Most IPL runs: Virat Kohli tops star-studded list

Virat Kohli is set to enter the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2022 as the league’s top run-getter and there’s a good chance the former Royal Challengers Bangalore captain will defend his place at the top of the elite list after the 10-team season beginning March 26, will be kept in India.

Virat Kohli, who began his career at RCB in 2008, has been one of the most consistent players with the racquet despite failing to win the elusive title. Kohli resigned as RCB captain, ending a tenure that lasted nearly a decade without actually getting his hands on the trophy. But the Delhi batsman was the most successful batsman despite not being the most flamboyant in the league.

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Virat Kohli is the only better player in the league’s 14-year history to have surpassed 6,000 runs. Kohli has 6,283 runs in 207 games at a 37.40 average. He has scored 5 hundreds, 4 of them in the dream season of 2016, where he set the record for most runs scored in one edition of the IPL – 973 runs.

Kohli has had over 400 runs per season in each of his last 7 seasons, with the exception of the 2017 season where he only managed 308 runs. Even when he struggled with big runs last season, Kohli managed to hit 405 runs. It came as no surprise when Royal Challengers Bangalore retained Kohli for Rs 15 crore (the top prize bracket) despite the former Indian captain not captaining the team.

Relieved of the captain’s burden in all formats, Kohli will look to express himself freely and improve the record. The former skipper is keen to put on a big show at the 2022 IPL to ensure he regains confidence in leading up to the T20 World Cup.

Just behind Virat Kohli is Shikhar Dhawan, who will start a new chapter in his IPL career playing for the Punjab Kings. The left-handed Indian opener was one of the most consistent batsmen in the league, hitting 5,784 runs including 2 hundreds.

ALL EYES ON ROHIT

Five-time IPL winner Captain Rohit Sharma is not far behind with 5611 runs. After missing out on a playoff spot last season, Rohit will be keen to lead with the racquet from up front. It won’t be a surprise if Rohit breaks the 6000 run mark. After taking over as India’s full-time captain in all three formats, Rohit will have to deal with added pressure when he emerges for the Mumbai Indians in the new season.

Former Indian hitter Suresh Raina sits in 4th place with 5528 runs and the former Chennai Super Kings star will have nothing to add to his tally this year. Raina, who has been a permanent member of CSK over the years, was not sold at the IPL 2022 mega auction. Raina emerges as a commentator for IPL 2022.

David Warner completes the top 5 all-time leading run-getters with 5449 runs. The IPL-winning former SunRisers Hyderabad captain had a horror run in IPL 2021, in which he managed 195 runs in just 8 games, the lowest tally for him since 2009. Off-field issues meant Warner was unable to play regularly for SRH after he had been dismissed as captain.

Having secured a deal with Delhi Capitals to partner Ricky Ponting, Warner will not be waiting to return to his peak IPL form.

MOST RUNS IN IPL