Top 10 Greatest IPL Players

The Indian Premier League (IPL) will be entering its 18th edition of the competition. This tournament has the most number of franchises for any t-20 league in the world. Over the years it has gained recognition from fans and spectators from across the world. Various cricketers from across countries draft their names to participate in this rich cash league. The previous edition of the competition saw some massive hitting and amazing run chases.

IPL has been the stage for many young players to create a name for themselves and later on go on to feature for the national team. Some have vanished from the cricketing circle as well. But some cricketers have created an unmatched legacy in the competition by playing match-winning innings for the side. Among 1000s of players, we will be shortlisting some of the greatest cricketers in IPL history. 

Ranking Factor

There should be some ranking factors on which players should be ranked for Greatest IPL players.

• Number of Matches: To become the greatest player in any league or tournament, players need to play most of the matches from the beginning of the tournament for a very long period.
• Impact: There are many players who have been playing the IPL for a very long time still the main difference between an ordinary player and a great player is the impact of his performance in the context of the match.

In the article, we dive into the top 10 best IPL players.

10. Jasprit Bumrah (MI)

Jasprit Bumrah is one of the greatest bowlers and best IPL players of this era. The Indian pace bowler is known for his unorthodox action, pinpoint accuracy, and ability to bowl deadly yorkers. He has been the go-to bowler for any captain during crunch situations. Especially for India, he has been their best fast bowler across formats of this generation. He continues to impress in the IPL as well, where he received recognition. 

Bumrah made his first appearance in the rich cash league back in 2013 and has helped Mumbai Indians win 5 IPL titles in a decade. He currently is the 9th highest wicket-taker in the IPL history, the pacer has 165 wickets to his name. He will surely be an important factor in the upcoming season for Mumbai as well. 

Bowling

Tournament	Teams	Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	4w	5w	10w
IPL	MI	133	133	3053	3715	165	5/10	5/10	22.51	7.30	18.5	2	2	0

Also Read: Top 10 Cricketers with Most Ducks in IPL

9. Chris Gayle (KKR/RCB/KXIP)

Chris Gayle has been one of the most destructive batters of all time. The big man from Jamaica was known for his aggressive batting style and was a nightmare for the bowlers. He has the record for smashing most hundreds in the T20 format of the game. He has 22 hundred in his career, no batter is close to this record. This showcases his brutal hitting against the bowlers.

Gayle has played 142 matches in the IPL, but his ability to strike the ball hard and entertain the fans makes him for the most runs in IPL. He has scored 4,965 runs at a strike rate of 148.96. The Windies batter has six hundred and thirty-one half-centuries, including a record-breaking 175 not out. He is surely a legend in a competition like IPL. He holds the record for the fastest hundred in ipl, which he achieved in just 30 balls.

Batting & Fielding

Tournament	Teams	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s	Ct	St
IPL	3 teams	142	141	16	4965	175*	39.72	3333	148.96	6	31	404	357	29	0

8. Dwayne Bravo (MI/CSK/GL)

Dwayne Bravo is another West Indian who has been successful in the IPL history. Bravo started IPL his career with MI and went on to play 10 seasons for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), contributing to three of their five trophies. He was their best death bowler. The 41-year-old is the third most wicket-taker in IPL history, topping the list of pacers and overseas bowlers.  

Bravo was also a fantastic lower-order batter. He scored 1,500 runs in the IPL history. His signature ‘Champion’ dance became a joy for the fans across the world. However, he is currently the mentor of defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders and will help them to defend the title.

Batting

Tournament	Teams	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s
IPL	3 teams	161	113	44	1560	70*	22.60	1204	129.56	0	5	120	66

7. David Warner (SRH/DC)

David Warner has been one of the best overseas batters in IPL history. His consistency level has been unmatched in the toughest T20 league in the world. He has scored more than 500 runs in seven IPL seasons. It is the most for any batter. The Southpaw was the fastest to 5,000 runs in IPL and the most prolific overseas batter of all time. 

He led SRH to their maiden title in 2016. The former Sunrisers Hyderabad captain has scored 6565 runs in the IPL and has scored 4 centuries. He also has 62 half-centuries which is the most by any batter in the IPL history. This showcases his talent and batting prowess in the rich cash league of the world and it is also the reason for him to list in the greatest IPL players. 

Batting

Tournament	Teams	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s
IPL	2 teams	184	184	22	6565	126	40.52	4697	139.77	4	62	663	236

6. MS Dhoni (CSK/RPS)

MS Dhoni is the greatest Indian captain in limited overs format. Known as ‘Captain Cool’ for his calm and composed nature on the field. Dhoni has won 5 IPL trophies for CSK in his captaincy career for the side. The 43-year-old continues to entertain his fans with big hitting skills and finishes the innings in style just like old days. 

Dhoni is known for his finishing ability and was one of the best finishers in world cricket. This makes him different from others and the way he has worked on his fitness is much to be talked about. This is the reason he is an absolute legend of the game and the IPL as well. The former CSK captain has scored 5243 runs despite batting in no.6 and no.7. 

