The Indian Premier League (IPL) kicked off in 2008 and, since then, has become an annual obsession for cricket fans across the globe. While there are hundreds of players to represent IPL, only a few players proved their mettle on the field with remarkable talent to gain legendary status. Here’s an objective look at the top 10 IPL players of all time who proved instrumental for their teams to win the tournament and set some impressive records.

#10 – Gautam Gambhir (Mentor & Clutch Performer)  

Gautam Gambhir’s run with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is stellar. Under his captaincy from 2011 to 2017, KKR won two titles (2012 and 2014), and he also achieved the rare feat of leading his team to 10 consecutive victories, a record held by no one else. He scored 3,518 runs as a captain. 

IPL Career	2008 – 2018
Total IPL Matches	154
Total Runs Scored	4,217
Championships Won	2
Half Centuries	36
Highest Score	93

He returned to his cricket duties as a mentor to the Lucknow Super Giants team from 2022 to 2023, and then for the 2024 season, he signed as a mentor for the KKR team. His strong bond with Shahrukh Khan (Co-owner of KKR, a famous Bollywood actor) has brought him back to the KKR franchise, resulting in KKR winning their 3^rd title and first under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy. 

Trivia: Gautam Gambhir is the only Indian player to score five consecutive centuries in Test format. He achieved this rare feat between March 2009 and January 2010 with scores of 137, 167, 114, 167, and 116.  

#9 – David Warner (The Bull)  

David Warner is known for his aggressive batting style, and his fascination with Allu Arjun’s Pushpa has only made Indian fans adore him more. He is the only IPL player to secure three Orange Cap titles for excellent batsmanship (2015, 2017, 2019) while representing Sunrisers Hyderabad. 

IPL Career	2009 – 2024
Total IPL Matches	184
Total Runs Scored	6,565
Championships Won	2
Half Centuries	62
Highest Score	126

Furthermore, Warner headed the team to ensure their maiden IPL title in 2016. Warner played from 2009 to 2013 with Delhi Daredevils; from 2014 to 2021, he played for Sunrisers Hyderabad, and then in 2022, he joined Delhi Capitals again and played till the 2024 season.  

Trivia: David Warner will make a small cameo in the Telugu film “Robinhood,” set to release in the summer of 2025. 

#8 – Andre Russell (Dre Russ, T20 Game-Changer) 

Andre Russell, the Jamaican all-rounder, has been a versatile asset to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). His aggressive batting style and varied skill set were recognized when he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the 2015 IPL season.   

IPL Career	2012 – Present
Total IPL Matches	127*
Total Runs Scored	2,484
Half Centuries	11*
Overs Bowled	282.5
Wickets Taken	115*
Championships Won	3

Despite not receiving a Purple Cap, Russell showcased his bowling skills by taking 17 wickets during the 2022 IPL season. 

Trivia: Andre Russell is not only a great cricketer but also a professional musician; he collaborated with Indian rapper Emiway Bantai and released tracks like “Sweet Love” and “Jamaica to India.” 

#7 – AB de Villiers (Mr. 360° Magic)  

One of the most consistent players in all of IPL history, the South African player is recognized for covering 360 degrees of the field as a batsman, thinking quickly on his feet as a fielder, and great wicket-keeping. AB de Villiers entered the IPL in 2008 with the Delhi Daredevils.  

IPL Career	2012 – 2021
Total IPL Matches	184
Total Runs Scored	5,162
Half Centuries	40
Centuries	3
Catches	92

He played from 2008 to 2010 and, from 2011, remained an instrumental player for the RCB until his retirement in 2021. He also has an impressive record of scoring 250 sixes and 413 fours during his IPL career. 

Trivia: The news you read online about AB de Villiers winning junior-level championships in sports like Tennis, Rugby, and Swimming is false. He clarified it in his autobiography, “AB: The Autobiography”.

Just like this 360° player in cricket, some cricket betting sites provide all-round assistance to Indian bettors. For example, Parimatch and 1xbet provide an amazing betting experience, featuring special promotional offers, IPL betting events, live streaming and live betting, cash-out options, and Indian-preferred payment methods like UPI.  

#6 – Rohit Sharma (The Hitman)

Rohit Sharma is one of the most successful captains and players in IPL history. He began his IPL journey with Deccan Chargers in 2008 before being auctioned to Mumbai Indians in 2011. In 2013, he got handed the MI captaincy, and from there, the team never looked back, winning the IPL five times (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020).   

Rohit has won six IPL titles, once with Deccan Chargers as a player and 5 times as a Captain. He is one of the most consistent players in the league, having played over 250 matches and ranking as the third-highest run-scorer in IPL history. 

IPL Career	2008 – Present
Total IPL Matches	257*
Total Runs Scored	6,628*
Half Centuries	43*
Centuries	2*
IPL Championships	6

His aggressive batting style and attacking gameplay over 15 years earned him the title “HITMAN.” Fans also fondly call him “Shaana,” which relates to Street Smart. It reflects his style of captaincy in IPL, where he takes instant and unthinkable calls of bowling spells and field placements.  

He occasionally bowled in the IPL but holds a hat-trick record. In 2009, while playing with Deccan Chargers, he delivered a match-winning and career-best bowling spell, 4/6 against Mumbai Indians. Rohit is the only player, not an all-rounder or a specialist bowler, among the 22 bowlers who took hat-tricks in the IPL. 

Trivia: Rohit Sharma’s mother tongue is Telugu.

