Who Is The True King of IPL: Full Guide [2026]

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is home to the world’s best cricketers and claims the largest fan base across the sport with over a billion viewers in India. IPL made its debut in 2008, and by 2009, the tournament doubled in revenue. Every year since, the league has steadily grown. Today, in 2026, it is the biggest cricketing event. Not alone in India, but globally.

IPL is not only rich in revenue, but also in cricketing talent. In fact, a large part of the IPL’s success comes from the star players who participate in the league and make it momentous. 18 seasons and counting, but who is the king of IPL history? Time to uncover that with pure stats. Read on and learn more about the best players of the IPL. This includes the best batsmen, top bowlers, and the highest paid player in IPL history.

Today, in 2026, it is the biggest cricketing event. Not alone in India, but globally. Several teams have lifted the trophy after dramatic semi finals, iconic moments where India won historic matches, and leadership changes with almost every franchise appointing a new captain over the years.

Who Is the Best Player in IPL?

For many, MS Dhoni is the best player of the IPL — not just as a finisher, but also as a run getter in pressure situations and a leader who delivered championships even while managing injury concerns late in his career.

Others, when asked the question “Who is the king of IPL?” will answer it’s Virat Kohli. Some fans believe AB de Villiers or Rohit Sharma is the best. And there are countless names. Like KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzi Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Chris Gayle, and so on. But getting to the right answer is not that simple. Let’s think about it carefully.

Batsmen and the “King of IPL” Debate

With T20 cricket, the title “King of IPL” typically is awarded to the best batsmen. After all, they’re the ones driving in the runs and are largely responsible for the ooh’s and aah’s from the fans. So, who is god of IPL? It is probably Virat Kohli. That’s purely because of the number of runs that he has scored.

But IPL is a T20 format. In that case, if we look at the batters who have scored runs quickly, the answer to “Who is IPL king” will shift towards the likes of Andre Russel, Sunil Narine, and Nicholas Pooran. Since fast-bowlers throw as hard as 160 kilometers per hour, it makes sense that fans go wild when a batsman hits one into the crowd for six.

The Role of Bowlers & ARs in IPL

Bowlers, on the other hand, have the unforgiving task of limiting the production from batsmen.

If bowlers had their way, cricket would become quite dull. Who likes watching a defensive battle? The IPL is all about offense, and with the T20 cricket laws, you’ll see a ton of it. Although most of the top IPL players are batsmen, it’s important to be a good all-rounder.

Take Sam Curran of the Chennai Super Kings, for example. He’s one of the top IPL players as a great all-rounder. In the IPL 2020, he not only scored 186 runs (which is high for a bowler), with a strike rate of 131.91, but he also clinched 13 out of 14 wickets.

You will say, “That’s just one season.” But every season, there are all-rounders who lit up the tournament. For example, Hardik Pandya. While batting, he has scored nearly 3000 runs at a SR of 148. He has also taken 90+ wickets at an economy of below 8. The numbers are great for a format like IPL. He has also led GT to an IPL trophy. So, doesn’t he deserve to be an answer to “Who is the king of cricket in IPL” as well?

While this seems pretty good, Curran’s bowling performance was overshadowed by a fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, from the Mumbai Indians in 2020. With a bowling average of 13.93, Bumrah netted a whopping 27 wickets. That said, he only made 5 runs.

Salary: Factor to Determine the Best Player?

When determining the king of IPL you can also take into consideration a player’s salary. Typically, the most expensive player in IPL is the best player — although not always the case.

If you remember, Rishabh Pant was the highest paid player in ipl 2025. He was bought by LSG for ₹27 crores. Unfortunately, Pant failed to deliver. In 14 matches, he was able to score just 269 runs, and LSG even failed to make it to the top 4.

On the other hand, Cameron Green is the highest paid player in IPL 2026. He was bought by KKR for ₹25.20 crores. This time, expectations are very different. According to pundits, Green is tipped to be one of the most impactful players for KKR in IPL 2026.

Ultimately, the IPL best player comes down to whoever consistently makes the biggest impact on the game. Sometimes it’s a batsman, sometimes it’s a bowler, and at times, it’s an all-rounder who contributes with both bat and ball.

Who Is the Best Batsman in IPL?

The best batsman is awarded the orange cap at the end of the season for scoring the most runs in the IPL. Usually, the names change every year. Only David Warner, Virat Kohli, and Chris Gayle have won it multiple times. So, the answer to “Who is the king of IPL batsman” changes every season. For example, it was Sai Sudarshan in 2025 while Kohli won it in 2024.

In the history of the IPL, however, King Kohli has the most runs. He has scored 8660+ runs in 259 innings. Next to him is Rohit Sharma with 7046 runs in 267 innings.

Let us talk about the top 5 the best batsmen in the IPL:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

MS Dhoni is one of the most celebrated players in IPL history. The former Indian captain leads the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) year in and year out. He’s won the title three times with CSK and helped them reach the finals eight out of 10 seasons. MS Dhoni is eighth all-time in runs scored with 4,632. He may not be the highest run scorer in IPL history but he’s on a shortlist of all-time greats.