Batting & Fielding

Tournament	Teams	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s	Ct	St
IPL	2 teams	264	229	95	5243	84*	39.12	3812	137.53	0	24	363	252	152	42

5. AB de Villiers (DD/RCB)

AB de Villiers known as ‘Mr. 360’ for his unique and unorthodox style of playing cricket. He was one of the most innovative and explosive batters in the history of cricket. The former Proteas captain was a key in RCB‘s middle order over the years. He was the backbone of the side and won many crucial matches in crunch situations. 

Since he retired, the franchise has been looking for his replacement but no one can fulfill it. De Villiers had a strike rate of more than 150 and scored 5,162 runs in 184 matches, this showcases his legacy as a batter and the impact he has created in the rich cash league. He is surely one of the greatest IPL players of all time.

Batting & Fielding

Tournament	Teams	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s	Ct	St
IPL	2 teams	184	170	40	5162	133*	39.70	3403	151.68	3	40	413	251	118	8

4. Lasith Malinga (MI)

Lasith Malinga is one of the finest Sri Lanka pacers of all time. He is the greatest death bowler and the best overall bowling matchwinner in IPL history. He helped MI to win matches single-handedly with his lethal bowling spells. Malinga’s spell in the two finals, which Mumbai won against Chennai Super Kings, will never be forgotten, where he changed the course of the match in double quick time. 

Malinga’s impact in the IPL has been unmatched. He was also a crucial member of Mumbai Indians, which won five trophies from 2013 to 2020. He is the only bowler on the top ten IPL wicket-taking charts with an average of under 20. Malinga won the Purple Cap in 2011 for picking up 28 wickets. He is also the pacer with the most wickets in IPL history. 

Bowling

Tournament	Teams	Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	4w	5w	10w
IPL	MI	122	122	2827	3365	170	5/13	5/13	19.79	7.14	16.6	6	1	0

3. Suresh Raina (CSK/GL)

Suresh Raina is called the ‘Mr IPL’ and has been one of the finest cricketers in the toughest T20 league. He was the backbone of CSK for many years and was a consistent performer for the side till his retirement. He won many matches single-handedly for the side. He led Chennai to 4 titles and 5 runner-up titles. The Southpaw has now retired from all forms of cricket.

Raina was the first batter to score 5000 runs in the IPL. He is also the highest run scorer for CSK, the batter has scored 5528 runs at a fantastic strike rate of 136.76, with 1 hundred and 39 fifties. This showcases his consistency in the rich cash league. He still has a love for CSK and might also return someday as a mentor or coach for the side.

Batting & Fielding

Tournament	Teams	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s	Ct
IPL	2 teams	205	200	30	5528	100*	32.51	4043	136.73	1	39	506	203	109

Also Read: Top 5 Most Unsuccessful Teams in IPL History

2. Virat Kohli (RCB)

Virat Kohli is arguably one of the legends of the IPL. He has been there since the inception of the league. This showcases his unmatched legacy and consistency in the league. He has been stuck with only one franchise since the competition started. He is the only such player featuring for a single franchise. The 36-year-old has been the franchise’s best captain in the competition. 

However, he failed to win the trophy once in his career. But he continues to score runs for the franchise. Kohli leads the chart for most runs in IPL. He is also the batter with the most runs for a single franchise. The 36-year-old has scored 8004 runs in 252 matches, including 8 centuries and 55 fifties. He has the most centuries in IPL history. He will look to add more runs and centuries to his tally in the forthcoming season. He is known as an IPL goat player.

Batting & Fielding

Tournament	Teams	Mat	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	BF	SR	100s	50s	4s	6s	Ct
IPL	RCB	252	244	37	8004	113*	38.66	6065	131.97	8	55	705	272	114

1. Sunil Narine (KKR)

Sunil Narine can be called the ‘GOAT’ of the IPL. Despite featuring in the IPL from 2012. But his impact on the competition’s history is truly unmatched. Narine was one of the key orchestrators behind KKR’s IPL triumph in 2012 and 2014. He is the fifth-highest wicket-taker in IPL history. The West Indies spinner has 180 wickets to his name. He is also the highest wicket-taker for a single franchise.

Narine is also the only cricketer to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award thrice in 2012, 2018, and 2024. He helped side with the bat in the later part of the IPL as well. While opening the innings, he was the side’s highest run-getter with 488 runs in the tournament, picked up 17 wickets and helped KKR to win their third title as well.

Bowling

Tournament	Teams	Mat	Inns	Balls	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Ave	Econ	SR	4w	5w	10w
IPL	KKR	177	175	4075	4571	180	5/19	5/19	25.39	6.73	22.6	7	1	0

List of top 10 greatest players in IPL history:

S.No,	Player Name	Team	Matches
1.	Sunil Narine	KKR	177
2.	Virat Kohli	RCB	252
3.	Suresh Raina	CSK & GL	205
4.	Lasith Malinga	MI	122
5.	AB de Villiers	DC & RCB	184
6.	MS Dhoni	CSK & RPS	264
7.	David Warner	DC & SRH	184
8.	Dwayne Bravo	MI, CSK & GL	161
9.	Chris Gayle	KKR, RCB & PBKS	142
10.	Jasprit Bumrah	MI	133