Few batsmen get past 500 runs in an IPL season, which makes Virat Kohli’s 2016 aggregate all the more incredible
ESPNcricinfo staff24-Mar-201710. Shaun Marsh, 616 runs in 11 matches for Kings XI Punjab at 68.44, IPL 2008The IPL 2008 witnessed a phenomenal run-glut for the elder Marsh brother, after an Australian domestic first-class season in which he averaged 60.27. In just 11 games, he announced himself on the big stage with consistent displays of clean hitting at the top of the Kings XI order. He wasn’t one for cheeky scoops or ramp shots, as he put together five fifties and a hundred during his side’s run to the semi-final. A national call up to the ODI squad followed, and he has been a regular fixture since.9. Sachin Tendulkar, 618 runs in 15 matches at 47.53 for Mumbai Indians, IPL 2010In what was his most productive IPL season, Sachin Tendulkar extended his purple patch from his exploits in international cricket, after having become the first man to score a double hundred in an ODI. Some of his innings were a throwback to the ’90s, as he went about plundering bowling attacks consistently at a strike rate of over 150. Among the most memorable innings was an unbeaten 89 against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur, where he went after Shane Warne, smashing him for three boundaries in an over.8. Virat Kohli, 634 runs in 16 matches at 45.28 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2013For all his success in international cricket, Virat Kohli was yet to have an outstanding run through an IPL season. While he had shown glimpses of consistency in his side’s run to the final in 2011, it was 2013 when he truly set the stage alight. In his first season as captain of the side, Kohli often rescued Royal Challengers when Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers had lean patches early in the season. When either of them succeeded, Kohli played second fiddle to perfection.7. Robin Uthappa, 660 runs in 16 matches at 44.00 for Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2014After a disastrous start in the league phase, Knight Riders won eight consecutive games, including the final, to clinch their second IPL title. Through this period, Uthappa went about setting an IPL record, with ten consecutive 40-plus scores at the top of the order. His outstanding season earned him a call up to India’s ODI tour to Bangladesh that year.AB de Villiers was in sublime form throughout IPL 2016•BCCI6. AB de Villiers, 687 runs in 16 matches at 52.84 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2016De Villiers’ otherworldly season with the bat, despite ticking almost every T20 batting box there is, was still second only to his captain Virat Kohli’s. Both batsmen set new standards in batting consistency in the shortest format. De Villiers struck one hundred and six fifties, as he and Kohli became the first ever T20 pair to hold two different 200-plus run partnerships. It is another matter that none of this was enough to hand them their first IPL title.5. Chris Gayle, 708 runs in 16 matches at 59.00 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2013Gayle’s standard in the IPL continued to improve with every season, and 2013 was another case in point. He scored 708 runs in the season, 175 of which came in game against Pune Warriors, and his 108 boundaries remain his personal best in nine seasons.4. Michael Hussey, 733 runs in 17 matches at 52.35 for Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2013By this point, Michael Hussey was a proven match-winner for Chennai Super Kings – a reliable presence who showed there is a place for the composed, steady run accumulator in this format. His longest and most productive season came in 2013, as he put on game-changing partnerships with M Vijay and Suresh Raina. All this, while playing perfectly proper shots.3. Chris Gayle, 733 runs in 15 matches at 61.08 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2012The Gayle of 2013 was no match for the Gayle of 2012, and his season strike rate of 160.74 after facing 456 balls explains why. The usual Gayle traits were there – monstrous sixes, punishing fours that felt like they deserved more for the effort, and the blistering starts at the top of the order. The only other thing worth mentioning, as a testament to his consistency, is the fact that neither of his two highest run-getting seasons were enough to win him the Man-of-the-Tournament award. The Gayle of 2011 was the winner on that front.David Warner was the most important contributor in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s march to their first IPL title•BCCI2. David Warner, 848 runs in 17 matches at 60.57 for Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL 2016It is fair to say that Sunrisers may not have won their first IPL title, if not for Warner’s single-handed match-winning performances. One of those came in the second qualifier, where his 93 not out was the difference in a tight chase against Gujarat Lions. Unlike his previous efforts, Warner hung around till deep in the innings, ready at hand to guide his side home.1. Virat Kohli, 973 runs in 16 matches at 81.08 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2016None of 2016’s batting stars came close to replicating one of the best batting seasons by an individual player in T20 history. In the process of breaking many records, Kohli also went past Suresh Raina’s run aggregate, making him the highest ever run-getter in IPL history. It was just another milestone in an incredible year for the India captain, having already been named the Player of the Tournament at the World T20 earlier in 2016.