IPL Season: The Indian Premier League (IPL) stands as the premier T20 cricket league globally. Since its launch in 2008, it has been a stage for some of the finest batsmen to display their talent and break numerous records. Scoring consistently in a fast-paced T20 format is no easy feat, yet several players have made it seem effortless throughout the years.
In this article, we will delve into the players who have amassed the most runs in a single IPL season and highlight the top 10 batsmen with the highest run totals in IPL history for a single campaign.
Virat Kohli (RCB): 973 runs in IPL 2016
IPL Season: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star batter Virat Kohli had a memorable season in IPL 2016, where he amassed a record 973 runs in 16 matches at an average of 81.08. He is currently the all-time leading run-scorer and also has a record of IPL most runs in a season that is still untouched by many of the great modern-day cricketers. Along with this, in IPL 2016, Kohli also became the first batter to score four centuries in a single season of the IPL.
Shubman Gill (GT): 890 runs in IPL 2023
The only player who got a little closer to Virat Kohli’s record of 973 runs in a single edition was Shubman Gill. Playing for the Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2023, Gill had a memorable season where he amassed 890 runs from 17 matches at an average of 59.33. Gill won the Orange cap for being the leading run-scorer of the season and came in second place in most runs in an IPL season.
Jos Buttler (RR): 863 runs in IPL 2022
Before Shubman Gill could get near the Virat Kohli record of 973 runs, England wicketkeeper batter Jos Buttler threatened the record of most runs in IPL in one season with his tremendous batting performance a year before. Playing for Rajasthan Royals (RR), Buttler had a memorable season in IPL 2022, where he amassed 863 runs from 17 matches at an average of 57.53. He won the orange cap for being the top scorer of the season.
David Warner (SRH): 848 runs in IPL 2016
One of the most consistent performers in IPL, Australia’s David Warner has won the most Orange Caps, having finished with the most runs in one season of IPL thrice. However, he would have four Orange Caps if no Virat Kohli special existed in IPL 2016. Playing as the skipper for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2016, Warner finished the season with 848 runs from 17 matches at an average of 60.57. He was just behind Kohli in the list of top run-getters in that season and SRH to their first IPL title in 2016.
Kane Williamson (SRH): 735 runs in IPL 2018
After David Warner was given a one-year ban due to the ball-tampering incident, Kane Williamson was responsible for leading Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2018 in his absence. The right-handed batsman excelled in both batting and captaincy, and he not only scored the most runs in single IPL season, but also led SRH to their second IPL final. Williamson ended up winning the Orange Cap by amassing 735 runs from 17 matches at an average of 52.5 and a strike rate of 142.44.
Chris Gayle (RCB): 733 runs in IPL 2012
Widely regarded as the ‘Universe Boss’ former West Indian cricketer Chris Gayle has finished as the player with the most runs in IPL one season twice. The Orange Cap winner of the IPL 2011, Gayle repeated the same heroics in IPL 2012 and finished as the player with the IPL most runs in one season for the consecutive time. The left-hander amassed 733 runs from 15 matches at an average of 61.08 and a strike rate of 160.74, along with one hundred and seven half-centuries.
Michael Hussey (CSK): 733 runs in IPL 2013
After Chris Gayle amassed 733 runs in IPL 2012, Michael was the player to score the most IPL runs in one season. Playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2013, Hussey amassed 733 runs from 17 matches at an average of 52.35. He was the top performer for CSK in that season and also ended up winning the Orange Cap for scoring the most runs in one IPL season in 2013. He played a key role for CSK to qualify for their fourth consecutive IPL final since 2013, However, CSK couldn’t win the title this time as Mumbai Indians (MI) defeated them in the final to clinch their maiden IPL trophy.
Faf du Plessis (RCB): 730 runs in IPL 2023
Former South African cricketer Faf du Plessis had his best IPL season in 2023, where he finished as the second most runs in IPL season. Captaining Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2023, Du Plessis amassed 730 runs from 14 matches at an average of 56.15 and a strike rate 153.68. He was a consistent performer for RCB along with Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell and played a crucial part in most of the wins. He finished just behind Shubman Gill in the list of most ipl runs in a season in 2023.
Chris Gayle (RCB): 708 runs in IPL 2013
After finishing as the highest run-getter in IPL 2012, Chris Gayle continued his beast form in IPL 2013 as well and finished second in the list of most runs in a IPL. The Caribbean amassed 708 runs from 16 matches at an average of 59 and a strike rate of 156.29. In the same season, Gayle played a historic 175-run knock in the match against Pune Warriors India at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. This was the second consecutive time that Gayle scored more than 700 runs in an IPL season.
David Warner (SRH): 692 runs in IPL 2019
After serving a one-year ban by the ICC over the infamous ball-tampering controversy, David Warner made a comeback as the skipper of the Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2019. It turned out to be redemption for the left-handed batsman as he finished as the player who scored most runs in IPL in one and ended up winning the Orange Cap for the third time, which is the most by any player in IPL history till now. Warner amassed 692 runs from 12 matches in IPL 2019 at an average of 69.2 and a strike rate of 143.86 with one hundred and eight half-centuries.