The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been the best platform to showcase talent for cricketers over the years. Many Players like Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, and others joined the league when they were very young in 2008. Over the period of 18 years, many things have changed, but these players haven't stopped performing. Out of these, Suresh Raina retired from all forms of cricket, but the others haven't stopped showcasing their outstanding performances in the league. Apart from them, there is MS Dhoni, who has been astounding in the tournament since its inception. Dhoni has had a successful career as a captain, but as a batter, he was marvellous.
Who is King of IPL?

The IPL gave a solid stage to the players to showcase their talents and help their teams win games. It also helped many players to build their careers through the platform, which helped them to get a call from their national teams, and they ended up having a great career. In this article, we will talk about who is the King of IPL.
Ranking Factors
The ranking has been done on some specific and universal factors so that the king of IPL are ranked on a fair basis. Here is the list of the factors on which the ranking has been done to find out the answer of who is king of IPL?
- Statistical Achievements: On the basis of statistical achievement, we will be ranking the players across the world, as stats are the proof of them being considered as the king of cricket.
- Impact on Matches: For a player to be the king of IPL, he needs to have an impact on the game, as the player who performs in a pressure situation and in a do-or-die game is always considered a great player.
- Consistency: Consistency is the main difference between a good and a great player; that's why we also rank the players on their consistency in the IPL.
Advertisement
Main Contenders for the King of IPL
There are many players who are really good cricketers and played really well in the IPL, however, there are only 4 players who are in contention for the King of IPL. We will compare all these contenders, and on the above ranking factors, we will find out who is the king of IPL?
Here is the list of all the contenders for the king of IPL:
S. No. | Player | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Highest Score | 100s | 50s | Fours | Sixes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Virat Kohli | 261 | 8396 | 39.41 | 132.49 | 113* | 8 | 60 | 740 | 285 |
2 | Rohit Sharma | 265 | 6856 | 29.80 | 131.79 | 109* | 2 | 45 | 617 | 295 |
3 | MS Dhoni | 273 | 5383 | 38.72 | 137.67 | 84* | 0 | 24 | 374 | 260 |
4 | Suresh Raina | 205 | 5,528 | 32.51 | 136.73 | 100* | 1 | 39 | 506 | 203 |
The king of IPL:
The "King of IPL" is a title for the best player in the Indian Premier League since 2008. He should be the cricketer who shines in scoring runs, leading teams, and staying consistent every season. They score runs on a great average, hitting big shots on all kinds of pitches and against some of the toughest bowlers around the world, especially in big games like playoffs. With tons of runs and match-winning knocks when it matters most, they become the IPL’s biggest stars. In this article, we will find the answer to who is the king of IPL as well as who is the king of IPL captain.
Advertisement
4. Suresh Raina | 4 IPL Trophies

The former Indian cricketer, Suresh Raina, is one of the most successful players in the league’s history. His magnificent performances in the cash-rich league helped him to earn the tag of “Mr. IPL.” Playing for CSK since the inception of the league, Raina has achieved many milestones in the IPL. Raina has played 12 seasons with CSK, while two with Gujarat Lions in the years 2016 and 2017. He is one of the top contenders for the king of cricket in IPL.
The stylish left-handed batter has played 205 matches in the league and scored 5528 runs at an average of 32.52, which included 39 half-centuries and a century. Raina last featured in the league in 2021, and after getting unsold in 2022, he announced his retirement, which was a shocker for his fans.
Batting and Fielding stats
Tournament | Teams | Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Balls Faced | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | Fours | Sixes | Catches |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IPL | 2 teams | 205 | 200 | 30 | 5528 | 100* | 32.51 | 4043 | 136.73 | 1 | 39 | 506 | 203 | 109 |
3. MS Dhoni | 5 IPL Trophies

