The Indian Premier League is the top T20 carnival on the planet. And when the best 20-over specialists in the world compete against each other, you tend to see some unforgettable results.
Names like Chris Gayle, Lasith Malinga and Virat Kohli have carved a niche for themselves in the league, proving invaluable to their respective franchises.
So who have been the best performers in the tournament since 2008? Look at the list below and picture gallery above to know more.
Top 5 battings records in IPL
Most runs: Virat Kohli – 5,878
Highest score: Chris Gayle – 175*
Most sixes: Chris Gayle – 349
Most fours: Shikhar Dhawan – 591
Best strike rate: Andre Russell – 182.33
Top 5 bowling records in IPL
Most wickets: Lasith Malinga – 170
Best bowling: Alzarri Joseph – 6/12
Best economy: Rashid Khan – 6.24
Best average: Kagiso Rabada – 18.09
Most dot balls: Harbhajan Singh –1,249
Virat Kohli: 5,878 runs
The India captain has been the centre of Royal Challengers Bangalore's universe. He has grown by leaps and bounds in batting, especially since his fitness transformation in around 2014. Unfortunately, all those runs haven't translated into a title yet.
Chris Gayle: 175*
The world saw the absolute best of the Universe Boss in 2013 when he opened for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors at the batting beauty of M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Benglauru. His knock came off just 66 balls with a staggering 17 sixes and 13 fours. And just to cap a perfect day, picked up two wickets in one over.
Chris Gayle – 349 sixes
The Jamaican batsman's autobiography is called Six Machine. No one hits sixes like Gayle. He is 41 and his reflexes are not that crisp anymore. But he still sends the ball farther than most in international cricket.
Shikhar Dhawan – 591 fours
If Gayle is all power, fellow southpaw Dhawan is about timing. The India batsman has hit the most fours in the tournament, which shows you can prosper making the most of your strengths.
Andre Russell – Career 182.33 strike rate
The West Indies all-rounder has the best power game in the format. Before injuries hampered his effectiveness, Russell was easily the best batsman in the last five overs of the innings. The intensity of his hitting has started to take its toll on his joints.
Lasith Malinga – 170 wickets
The Sri Lankan slinger has been as integral a part of IPL with the ball as Gayle with the bat. Not only is he the most successful bowler in the league's history, he has been largely responsible for the rise of Jasprit Bumrah in white-ball cricket.
Alzarri Joseph – 6-12
For 11 years, the best bowling analysis in the tournament was Pakistan quick Sohail Tanvir's 6-14 in the inaugural edition. Then in 2019, Mumbai Indians' new signing Joseph snared six against Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, a dislocated shoulder while fielding soon after would end his tournament.
Rashid Khan – 6.24 economy
The Afghanistan leg-spinner has had very few bad games. A career economy of run a ball against some unforgiving batsmen make Rashid worth his weight in gold.
Kagiso Rabada – 18.09 average
The South African quick is young in his IPL career at 35 matches. But in them, he has emerged as a wicket-taker who gives very few runs away. Not a lot you can do against 145kph rockets with late movement.
Harbhajan Singh –1,249 dot balls
The veteran off-spinner is in the final stretch of his T20 career, as there is hardly any room for error for pure finger spinners. Still, has kept the batsmen quiet more than anyone in the tournament.
