Highest run scorers in IPL history

From Virat Kohli to David Warner, we take a look at the highest run scorers in the history of the Indian Premier League.

Since its inception nearly 20 years ago, many of the greatest to ever play the game have turned their hand to the IPL.

Therefore, to be amongst a list of the highest run-getters in the competition's history, you must be a pretty special player.

Involved in the top 10 are a mix of domestic and worldwide talent that have been lighting up cricket's most lucrative tournament, for the most part, across three different decades.

1. Virat Kohli - 8,661 runs

Unless you are inside the cricketing bubble, it is hard to get a grip on the celebrity status that Kohli has in his home country of India.

The former India Test captain has an Instagram following well in excess of 275m - more than Neymar, over 100m more than LeBron James and 73x that of Tiger Woods - largely down to his long established association with IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

The 36-year-old joined RCB ahead of the first IPL season and has remained with them ever since, accumulating 8,661 runs and helping to end their 18-year long quest to win the title in IPL 2025.

2. Rohit Sharma - 7,046 runs

Rohit Sharma is undoubtedly one of the greatest short format players of the modern era and has, unsurprisingly, had a fantastic IPL career.

His 7,046 total runs puts him second to Kohli on the list, coming at an average of 29.73.

The 38-year-old also comes runner-up on a separate IPL records list, this time to Chris Gayle with regard to the most sixes in the competition's history. Rohit's tally of 302 maximums falls just short of the 357 that Gayle struck throughout his time in the league.

3. Shikhar Dhawan - 6,769 runs

During his peak, Shikhar Dhawan was one of the most exciting players in world cricket.

A regular for India across all formats, Dhawan's talents weren't just confined to the T20 sphere, but he also managed to score the fastest century by a Test debutant; smashing his ton off just 85 balls.

Now retired, Dhawan made 6,769 runs during his IPL career, principally for Sunrisers Hyderabad for whom he dedicated five years of his career to.

4. David Warner - 6,565 runs

It speaks a lot to David Warner's talent that he is the only overseas player to barge his way into the top five.

His average of 40.52 is the highest of any player to score north of 4,000 runs in the competition and there are few that can match his total of four centuries.

Warner is a three-time winner of the Orange Cap - awarded to the leading run scorer in an individual season - and captained Sunrisers during their 2021 title-winning season.

5. Suresh Raina - 5,528 runs

Yet another immensely talented domestic batter, Suresh Raina was the first Indian to score a hundred in all three formats of the game for his country.

He is one of nine players to more than 5,000 IPL runs and played from the tournament's maiden season, all the way through to 2022 when he announced that he would retire.

His strike-rate of 136.73 means that he was slightly ahead of his time and is only second to Warner in this metric amongst the top five IPL run scorers.

Top 10 run scorers in IPL history

1. Virat Kohli - 8,661

2. Rohit Sharma - 7,046

3. Shikhar Dhawan - 6,769

4. David Warner - 6,565

5. Suresh Raina - 5,528

6. MS Dhoni - 5,439

7. KL Rahul - 5,222

8. AB de Villiers - 5,162

9. Ajinkya Rahane - 5,032

10. Chris Gayle - 4,965