10 top run-getters in IPL history

10 top run-getters in IPL history

On Wednesday, Rohit Sharma became the second player in Indian Premier League (IPL) history to cross the 3000-run mark. It’s a stupendous achievement indeed and does speak volumes of the consistency. Prior to Rohit, only Suresh Raina from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has reached that mark and truly he has been one of the reasons for southern team to be one of the most successful sides in IPL history.

Suvajit Mustafi lists the top 10 run-getters in IPL:

1:  Suresh Raina (Chennai Super Kings)

Raina is an IPL legend and one of the best exponents in the shortest format of cricket. Unlike in one-dayers, Raina bats at No.3 for CSK and controls the proceedings. He is one of the key reasons for CSK’s success as a team in this format. He is indispensible to the yellow brigade and has never played for any other side.

2:  Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers)

Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma is another key player to his side. The side has won an IPL and Champions League Twenty20 (CLT20) under him. In fact he has been part of two CLT20 winning teams and he also won the IPL with Deccan Chargers in 2009. Most of the time, the side’s fortune revolves around Rohit’s batting. As an opener now, he is one of the top contenders for the Orange Cap. 

3:  Gautam Gambhir (Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Daredevils)

Kolkata Knight Riders have won two IPL titles under Gambhir and most often he has led from the front with his willow. Gambhir is a gutsy customer, who once when gets going is difficult to stop. Gambhir’s leadership and batting, both have taken the Kolkata side to new heights.
  

4:  Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders)

Gayle is the best batsman to play in IPL. Period. The Jamaican has filled crowd to the stand and it was a big blunder when KKR released him after 2010 season. He has four IPL hundreds and is a match-winner on his own. Recently, he became the first man to score a double hundred in a World Cup match and he is very much capable of repeating that in T20 format as well.
  

5:  Robin Uthappa (Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pune Warriors, Mumbai Indians)

With 660 runs in the kitty, Uthappa won the Orange Cap last season when KKR won the IPL. He has swapped too many teams and played too many roles. He has been inconsistent but he seems to have found his foot with KKR and has been exceptional for them.
 

 6:  Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

RCB invested on Kohli as a 19-year old. He learnt from the big names and gradually came on his own. At No. 3, captain Kohli brings in the much needed balance between Gayle and AB de Villiers. He loves to score and score them big.
  

7:  Virender Sehwag (Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Daredevils)

Even in the twilight of his career, Sehwag is an asset to the side he plays for. His hundred in the qualifier against CSK in the last season, saw KXIP sail to the final. His quick starts were a big reason for KXIP’s success in previous season. When he gets going, he wins games on his own and the strike-rate of 157.3 stands a testimony to that.

8:   MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)

Dhoni is the best finisher in the limited-overs format and time and again he has delivered for CSK. He has led CSK in all the seasons and along with Raina, he is a huge factor for the franchise’s success. With two IPLs and two CLT20s in his kitty, Dhoni once again enters the competition as the favourites.

9:  Jacques Kallis (Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Fans around the world were little apprehensive on how Kallis would fare in the shortest format. One of the greats of the game, Kallis adapted to this format too. Along with his expertise with the ball, Kallis played the role of a sheet-anchor and accelerated whenever required. He won two IPLs with KKR and having retired from international cricket, he now acts as the batting consultants for Kolkata side.

10:   Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai Indians)

He played his last IPL in 2013 and he still features in the top-10 list —  a clear indicator on the impact he had on this format and for the MI side. Had IPL been in the 90s, the Master Blaster would have topped this chart too, but still he came out in flying colours. In his last season, Tendulkar won the IPL and also won two CLT20 during his tenure. In fact, in 2011 he also scored his only hundred in this format. He is currently the mentor of the MI side.

(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, jack of several trades, all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sports marketer, strategist, entrepreneur,  philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)