The IPL is unarguably among the most exciting and widely followed cricket leagues in the world. Over the years, this tournament has not only given fans nail-biting matches but also provided a stage for some of the best cricketing talents to showcase their skills. One of the most talked-about records in the IPL is the number of runs scored by the players. In the IPL, scoring runs is not easy, given the level of competition and the pressure to perform under the spotlight.
Heading into the next IPL season, the talk of the town is: Who is going to be the first player to cross 7000 runs in the history of the IPL? With this interesting proposition, let’s understand what it means, along with which players are racing close to it, and also how the race for 7000 runs panned out.
A Short Overview of the IPL Runs Record
Before moving on to those players who hope to become the first to attain the 7000-run mark, it is a good idea to take a short stop to consider the top run-getters in the history of the IPL.
Currently, Kohli has amassed the most runs in IPL history. Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Kohli has been an anchor for the tournament since its inception. He has gone on to make over 6500 runs in the league, with not so much signs of a stop. Among his most notable attributes are his consistency, technique, and ability to perform in pressure situations. This has made him one of the game’s most respected and loved players in the IPL.Â
Right behind him are Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner, and Rohit Sharma, all men who have been consistent performers for a long time. None of them has crossed those numbers yet, making it with each season more likely that Kohli will be the first to achieve this remarkable feat.
Key Players to Watch
Virat Kohli is undoubtedly the chief contestant here; however, a few others are rapidly catching up to this milestone. Let us look at these players and analyze their chances of being the first to the 7000-run mark.
- Virat Kohli (RCB)
Runs at Present: 6500+
Virat Kohli has been stupendous when it comes to IPL consistency. He has been an important part of the batting lineup of RCB since the inception of the tournament in 2008. He has won the Orange Cap in the past and has made memorable centuries and match-winning knocks since then. At this rate, he could be the first player to reach 7000 runs in IPL history. With the hunger for runs and the way he has sent ripples down the ages of time, there are hardly any doubts he would get it soon.
- Shikhar Dhawan (Delhi Capitals)
Runs at Present: 6000+
Shikhar Dhawan, an aggressive opening batsman, is a strong contender for achieving 7000 IPL runs. The left-handed batsman has been around for quite some time in this league and many years has been the backbone of many franchises, namely Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Dhawan can be considered one of the most reliable batsmen in the IPL; his ability to play an anchor role and accelerate when required makes him essential for any team. Although his batting style is not as explosive as some of the younger players, Dhawan’s consistency will likely see him through to 7000 IPL runs in a few seasons.Â
- David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Runs at Present: 5700+
David Warner, an Australian opener, is a great player of the IPL, aggressive by nature and loved by many. He has been an asset for Sunrisers Hyderabad in running down the best bowlers in the world and therefore among the top-tier players in the league. Warner has been a former IPL captain, leading his team to the title in 2016. If he keeps performing at his level best and stays fit, he should be the one looking to reach the 7000 runs very soon.
- Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians)
Current Runs: 5,500+Â
Rohit Sharma, captain of the Mumbai Indians, is again a player to be watched closely. Of course, he is far from the 7000-raindrop figure of other players; however, his experience and skillset prominently put him in this category. Sharma has played all IPLs since its very first season and also has been one of the most fruit-bearing captains in the tournament’s history. Not only can he hit mammoth runs when necessary, but he has also kept up the consistency through the years he has played, making him one of the strong candidates to break the record of 7000 runs in seasons coming in the future.
Who Will Reach 7000 First?Â
The likes of Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, and a few others will all make this race to 7000 runs a very interesting one. But Kohli seems to have an edge, given his current collection and his consistency in the last few years. Every season, Kohli continues to grace the runs-scored chart, so it is pretty much probable he will be the first to hit this mark. That said, no cricket is from the IPL, and neither Dhawan nor Warner nor Sharma lies far away. All can be injured, lose form, or not due to team dynamics make this play. With every season passing, these players can always up runs to get to 7000, and it will be interesting to see how this race unfolds in the next couple of years.
What Will Reaching 7000 Runs Mean?
Reaching 7000 runs in the IPL is a huge accomplishment. It would not only cement a player’s legacy as one of the best to ever play in the league but also highlight their consistency and ability to perform at the highest level for over a decade. For fans, it will be a moment to celebrate the career of a true IPL legend, and the player who manages to do so will be remembered as one of the game’s all-time greats.
Conclusion
As the IPL continues to evolve and more players showcase their talents, the race to reach 7000 runs is heating up. Virat Kohli, with his exceptional ability and current tally, is the frontrunner, but players like Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner, and Rohit Sharma are not far behind. In a few seasons, we could very well witness a new milestone being set in the history of the IPL. No matter who reaches 7000 runs first, one thing is for sure—the IPL will continue to produce some of the most exciting and memorable cricket moments for years to come.
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