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Indian Premier League is one of the most-watched sporting events in the world. Big names, big money, glitz, glamour… it has it all. It is the dream of a professional cricketer to play in the IPL at least once in his life. IPL has helped discover many talented cricketers from all parts of the world and has transformed many lives that would otherwise have been spent in poverty and obscurity.
In T20, the main thing is to be consistent in both batting and bowling. Those who can do this can reign the world of T20 cricket for a long time. To this select club belong cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, etc. It is a difficult task to choose the top 5 batsmen of the IPL tournament, which has been around for 12 long years.
No.1- Virat Kohli
There is no doubt that Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper, is the unchallenged No. 1 in this list. One of the world's best batsmen, he has proved his mettle in all formats. His best season was in 2016. He amassed 640 runs, which included four centuries and seven fifties. He played a key role in taking his side to the finals. For him, scoring runs is child’s play. It is not for nothing that he is fondly called the Run Machine. He has a big fan base in other countries, too, and believes in honing his skills constantly.
Kohli is skipper of Royal Challengers Bangalore. He has scored 5412 runs in 177 IPL games at a strike rate of 37.84. With five tons and 36 fifties totally, he has lived up to his nickname. He is also the top run-scorer in IPL history. He is clearly the No.1 batsman of all time in IPL.
No.2 – Suresh Raina
This Indian, middle-order batsman, a south paw, is also called Mr. IPL by his fans. He is known for his lightning-fast reflexes and speed. Raina has been with CSK since his debut and contributed greatly to his team’s triumphs in 2009, 2010 and 2018. He is what can be called a destructive batsman who goes for the kill. Pressure seems to mean nothing to him, and his performances under pressure have been fantastic.
When CSK was suspended from the tournament for two years, Raina was appointed the skipper of Gujarat Lions, but it was dissolved when CSK and RR arrived in the league. He was the first player to score 5000 runs in the Indian Premier League. Currently, he has made 5368 runs in 193 games, which includes one ton and 38 fifties. He has played 189 innings, and on 28 occasions, he was not out. His average is 31.60, and strike rate, 137.14.
Raina is the second leading run-scorer in IPL, with more than 300 runs in back to back 12 seasons. Hence, he has second position in the list of the all-time best batsman in the history of IPL.
No. 3 - Rohit Sharma
Popularly called the ‘Hitman’, Sharma is one of the most successful batsmen in IPL history. After Kohli and Raina, he is the third leading run-scorer in the tournament. He has amassed 4898 runs in 188 games which include one ton and 36 fifties. He helped Mumbai Indians win the IPL trophy four times– in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019.
He is often used in the No.2 position or as a specialist opener by his team. He is a deadly opener and is known for his trademark pull stroke. Technically, Rohit is a very sound batsman who can give the other side’s bowlers a run for their money. For his wizardry with his willow, he has the third position among the all-time best batsman in the history of the IPL.
No.4 – David Warner
South paw, David Warner, is from Australia and is one of the most lethal batsmen in world cricket. He has played for Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. Some claim that he is one of the best openers in the T20 format. He has thrilled his fans with his brilliant and innovative batting. Sixes and boundaries flow off his bat easily.
He has won the Orange cap thrice - in 2015, 2017, and 2019. He was the leading scorer in 2016 when SRH won their first IPL title. Warner is regarded as one of the pillars of his team. He scored 69 runs in the finals for SRH and enabled their title triumph. He has the fourth position in the list of all-time best batsmen in IPL.
No.5 - Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan is a left-handed opening batsman who plays for Delhi Capitals in the IPL. As part of the IPL franchise, Delhi Daredevils, he hit 4 fifties, becoming their third-highest scorer. He played for Mumbai Indians in the second and third seasons, and for Deccan Chargers in the fourth season.
Sunrisers Hyderabad made him their captain before the 2013 Champions League Twenty20 tournament began. Gritty batting by Dhawan and skipper David Warner helped Sunrisers Hyderabad win the 2016 trophy. Scoring 501 runs in 17 matches, he became the 5th highest run-scorer of the tournament.
He was with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2017 and scored 479 runs in 14 matches at an average of 36.84 in the tournament. In the 2018 IPL Auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him for 5.2 crores using their RTM (right to match) card. He scored 497 runs, and his team finished runners-up, losing the final to Chennai Super Kings. For the 2019 IPL, he was traded to Delhi Capitals.
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