5 players with the most runs in IPL finals
Scoring runs is always the top-most priority for any batter for his side in any format and in any given tournament. In the T20 format, runs coming from the batters become more important considering the demand and nature of the format. But to score runs in a crunch and the most crucial match, the Finals is what a player dreams of. His runs play a vital role in the team’s title triumph. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), few batters have managed to carry their side of their own in the summit clashes by smacking runs.
Let’s take a look at the 5 players with the most runs in IPL finals:
MS Dhoni and Kieron Pollard (180)
MS Dhoni and Kieron Pollard are tied in the fifth position for scoring 180 runs in the mega finals. Dhoni has skippered Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to four titles while Pollard has won five trophies with Mumbai Indians (MI) as a player. In eight innings, Dhoni has amassed 180 runs at an average of 36.00 and a strike rate of 135.33 with one fifty. Pollard has scored those runs in six innings at an average of 45.00 and a deadly strike rate of 195.65 with one fifty.
Murali Vijay (181)
Murali Vijay is the fourth name on this list. Right-handed batter amassed 181 runs in four innings for CSK. He was part of the 2010 and 2011 finals which CSK won. Vijay had an average of 45.25 and a strike rate of 147.15 with one fifty. He smashed 95 in the 2011 final against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and won the Player of the Match award.
Rohit Sharma (183)
Rohit Sharma finds himself in the third spot in this chart. In six innings, the dashing batter has racked up 183 runs at an average of 30.50 and a strike rate of 129.78 with two half-centuries for MI. He slammed 50 off just 26 in the 2015 summit clash which won him the Player of the Match award. Notably, Rohit has captained MI to five IPL trophies.
Shane Watson (236)
Shane Watson has scored the second-most runs in the IPL finals. He has mustered 236 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 163.88 and an average of 78.66 with one century and one half-century. His breathtaking century (117 not out off 57) against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 2018 final helped CSK in lifting their third title then.
Suresh Raina (249)
Known as Mr.IPL, Suresh Raina holds the record for scoring the most runs in the finals. The left-handed batter has scored 249 runs in eight innings at an average of 35.57 and a strike rate of 150.00 with two fifties to his name. His unbeaten 57 off 35 in the 2010 final won him the Player of the Match award with CSK also winning the game. He has won all four titles with the Men in Yellow in the league.