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli RCB (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) is considered by many to be the greatest batsman the IPL has ever seen. It’s hard to disagree, considering he leads all players with the most runs in IPL history (5878). Separating the second through fifth highest run scorers in IPL history is only 171 runs. Kohli has a firm grasp on first by an unprecedented margin of 510 runs ahead of second place. To say that the batsman is dominant is an understatement. Ever since he was named captain of the Royal Challengers Bangalore which won their first IPL title in 2025, he became the ultimate run getter, producing multiple centuries and half centuries across seasons.
In 2016, he broke the IPL record for most runs in a season with 977 — he made it look easy.

Rohit Sharma

With four IPL titles and the only player in history with five winner medals, Rohit Sharma, is a living legend. He’s the most decorated player in IPL history. Named the best emerging player in 2009, Sharma lived up to the hype with a glorious career. Accolades aside, Sharma is most respected for his ability to lead by example and come away with runs in critical moments for his team. Sharma is third all-time with 5,230 runs to his name.

AB de Villiers

No matter where AB de Villiers plays, he adds a sense of excitement and flair to the game with his ability to knock runs from every corner of the ground. T20 cricket was made for him. His uncanny ability to highest score has earned him the third-best all-time in the IPL, with 133 runs in a single inning. He helped resurrect the Royal Challengers Bangalore to one of the most feared teams over the last 10 seasons. Playing alongside his great fellow, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers has been a treat for fans to witness. Despite his personal greatness, he has yet to add a title to his revered resume. AB de Villiers is the sixth-highest run scorer in IPL history with 4,849.

Suresh Raina

The IPL’s most successful franchise and arguably the best IPL team, Chennai Super Kings, wouldn’t be where they are today without the help of Suresh Raina — in large part due to his incredible ability to effortlessly put points on the board. He ranks second in the highest runs in IPL history with 5,368. Raina is remarkably consistent, averaging just over 33 runs throughout 12 seasons with CSK. The left-handed batsman played a pivotal role in all three titles CSK won. Although eventually eclipsed by Virat Kohli, Raina was the first player to reach 5,000 runs in the IPL.

The best batsmen in the IPL:

Across IPL history, dominance hasn’t belonged to one individual alone — instead, five players stand out consistently when discussing legacy, trophies, and long-term impact:

• MS Dhoni
• Virat Kohli
• Rohit Sharma
• AB de Villiers
• Suresh Raina

Fun Fact: When fans search for IPL most runs or most runs in IPL, they are usually looking for career records and season milestones. The most runs in IPL history belong to Virat Kohli, making him the highest run scorer in IPL overall. Separately, the record for the highest runs in IPL in a single season is 973, also set by Kohli in 2016, a benchmark no player has surpassed so far.

Who Is the Best Bowler in IPL?

Batsmen may gain the love of fans, but bowlers demand respect. Bowlers might not be as exciting to cheer on, but their role in cricket is just as important as the show-stopping batsmen.

The best bowler is awarded the Purple Cap at the end of the season for taking the most wickets in the IPL. Like the Orange Cap, the winner usually changes every year. Only a few players have managed to win it multiple times. They are Dwayne Bravo, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Harshal Patel.

As a result, the answer to “Who is the king of IPL bowler” tends to change from season to season. For instance, Prasidh Krishna claimed the Purple Cap in 2025. He was the best bowler in IPL 2025. But in 2024, it was Harshal Patel.

Let us talk about the top 6 the best bowlers in the IPL:

Yuzvendra Chahal

Attacking leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal gained attention after one of his best bowling figures in 2009 when he took 34 wickets in the National U-19 Cooch Behar Trophy. In 2011 he made his debut in the IPL, signing with the Mumbai Indians. So far, he has claimed 221 wickets over 174 matches in the IPL, making him the league’s highest wicket-taker.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is one of the most dependable bowlers in IPL history. He is known for swinging the ball, especially with the new ball, and for bowling well at the end of matches. He does not rely on speed alone but uses accuracy and movement to trouble batsmen. So far, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has taken 198 wickets in 190 IPL matches, making him one of the top wicket-takers in the league.

Jasprit Bumrah

Mumbai Indians ace bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, finished second in the 2020 race for most wickets taken, falling only three short of Kagiso Rabada. Boom Boom Bumrah has the unique ability to bowl bouncers and yorkers and can deliver the ball at over 140 kilometers per hour. Despite not winning the purple cap, many consider him to be the best bowler in IPL 2020 primarily because he had two of the top five best bowling figures in IPL during the 2020 campaign and had an average of 14.96.

Kagiso Rabada

The South African right-handed fast-bowler strikes fear into the eyes of batsmen. He’s considered the best bowler in IPL 2020 since he led all bowlers with 30 wickets taken — awarding him the coveted purple cap. At age 25, the young superstar has laid claim to 119 wickets in 84 innings throughout his IPL career.

