IPL T20 has begun and so has the action and entertainment. This shortest format of the game has always been heavily in favour of the batsmen. All through the eight editions that have taken place so far, we have seen some scintillating performances from the batsmen which have enthralled the crowd to the optimum. Let’s look at the batsmen who dominated this format of the game in the previous eight seasons and prove to be nightmare for the bowlers.
IPL 1 2008
Shaun Marsh: The Australian cricketer played for Kings XI Punjab in the first edition of the IPL. Despite missing the opening four games of the tournament, Marsh scored the most runs in the league stage of the tournament, including a century in the final league stage match against the Rajasthan Royals. He received the Orange Cap for scoring most runs in the inaugural season. He scored 616 runs in just 11 matches at an average of 51.44 and strike rate of 139.68.
IPL 2 2009
Matthew Hayden: The dashing Australian opener playing for Chennai Super Kings in 2009 and scored 572 runs in 12 innings, winning the Orange cap for scoring most runs in the tournament. He scored five half centuries with 22 sixes and 60 fours. He scored with a strike rate of 144.81 and with an awesome average of 52. He scored 77 runs more than second highest run scorer of the tournament, Adam Gilchrist.
IPL 3 2010
Sachin Tendulkar: The ‘God of Cricket’ playing for Mumbai Indians made 618 runs in 14 innings with an average of 47.54 and a strike rate of 132.6 during the tournament, breaking Shaun Marsh's record of most runs in an IPL season, winning the Orange Cap in 2010. He was also declared player of the tournament for his performance during the season. He was the captain of Mumbai Indians and his team reached the final under his leadership. He was also awarded as the best captain in IPL 2010.
IPL 4 2011
Chris Gayle: The West Indies Cricketer playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore won the Orange Cap for scoring most runs in a tournament. He scored 608 runs in 12 matches. His team reached the final and contribution of Chris Gayle was a major factor for this achievement. He also scored two centuries and three half centuries in the tournament. He scored with a strike rate of 183.13 with an average of 67.55.
IPL 5 2012
Chris Gayle: The hard-hitter Caribbean batsman is the only player to have won the Orange Cap consecutively. Playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, he scored highest ever 733 runs in 14 matches. He achieved this feat at a strike rate of 160.74 and an average of 61.08. He also has to his credit one century and seven half centuries in that tournament. His highest score was 128, along with a record 59 sixes in a tournament.
IPL 6 2013
Michael Hussey: The Australian cricketer playing for Chennai Super Kings scored 733 runs in 17 matches with a strike rate of 129.50 and an average of 52.35. He hit 17 sixes and record 81 fours in the tournament.
IPL 7 2014
Robin Uthappa: Playing for Kolkata Knight Riders, Uthappa scored the most runs -- 660 in 16 matches in the season with an average of 44 and a strike rate of 137.78. He failed to perform well at the start of the tournament conducted in UAE. He was then promoted to the opening position with Gautam Gambhir and performed well when the tournament came back to India. He won the Orange Cap, scoring most runs in the season and was instrumental in his team winning season 7 of IPL.
IPL 8 2015
David Warner: The swashbuckling left-hander from Australia was appointed as the skipper of Sunrisers Hyderabad during this season and he led his team from the front by scoring 562 runs in 14 matches. He was the tournament's leading run scorer and bagged the Orange Cap. He scored with a strike rate of 183.13 with an average of 67.55. Sunrisers Hyderabad, however, missed out on reaching the knock-out phase.
