De Villiers didn’t contribute to the RCB franchise. Like Raina for CSK, he played every role and job that the side required of him. Be it standing tall in the top-order or going hammering and tongs at the death in the middle-order. Be it taking excellent boundary catches or pulling off saves inside the thirty yards. De Villiers even kept wickets and bowled part-time for RCB.. he did it all!!!
Rank 7: MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)
So often, the success enjoyed by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) under his remarkable leadership compels us from the outside to keep our focus and attention limited to the man’s excellent captaincy skills and man management skills. But we tend to forget that one of the reasons why CSK have been so highly successful is MS Dhoni’s batting in the middle, specifically his ability to come out all guns blazing in the death-overs stage.
Despite playing such a high-risk job with the bat in hand and not quite facing enough share of the overs, the great wicketkeeper-batter has managed to build an exceptional body of work and stands tall as the No.7 ranked batsman in IPL history. The extravagant right-hander may have endured a decline in his six-hitting prowess over time but still has a tally of 4,978 runs from 234 matches made at an average of 39.19 and strike rate of 135.19.
Dhoni has struck only 24 half-centuries and no centuries, but that reflects on the number of balls he has tended to face. Yet, the man has made many contributions worth their weight in gold for the CSK franchise. It’s these contributions while being the face of the men in yellow that have allowed Dhoni to be in a list of the top 10 best batsmen for IPL cricket.
Rank 8: Chris Gayle (Punjab Kings)
The ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle stands at No.8 in our ranking table with his great belligerence and ability to pulverise opposition attacks throughout his IPL career. The West Indies legend had initial stutters in the league when he turned out for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Still, a call-up for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) changed it all for the man, unleashing Gaylestorm on the opposition attacks over the subsequent five editions of the tournament.
Gayle, at his peak, was the sternest challenge for all IPL attacks as he could blaze his willow away for most sixes and be one of the lists of best batsmen in an IPL season. He had the patience to play out negative match-ups and overcome slowish starts before dominating his way to a flurry of boundaries against his favourite bowlers. His dip afterwards saw the man shift to the Punjab Kings (PBKS) before he finally bid farewell to the league, but Gayle still holds a spectacular tally of 4,965 runs from 142 matches. He averaged 39.72 with a strike rate of 148.96 with a best of 175*.
Gayle could do no wrong in T20. Even on days he didn’t score big runs, his imposing presence at the crease played an intimidating factor on the minds of the bowlers and got them erring with their lines, resulting in wides and no-balls, which gave RCB and PBKS extra balls to face and make a difference to the end outcome.
Rank 9: Robin Uthappa (Chennai Super Kings)
A journeyman cricketer in his own right in the IPL, Uthappa was born to play T20 cricket. His natural flair and the tendency to hit the ball in the air and operate at a good strike rate were always traits expected to hold the Karnataka right-hander in good stead. After enjoying an impressive campaign for India in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007, Uthappa took to the IPL like a fish to water. A bit of inconsistency came along the way – why he could only sometimes build a base for himself with a franchise – the man never offered a respite to the bowlers and kept the accelerator mode on.
Uthappa was one of the key reasons behind KKR’s successful sojourn to two IPL titles back in 2012 and 2014, where he was the linchpin to their overall game and kept piling on the runs, allowing the rest of the pack to also rally along with him. After the end of his great association with KKR, Uthappa moved to the Royals and ultimately ended his IPL career with the Super Kings in IPL 2022.
An elegant right-hander, Uthappa is ranked No.9 in our list of batsmen with the most runs, with 4,952 runs made from 205 matches at an average of 27.51 and a strike rate of 130.35. His tally featured 27 fifties, no hundreds and a best of 88. Uthappa could really take the game away from the opposition on his day, while also proving a sheet anchor at his peak with KKR for the rest of the batting line-up to rally around.
Rank 10: Dinesh Karthik (Royal Challengers Bangalore)
From one journeyman cricketer to another, Dinesh Karthik – ipl best batsman 2022, has played for as many as six IPL franchises over the years. The wicketkeeper-batter, always rated for his talent and promise without truly fulfilling his ability for most parts, has still managed to build some impressive body of work for himself. Karthik is ranked No.10 on this list, with 4,376 runs from 229 matches at an average of 26.84 and a strike rate of 132.64. His tally includes 20 half-centuries, no hundreds and a best of 97 not out.
Karthik’s batting abilities have never been in doubt, but consistency has been an issue. Why his rare match-winning efforts in the initial six-seven years of the IPL were treated with praise but also a sense of frustration as to why can’t the cricketer deliver on his promise more consistently? That changed last year when he turned out for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) with the specific mandate to blaze it away at the death.
Having announced his end goal is to make a comeback for India and play the men’s T20 World Cup in Australia, Karthik relished the role-clarity and assurance provided to him by the RCB think-tank and struck 330 runs at a strike rate above 180 while averaging in excess of 55. Even though he played the role of a finisher, Karthik was IPL 2022 best batsman. The right-hander was a nightmare for the opposition attacks as he regularly fetched the boundary and made it difficult to set the right fields for him.
Conclusion
To provide a brief reiteration of the best batsmen rankings table and summary, Virat Kohli stands tall at the top with the most runs, followed by Shikhar Dhawan at the second spot. At third, it is Aussie veteran David Warner, while MI skipper and opener Rohit Sharma farms the fourth spot. Mr IPL Suresh Raina retains the fifth spot, preceding legends such as AB de Villiers, MS Dhoni and Chris Gayle at sixth, seventh and eighth spots, respectively. To round off the list, we have journeymen cricketers Robin Uthappa and Dinesh Karthik at the ninth and the tenth slot.
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