Popularly known as "Captain Cool", MS Dhoni has been the face of the league over the years. As mentioned above, he is the only captain, along with Rohit Sharma, to win five IPL trophies. MS is the answer to one of the most asked questions: Who is the king of IPL captain? Dhoni became a part of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2008 and led the side till 2023. During this time, he helped the franchise win five IPL titles. Apart from that, CSK has played ten finals and qualified for the playoffs twelve times.
Dhoni’s batting records are also wonderful, even though he has batted in the middle order for most of his career. He has played 273 matches in the league so far and scored 5383 runs at an impressive average of 38.72 with a staggering strike rate of 137.67, including 24 half-centuries. Interestingly, Dhoni has been appointed as CSK skipper once again in the ongoing IPL 2025 season as their original skipper, Ruturaj Gaikwad, has been ruled out of the tournament due to an injury.
Batting and Fielding stats
Tournament | Teams | Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Balls Faced | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | Fours | Sixes | Catches | Stumpings |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IPL | 2 teams | 273 | 238 | 99 | 5383 | 84* | 38.72 | 3910 | 137.67 | 0 | 24 | 374 | 260 | 155 | 46 |
Advertisement
2. Rohit Sharma | 6 IPL Trophies

Rohit Sharma, the current captain of the Indian cricket team in the Test and ODI formats, is the most successful captain in the history of the Indian Premier League alongside MS Dhoni. He also belongs in the category of the king of IPL captain. The right-handed batter has won five IPL trophies while leading the Mumbai Indians. He has also won an IPL trophy as a player while playing for the Deccan Chargers in 2009. Rohit helped Mumbai Indians to become the IPL champions five times in the years 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020.
Apart from that, Rohit has also succeeded in the league as a batter, being the third-highest run-scorer of the league. Rohit has played 261 matches in the IPL so far and has scored 6856 runs at an average of 29.80 with a strike rate of 131.79, including 45 half-centuries and two centuries.
Batting and Fielding stats
Tournament | Teams | Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Balls Faced | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | Fours | Sixes | Catches |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IPL | 2 teams | 265 | 260 | 30 | 6856 | 109* | 29.80 | 5202 | 131.79 | 2 | 45 | 617 | 295 | 101 |
1. Virat Kohli | 0 IPL Trophies