Enjoying this article? Upgrade this experience by watching the Top 10 IPL players’ video. It is packed with interesting insights, stunning images, and an engaging narrative, it’s a must-watch for IPL fans! Watch here:

Just like this Top 10 IPL players article, our expert team has researched Top 10 IPL betting sites. This page provides detailed insights into everything an IPL bettor looks for in a betting site, including fast and instant payments, exclusive IPL promotional offers, competitive odds, and the safety of your information. 

#5 – Suresh Raina (Mr. IPL)  

Raina is called Mr. IPL for his consistency in batting and fielding throughout his IPL career. He was the first person to reach 5,000 runs in the IPL; he was one of the most consistent batsmen, scoring 300 runs in 11 seasons and 400 runs in 7 seasons, a record which only few achieved. He took 109 catches in 204 Innings, second among non-wicket keepers. 

IPL Career	2008 – 2021
Total IPL Matches	205
Total Runs Scored	5,528*
Half Centuries	39
Catches	109
IPL Championships	4

He is referred to as “Chinna Thala” (Deputy to the Commander) by the CSK franchise and fans. He served as CSK’s vice-captain from 2008 to 2015 and played 12 out of his 14 IPL seasons for CSK. Raina remains a loyal supporter of the Chennai franchise and continues to back the yellow jersey in crucial matches.  

Trivia: Raina sang a song in a Bollywood film, Meeruthiya Gangsters; the song is “Tu Mili Sab Mila.” 

#4 – MS Dhoni (Thala)

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is one of the most revered players in the history of Indian cricket and IPL. He led Chennai Super Kings from 2008-2015 to 2018-2023. In 14 seasons, he took CSK to 12 playoffs and 10 finals and won 5 IPL titles (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023). He is also known for his marvelous wicket-keeping. MS Dhoni once did a stumping in 0.1 seconds in the IPL, which is still a record.   

Apart from this, he is renowned for his finishing prowess; he scored an S/R of 189 between 17-20 overs and holds 95* Not outs, a rare feat that shows his consistency and finishing capabilities.  

IPL Career	2008 – Present
Total IPL Matches	263*
Total Runs Scored	5,243*
Stumpings	42*
Catches	152
IPL Championships	5

“Thala” means leader in Tamil and holds special significance in Tamil culture. CSK fans and the official handle started calling MS Dhoni “Thala” as a tribute to his calm, composed, and strong leadership.  

Trivia: In September 2023, MS Dhoni and Donald Trump played a golf game at the Trump National Golf Club In New Jersey. 

#3 – Chris Gayle (The Universe Boss)

The Jamaica legend, Chris Gayle, played for KKR from 2008-10, later as a mainstay for RCB from 2011 to 2017, and Punjab Kings from 2018 to 2021. He consecutively won 2 Orange Caps during the 2011 and 2012 seasons, a record. His innings of 175 in 66 balls, including the fastest 100 in just 30 balls, remains a record. This innings secured him a place among IPL legends. 

IPL Career	2008 – 2021
Total IPL Matches	142
Total Runs Scored	4,965
Half Centuries	31
Centuries	6
Highest Score	175

The term “Universe Boss” was self-proclaimed. Gayle started calling himself that and marketed it as a brand on his jerseys and kits. Fans embraced the nickname, seeing it as a fitting title for his fearless approach, entertaining personality, and sheer dominance across T20 leagues.  

Trivia: Chris Gayle played with a gold stickered bat in a match against Brisbane Heat during the BBL 2015-16 season. 

#2 – Virat Kohli (King Kohli)

Virat Kohli is the most beloved IPL player out there, and his career reveals an unbroken chain of consistency. Throughout his IPL run, he remained with Royal Challengers Bangalore and holds the record for the most runs in the league’s history. Kohli still holds the record for the player with the most runs in a single season, with 976 runs in the 2016 IPL season. He is the only player in IPL history to have played all seasons for a single franchise, representing RCB since 2008. 

IPL Career	2008 – Present
Total IPL Matches	252*
Total Runs Scored	8,004*
Half Centuries	55*
Centuries	8*
Catches	114

His fans call him “King Kohli” due to his exceptional cricketing skills and consistency across all game formats. Later, cricket experts, analysts, and commentators started using “King KohIi” to refer to him. 

Trivia: In his entire career, Virat Kohli was dismissed by hit wicket method only once, in a Test match against Australia in December 2020. During that match, India bowled out for 36 runs, their lowest team total in Test history.  

#1 – Lasith Malinga (Slinga Malinga)

Lasith Malinga had only played for Mumbai Indians in his IPL career. He is the first bowler to reach 100 wickets in IPL and has been an integral part of MI to win 5 IPL titles. Even after retirement, he stayed loyal to the franchise and worked as a bowling coach. From Toe-crushing yorkers, economic death over spells, and match-winning spells in the finals, he is the greatest bowler and ranks one among the top 10 IPL players.  

During the 2011 IPL season, Malinga played his most memorable match against Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils), taking five wickets with only 13 scores in between. After claiming 28 wickets in the entire season, he even received the Purple Cap. Malinga is known for his death bowling, especially with his sharp yorkers; he used to trouble the greatest finishers. 

IPL Career	2009 – 2019
Total IPL Matches	122
Total Wickets	170
Best Figures	5/13
Economy	7.14
Strike Rate	16.63

The nickname “Slinga” comes from his unique slinging bowling action. He delivers the ball from a low, round-arm angle rather than the conventional overarm action, and he is one of the best yorker specialists in cricket history. Malinga’s bowling action has inspired bowlers like M Pathirana and N Thushara.  

Trivia: Interestingly, Malinga has never played a test match in Sri Lanka in his whole career. He is the only bowler to take four wickets in four consecutive balls in two Formats – ODI and T20I.