T20 cricket demands a unique blend of skill and explosiveness. However, those who bring in consistency, along with those qualities, make it big in this game. Today, we will talk about consistent performances that have found their place in the record books. This is the list of batters who have scored the highest runs in Indian Premier League (IPL) one season.
Top Run Scorers in a Single IPL Season
1. Virat Kohli
The former Indian skipper and arguably the greatest batter of the current era, Virat Kohli, was on another level in IPL 2016. Many people think that such a season for a batter in the T20 league comes only once in a lifetime.
Kolhi showed astounding consistency throughout the season, accumulating an astonishing 973 runs in just 16 matches. He proved his ability to convert starts into massive scores with four centuries and seven fifties to his name. This sensational form took his team to the IPL finals, further consolidating his reputation as a match-winner.
But much beyond the numbers, it was the brilliance of Virat Kohli in IPL 2016 being the go-to man, standing up, and delivering important knocks for the team time and again. This was one such exceptional performance that saw him emerge as the proud holder of the Orange Cap for being the highest scorer in that tournament, along with making him the mainstay of RCB in their journey to the final.
2. Shubman Gill
Secondly, we have Prince in our list of top run-scorers in IPL seasons after Virat Kohli. Shubman Gill had an incredible year of batting exhibitions back in 2023. From dominating some of the world’s best bowling attacks at the international level, he carried forward his form into an amazing IPL campaign for Gujarat Titans.
Gill started off perfectly with a valuable innings worth 63 from only 36 balls against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), which came up first in this edition of IPL. By the close of business at IPL Gill had made himself a record holder by scoring an incredible total of 890 runs over 17 matches played.
His remarkable average of 59.33 and an astonishing strike rate of 157.80 showed that he could make runs as well as hit boundaries with impunity. Moreover, he became the record holder for most centuries in the IPL by any batter with three such innings, the highest being a ravaging 129 off only 60 balls against Mumbai Indians in the playoff.
As much as Gill’s brilliance took Gujarat Titans to the final, they eventually fell short of CSK by 5 wickets. In the final game, Gill’s impressive run continued as he made a well-compiled fifty-four from thirty-nine balls. Even though his side couldn’t become champions, this outstanding performance proved that Gill was certainly one rising star in world cricket.
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3. Jos Buttler
Next up is the English powerhouse Jos Buttler. He had an amazing 2022 with the Rajasthan Royals, scoring over 863 runs in just 17 matches. While he fell slightly short of Shubman Gill’s record, Buttler’s phenomenal form was undeniable. He tied Virat Kohli’s record for most centuries in a single season with an impressive four tons. He is one of the players who has scored the highest runs in IPL one season.
Buttler’s destructive batting approach left bowling attacks in tatters. For this amazing performance, he got the Orange Cap for topping the tournament’s run-scorers chart.
4. David Warner
Leading his team, Sunrisers Hyderabad, in the 2016 IPL season, Australian left-hander David Warner emerged victorious with the captain’s armband. He led by example, putting up a massive run tally. Warner scored a record-breaking 848 runs in only 17 matches at an impressive average of 60.57 and a striking rate of 151.42.
Warner could not score any ton; however, it is ridiculous to think that he was not consistent enough. In just one season, he registered nine half-centuries which became the highest ever recorded number for any player in IPL history. Crucial knocks like his unbeaten 92* against RCB and unbeaten 93* Gujarat Lions played a pivotal role in SRH’s championship run.
Currently playing for Delhi Capitals, David Warner has always provided them with great starts on the top order throughout IPL campaigns. One could easily argue that he is among the best openers the tournament has seen so far.
5. Kane Williamson
Williamson had led the charge for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2018 when David Warner was serving his one-year ban from international cricket. He captained the SRH and was their leading run-getter for this season, which turned out to be their last.
Kane Williamson won the orange cap with 735 runs from just seventeen fixtures at an average of fifty-two point five and a strike rate almost touching one hundred and forty-three.
Under him, SRH dominated the league stage, finishing top of the points table with nine wins out of fourteen games. They were crowned champions again after lifting the title two years earlier. However, they failed to go all the way for the second time, reaching finals once again. They were defeated by Chennai Super Kings, who won their third Indian Premier League crown.
6. Chris Gayle
If ever we talk about great innings played in IPL, we cannot miss Chris Gayle. This West Indian great displayed stunning form in IPL 2012 while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, scoring a mammoth 733 runs in just fifteen matches. He was quite brilliant, with an average of 61.08 and a mind-boggling strike rate of 160.74 that left the bowlers watching.
He was consistent as well as powerful. Although he fell five runs short of his second century, Gayle registered an incredible seven fifties during the tournament. This was demonstrated by his unbeaten score of 128 against Delhi Daredevils and 81 off only 48 balls against Chennai Super Kings where it showcased the strength of his hits that were glorious to watch as they soared over long off and into orbit. His batting prowess saw him win the Orange Cap.
7. Michael Hussey
Next on our list is Mr Cricket himself. Michael Hussey came to prominence with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as one of their key players in IPL season six. Hussey’s experience balanced out his team’s explosive batting style and provided a much-needed counterpoint to it once he stepped onto the cricket pitch. He scored a commendable tally of 733 runs at an average of slightly above 52 and a strike rate of around 120.
It was these fifties—made solidly but without resorting to brute force—that won CSK the championship that year, finishing it off by winning their final showdown with Mumbai Indians. He played traditional cricket shots when others seemed to be going for six every time they hit through point or behind square leg. Not throwing away his wicket, Hussey gave credence to the power play.
8. Faf Du Plessis
Faf du Plessis, who was in sublime form all season, scored a total of 730 runs in just 14 matches at an average of 56.15, with a sensational strike rate of 153.68—quite a wonder, given the remarkable consistency he has been showing in almost all of the games he features in. Playing in the middle-order alongside top-order batters like Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell, he was in the thick of things in most of the RCB wins in the season.
Despite Shubman Gill winning the Orange Cap that year, Faf du Plessis’s runs made a huge difference to RCB’s success.
Also Read: Top 25 Most Dangerous Batsman in the IPL History
9. Chris Gayle
For the second time, The Universe Boss made it onto this list. Chris Gayle was on fire again throughout IPL 2013 after carrying over from his awesome performance last year in 2012. Although he missed out on retaining the Orange Cap by a whisker, being second only to Michael Hussey, he ended up as the second-highest run-scorer with an unbelievable tally of 708 runs within just sixteen matches.
Meanwhile, Gayle managed to maintain his remarkable form of almost sixty innings at an average close to fifty-nine while maintaining a daunting strike rate above one hundred and fifty-six, thus dominating bowlers.
10. David Warner
Another two-time appearance feature is David Warner – an Aussie southpaw and another legend of IPL among other players contained within this list. Coming back to the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Sunrisers Hyderabad as captain constituted some kind of redemption for him when played during its playing year 2019.
On returning from serving one year ban, Warner made no bones about reestablishing himself as the leading run getter in IPL history.He emerged as the tournament’s leading run-scorer, securing his third Orange Cap – the most by any player in IPL history.
Warner’s ferocious 692 runs from twelve matches bore witness to his exemplary form. An average of 69.2 and a strike rate of 143.86 complemented with one hundred and eight half-century is beyond reproach.
Conclusion
So, this was the list of highest run-scorers in each IPL season. Among others, names like Virat Kohli, David Warner, and Faf du Plessis were famous in that list. However, it also featured legends of the game like Chris Gayle and Michael Hussey, who entertained the cricket fans almost a decade ago. Who is your favourite player on this list? Leave us a comment!
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