Mohammed Shami

Reverse swing specialist, Mohammed Shami, is best known for his pace and consistency. He’s on the Indian national team and is one of their best pacers, consistently bowling around 145 kilometers per hour. Shami’s accuracy and ability to move the ball with pace make him a particularly deceptive fast bowler. He finished the 2020 IPL campaign with 20 wickets taken in 14 matches.

Rashid Khan

In February 2017, the gifted leg-spinner racked up the highest-ever bid for an Associate player in the IPL Auction when the Sunrisers Hyderabad snapped him up for INR 4 crores. He’s lived up to the hefty price tag thus far, taking 75 wickets in 62 games. In the 2020 IPL season alone he claimed 20 wickets with an average of 17.2 and 5.37 economy.

The best bowlers in the IPL:

• Yuzvendra Chahal
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar
• Jasprit Bumrah
• Kagiso Rabada
• Mohammed Shami
• Rashid Khan

Who Is The Highest-Paid Player in IPL?

The IPL auction 2025–26 has concluded, and it once again delivered huge excitement for players, franchises, and fans. Massive auction fees also reflect the value franchises place on leadership, availability, services to the team, and long-term impact — not just raw numbers.

The IPL continues to grow in popularity, and the latest auction once again rewrote the record books with massive bids.

The highest-paid player in IPL 2025, Rishabh Pant, was bought for ₹27 crore, but he did not lead the league in runs. Should he still be considered the king of IPL in 2025? Or should it be the likes of Sai Sudarshan? No doubt, he was the best player in IPL 2025.

And during the IPL 2026, Cameron Green became one of the biggest auction buys. He was signed for ₹25.20 crore. Will he be the new king of the IPL for the season, or will there be someone else? Join Parimatch and place your long term bets today.

The highest-paid cricketers in the IPL: Top 10

Most Valuable Player in the IPL (2008-2025)

Another way to decide who is the king of the IPL in a season is the MVP award. It is similar to the Man of the Series because it goes to the player who performs best throughout the tournament. Before 2012, this award was called Man of the Tournament. But from 2013 onwards, it has been officially called the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

Looking for more articles about the IPL legends? We’ve got plenty of them! Take your time and enjoy:

• The Best Team in the IPL
• Google’s Favourite IPL Team
• IPL Ranking
• IPL Purple Cap Winners
• Most Runs in the IPL
• The Most Dangerous Batsman in the IPL
• The Fastest Century in the IPL
• Best Finisher in IPL History
• Which IPL team has the most fans?
• Is IPL Fixed
• IPL Odds
• Virat Kohli all Trophies
• Godfather of Cricket 

Summary

If one day cricket was considered a “tamasha” by fans in India, then T20 IPL cricket is like a super “tamasha”. The IPL has developed a unique brand of cricket that combines entertainment with fast-paced action and attracts the best talent from around the world.

In fact, there is no way to define the one and only king of the IPL. There are many passionate and hard-working athletes involved in the game and more young stars are yet to come.

What is most important is that we can enjoy the great performance by our bellowed cricketers and watch them setting new records. For even more fun, you can follow all your favorite teams on the Parimatch website and try IPL match betting.

What is more, you can bet live on IPL games in-play as the matches unfold.

Bettors in India trust Parimatch for lightning-fast payouts, fair odds, and twenty-seven-year history of proven success. Take your time, have fun, and win big on cricket betting!

FAQs

Who is no 1 in IPL history?

Virat Kohli is the no. 1 batter in IPL history. He has over 8000 runs at an average of around 40. Among bowlers, Yuzi Chahal has the most wickets (221). In this respect, he is no. 1 in IPL history.

Who is the king of cricket, Dhoni or Virat?

Virat Kohli is known globally as the King of Cricket. He holds the record for the most centuries in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Plus, he is the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket, just behind his idol, the great Sachin Tendulkar.

Who is faster, Dhoni or Kohli?

Both MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli are quick between the wickets. But in terms of pure speed and athletic quickness, Kohli is faster.

Who is richer, Kohli or Dhoni?

As per sources, Kohli is a touch richer than Dhoni. According to a study, Virat Kohli has an estimated net worth of about ₹1,050 crore (approx.). While that of MS Dhoni is around ₹1,000 crore.

Who is the king of cricket in IPL?

Virat Kohli is the king of cricket in the IPL. He is the highest run scorer (8660+). He has the most IPl hundreds (8). Plus, he holds the record for most runs during one IPL season (973).

Who is the best player in IPL history?

Virat Kohli is the best batsman in IPL history. Yuzi Chahal is the best bowler in IPL history. Shane Watson, Keiron Pollard, and Ravi Jadeja are the best all-rounders in IPL history.

Who is the best bowler in IPL history?

Yuzvendra Chahal is the best IPL bowler statistically. He holds the record for most wickets (221).

Who is the highest paid player in IPL 2025?

Rishabh Pant, a wicket keeper batter,  was the highest-paid player in IPL 2025. He was signed by Lucknow Super Giants for a record ₹27 crore at the auction. Even in 2026, he is the highest paid player of all time.

Don’t miss these tournaments: