The Indian Premier League has played host to some of the truly great players in cricket since it first began in 2008. With the glitz and glamour that accompanies it, every year the IPL plays host to destructive batting, nerveless bowling and acrobatic fielding to the delight of millions around the world. Of all the players to have featured in the league, who rank among the best? Which superstars have stood out from the rest with their exploits on the cricket field.
Read on for a list of the top 5 players in the history so far of the IPL.
5. Chris Gayle
- Teams: Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore
- 4509 runs; 52.33 average; 160.20 strike rate; 175* highest score
West Indian Chris Gayle is one of the most powerful batsmen in the world and has been enormously successful in the IPL. His powerful and destructive hitting saw him hit 175* in 2013 against Pune, the highest score in IPL history, and Gayle will surely dominate for a few more years.
4. Rohit Sharma
- Teams: Deccan Chargers, Mumbai Indians
- 5966 runs; 32.63 average; 129.66 strike rate; 109* highest score
Ahead of Gayle in the run-scoring charts is Rohit Sharma, an enormously talented batsman who has impressed in IPL since its first season. Another to have scored an IPL century, Sharma is a key wicket in the middle order and has already shown his form on the international stage with India.
3. Amit Mishra
- Teams: Deccan Chargers, Delhi Daredevils, Sunrisers Hyderabad
- 169 wickets; 20.25 average; 6.93 economy rate; 5-17 BBI
The top spinner in the history of the IPL, Amit Mishra has caused problems for numerous batsmen in the league. His bowling average is the second-lowest in the league, and he will surely reach the milestone of 100 wickets in next year’s installment.
2. Lasith Malinga
- Team: Mumbai Indians
- 170 wickets; 17.95 average; 6.54 economy rate; 5-13 BBI
The only man to have taken more than 100 wickets in the IPL, it is easy to forget that Lasith Malinga did not actually play in the first season in 2008. However, he has since made up for lost time and holds the best bowling average and economy rate in the history of the league as well as being the leading wicket-taker. Despite his brittle body, Malinga is the premier bowler in the IPL.
1. Suresh Raina
- Team: Chennai Super Kings
- 5528 runs; 35.02 average; 141.37 strike rate; 100* highest score
Top of our list is Suresh Raina, the leading run-scorer in the history of the IPL. The left-hander is a dominant performer in the league, and while his weaknesses have perhaps been exposed in Test matches, he remains a prized wicket for IPL bowlers