Undoubtedly, one of the best players in the history of the league, Virat Kohli, is the answer to the most debatable question: who is the king of IPL? Not just in IPL, Kohli is also hailed as the King of Cricket and known as ‘King Kohli’. Despite not having a trophy in all these years in the IPL, Kohli is the highest run-scorer of the tournament. In 261 matches, he has scored 8396 runs, at an average of 39.41. He is the only player in the league to have scored eight IPL centuries.
Kohli hasn't led the side to a title victory but has certainly performed well and saved games single-handedly. His prime year was 2016, in which he scored 973 runs in just 16 matches with four centuries in a single season.
Batting and Fielding stats
Tournament | Teams | Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Balls Faced | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | Fours | Sixes | Catches |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IPL | RCB | 261 | 253 | 40 | 8396 | 113* | 39.41 | 6337 | 132.49 | 8 | 60 | 740 | 285 | 116 |
Advertisement
Virat Kohli - The Real King of IPL
The answer to the question of who is the king of IPL is none other than Virat Kohli, he is more than just a cricketer; he’s the face of world cricket. Virat Kohli is the ultimate icon of this T20 league, and his statistics are proof of that, with over 8,000+ runs, 8 centuries, and 60 fifties. He’s the IPL’s all-time leading run-scorer. His 2016 season with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), scoring 973 runs with four centuries, remains unmatched. Kohli’s ability to chase totals, with precise shots and swift running, is extraordinary. Except for numbers, it’s his leadership that differentiates him from others.
As an RCB captain for a long time, he always led the team from the front, with his passion lifting the team and exciting fans. His unwavering loyalty to RCB since the IPL’s inception sets him apart in an era of frequent team changes. While RCB’s lack of a championship is disappointing, cricket is a team sport, and one player can only do so much. With his charisma, distinctive style, and vibrant celebrations, Kohli is the IPL’s face as well. At Chinnaswamy Stadium, his presence transforms the atmosphere. Virat Kohli is, without question, the real king of IPL.
Virat Kohli IPL Stats
Season | Team | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IPL 2025 | RCB | 9 | 9 | 3 | 392 | 73* | 65.33 | 272 | 144.11 | 0 | 5 | 35 | 13 | 2 |
IPL 2024 | RCB | 15 | 15 | 3 | 741 | 113* | 61.75 | 479 | 154.69 | 1 | 5 | 62 | 38 | 8 |
IPL 2023 | RCB | 14 | 14 | 2 | 639 | 101* | 53.25 | 457 | 139.82 | 2 | 6 | 65 | 16 | 13 |
IPL 2022 | RCB | 16 | 16 | 1 | 341 | 73 | 22.73 | 294 | 115.98 | 0 | 2 | 32 | 8 | 9 |
IPL 2021 | RCB | 15 | 15 | 1 | 405 | 72* | 28.92 | 339 | 119.46 | 0 | 3 | 43 | 9 | 8 |
IPL 2020 | RCB | 15 | 15 | 4 | 466 | 90* | 42.36 | 384 | 121.35 | 0 | 3 | 23 | 11 | 3 |
IPL 2019 | RCB | 14 | 14 | 0 | 464 | 100 | 33.14 | 328 | 141.46 | 1 | 2 | 46 | 13 | 5 |
IPL 2018 | RCB | 14 | 14 | 3 | 530 | 92* | 48.18 | 381 | 139.10 | 0 | 4 | 52 | 18 | 8 |
IPL 2017 | RCB | 10 | 10 | 0 | 308 | 64 | 30.80 | 252 | 122.22 | 0 | 4 | 23 | 11 | 5 |
IPL 2016 | RCB | 16 | 16 | 4 | 973 | 113 | 81.08 | 640 | 152.03 | 4 | 7 | 83 | 38 | 6 |
IPL 2015 | RCB | 16 | 16 | 5 | 505 | 82* | 45.90 | 386 | 130.82 | 0 | 3 | 35 | 23 | 7 |
IPL 2014 | RCB | 14 | 14 | 1 | 359 | 73 | 27.61 | 294 | 122.10 | 0 | 2 | 23 | 16 | 7 |
IPL 2013 | RCB | 16 | 16 | 2 | 634 | 99 | 45.28 | 457 | 138.73 | 0 | 6 | 64 | 22 | 7 |
IPL 2012 | RCB | 16 | 15 | 2 | 364 | 73* | 28.00 | 326 | 111.65 | 0 | 2 | 33 | 9 | 7 |
IPL 2011 | RCB | 16 | 16 | 4 | 557 | 71 | 46.41 | 460 | 121.08 | 0 | 4 | 55 | 16 | 7 |
IPL 2010 | RCB | 16 | 13 | 2 | 307 | 58 | 27.90 | 212 | 144.81 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 12 | 3 |
IPL 2009 | RCB | 16 | 13 | 2 | 246 | 50 | 22.36 | 219 | 112.32 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 8 | 9 |
IPL 2008 | RCB | 13 | 12 | 1 | 165 | 38 | 15.00 | 157 | 105.09 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 4 | 2 |
Advertisement
Who is The Youngest King of IPL
When we talk about the youngest king of the IPL, one name that stands out with authority is Vaibhav Suryavanshi. He announced his arrival in the IPL by hitting a six on the very first ball of his debut, and that too against an experienced bowler like Shardul Thakur.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi age is just 14 years old, and at this age, not only is his power-hitting impressive, but his match awareness is also exceptional. While he regularly hits boundaries, he also pays great attention to rotating the strike in between.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi IPL team is the Rajasthan Royals. RR acquired him for 1.1 crores in the IPL auction. He became the youngest player in the IPL.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi record at just 14 years old is proof of his extraordinary talent, as he continues to create history with his powerful hitting, sharp game sense, and fearless performances in the IPL.
Advertisement
FAQs
Editor's Pick
Editor's Pick