Which Batsman Has Scored Most Runs in IPL History?

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has become a global phenomenon, with a reputation for attracting the world’s top cricket talent. As the premier domestic T20 league, it has cemented its place as a cultural icon in the 13 years since its inception. With an abundance of star players such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, AB de Villiers, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, and Chris Gayle, the IPL is renowned for its high standard of batting. One of the most coveted records in the league is that of the batsman with the most runs in IPL history.

Who has Scored Most Runs in IPL Tournament?

Players	Matches	Runs	Average
Virat Kohli	207	6283	37.39
Shikhar Dhawan	192	5784	34.84
Rohit Sharma	213	5611	31.17
Suresh Raina	205	5528	32.51
David Warner	150	5449	41.49

Virat Kohli holds the record for the most runs in IPL history, with 6081 runs in 200 matches at an average of 37.44. This includes 40 half-centuries and five centuries, all achieved while playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. He is the only player to have played 200 matches for one franchise and is also their leading run-scorer.

Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina follow closely behind in the list of highest run-scorers in the IPL. Among overseas players, David Warner holds the record for the most runs in the league, with AB de Villiers coming in second. Below is a list of the top five highest run-scorers in IPL history.

Virat Kohli – 6283 runs

Virat Kohli has been a mainstay for the Royal Challengers Bangalore since the inception of the Indian Premier League. As the team’s current captain, he holds the record for the most runs in IPL history, with 6283 runs in 207 matches. His impressive statistics include an average of 37.39 and a strike rate of 129.94, along with 40 half-centuries and five centuries, four of which were achieved in a single season in 2016.

Kohli’s contributions have been instrumental in making RCB a successful team and he is widely considered the face of the franchise. He has consistently produced runs for the team and was the recipient of the Orange Cap award in 2016. As the all-time leading run-scorer in the IPL, his dominance in the league is undeniable.

Shikhar Dhawan – 5784 runs

Shikhar Dhawan, the second highest run-scorer in IPL history, has played for four different teams over the course of his IPL career. He had his most successful stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he played 85 matches and scored 2518 runs with an average of 34.49. He also had noteworthy performances for his current team, Delhi Capitals, where he scored 1859 runs in 55 innings and for Deccan Chargers, where he scored 969 runs in 29 innings. Although, his tenure with Mumbai Indians was less successful, where he played 15 matches and averaged 16.5.

In total, Shikhar Dhawan has accumulated 5577 runs in 191 IPL innings, with an average of 34.84. He has notched up 44 half-centuries and 2 centuries throughout his IPL career.

Rohit Sharma – 5611 Runs

Rohit Sharma, the most successful captain of the most successful team in IPL history, has led Mumbai Indians to a record five titles and has also been a formidable force with the bat. His career took a positive turn when he moved from Deccan Chargers to Mumbai Indians. He is fourth on the list of the highest run-scorers in IPL history, with 5611 runs in 213 matches, averaging 31.17. While his performance with Deccan Chargers (1170 runs in 45 matches) was respectable, it was with Mumbai Indians that Sharma truly excelled, scoring 5611 runs in 208 matches.

Suresh Raina – 5528 runs

Suresh Raina was a stalwart of the Indian Premier League, holding the records for the most matches played and the most runs scored in the league’s history for a significant period of time. However, his absence in the 2020 edition of the tournament resulted in him falling slightly on both lists. Throughout his career, Raina played for two teams, Chennai Super Kings and the now-defunct Gujarat Lions.

In total, Raina played 205 IPL matches, scoring 5528 runs with an average of 32.51. He achieved 39 half-centuries and one century during this time. Specifically, he scored 5528 runs in 200 innings for Chennai Super Kings, and 841 runs in 29 innings for Gujarat Lions.

David Warner – 5449 Runs

David Warner is a true legend of the Indian Premier League, being the only batsman to have surpassed the 500-run mark in every IPL season since 2014. His outstanding performance in the league has earned him the title of IPL GOAT. The left-handed opener has played 150 IPL innings, scoring a total of 5449 runs with an impressive average of 41.59. He has hit 50 half-centuries and 4 centuries during this time.

Warner began his IPL journey with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), but it was at Sunrisers Hyderabad where he truly shone. He led the team to the title win in 2016 and has been a constant presence in the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad ever since.

Out of all the teams Warner has played against, he has been the most successful against Punjab Kings, against whom he scored 943 runs in 20 matches, followed by Kolkata Knight Riders (915), Royal Challengers Bangalore (754), Mumbai Indians (661) and Chennai Super Kings (539).

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