Virat Kohli Tops Batting Charts, Yuzvendra Chahal Leads With The Ball As IPL Turns 18

On April 18, the Indian Premier League (IPL) celebrates its 18th birthday, a tournament that revolutionised cricket and changed the sport's landscape forever. The league's inception was nothing short of dramatic, as Brendon McCullum of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lit up the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium with an unforgettable 158* off just 73 deliveries, smashing ten fours and thirteen sixes against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). That one knock announced the arrival of a cricketing carnival. As the league undergoes its 18th season, Virat Kohli stands as the highest run-scorer in IPL history. Representing just one franchise--Royal Challengers Bangalore--Kohli has amassed an astounding 8,252 runs from 258 matches, including eight centuries and 58 fifties. Remarkably, he has never missed a season for RCB, making him the league's most loyal and prolific batter.

Just behind Kohli is veteran Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan, who has accumulated 6,769 runs in 222 matches. Unlike Kohli, Dhawan has journeyed across five franchises: Mumbai Indians (MI), Deccan Chargers (DCH), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Punjab Kings (PBKS).

India's five-time IPL-winning captain, Rohit Sharma, sits third on the list with 6,710 runs from 263 matches. He has played for two teams--Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians--and has lifted the trophy with both, cementing his status as one of the league's most successful players.

Australian southpaw David Warner, a destructive force at the top of the order, occupies the fourth spot. With 6,565 runs in 184 games, Warner has represented Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad, leading SRH to their maiden title in 2016.

Fifth on the list is Suresh Raina, the now-retired former Chennai Super Kings