By the Numbers: Ranking the Batsmen with the Most IPL Death Over Runs

Over the years, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen truckloads of runs being scored by players. The game has evolved so much that 200 seems a norm these days. With the impact player rule being very much established in the IPL, even after its introduction teams are losing the game and it gives a clear indication that no total is safe in the league.

The difference between 200 and 220 depends on the kind of power hitters a team has in the ranks. Finishing games on high regularly isn’t a cakewalk for everyone as it requires a lot of skill and courage.

In modern-day cricket, every team looks to play at least two finishers in the XI so that they can end the innings on high by posting winning totals. In this article, we will take a look at runs-scoring batsmen in death overs in the IPL. 

Most Runs Scorer Batsmen in Death Overs in IPL

1. MS Dhoni - 2632 Runs 

Chennai Super Kings keeper-batter MS Dhoni has the most runs scored by a batsman in death overs in IPL.

The 42-year-old is touted as the best finisher in the game of cricket and his tally of 2632 runs in death overs in IPL proves that. It’s fair to say that bowlers are under pressure while bowling to him in the slog overs as in his career he has made many greats look clueless. The keeper-batter has hit 162 sixes and 198 fours in death overs at a strike rate of over 162. 

2. Kieron Pollard - 1708 Runs 

Former Mumbai Indians batter Kieron Pollard takes second spot on the list of most runs scorer batsman in death overs in IPL. 

The right-hander was arguably one of the best finishers to have played in the league. He won many games for Mumbai from impossible situations and was one of the reasons behind their success in five title triumphs. Pollard scored 1708 runs in death overs for his team at a strike rate of around 180. The hard-hitting batter also hit 127 sixes in 117 innings that he played. 

3. Ab de Villiers - 1421 Runs 

With the kind of impact he has had in the IPL, it would’ve been a big surprise had AB de Villiers not featured on the list of the most runs scorer batsman in death overs in IPL.

The former South Africa batter was amongst the dangerous batters to bowl to in the last overs of the game. He dismantled the bowling lineups of many teams in his career in the last 5 overs and put his team in dominant positions. The batter scored 1421 runs in death and his strike rate of 232.56, the highest of all the batters on the list. Playing for Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he hit 112 sixes in just 71 innings. 

4.  Dinesh Karthik - 1364 Runs 

India keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik also has been one of the key finishers for the franchises that he has played in his career in IPL.

The Tamil Nadu-born cricketer has played for as many as six franchises in the league and has a unique record of playing in all the IPL seasons. In 105 innings, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter has scored 1364 runs in the death overs in the Indian Premier League (IPL). His strike of 182 depicts the kind of impact he has made in the league in the last few overs. The keeper-batter during the period has also hit 73 sixes. 

5. Ravindra Jadeja - 1307 Runs 

Rockstar Ravindra Jadeja is one of the more celebrated names in the Indian Premier League. He has the most runs scorer batsman in death overs in IPL. The Southpaw has mustered 1307 runs in 122 innings at a strike rate of around 160. The all-rounder has often come to bat in the 18th or 19th over of the game and has unleashed himself right from the ball 1. 

The quality that Ravindra Jadeja brings to the team is hard to find. He has been an incredible servant for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. Ahead of that, he played for Rajasthan Royals, Kochi Tuskers Kerela, and Gujarat Lions in the IPL. 

6. Rohit Sharma - 1149 Runs 

Being the top-order batter, Rohit Sharma’s name on the list of most runs scorer batsman in death overs in IPL might surprise you. But not many know that he batted in the middle order for most of his league career.

The India captain played in the lower order first for Deccan Chargers and then took up the No.4 spot for Mumbai Indians till 2018. Since then he has been opening the innings in the league and has been nothing short of exceptional. There have been times when he carried his bat through and batted the entire 20 years as well. In the death overs, Rohit amassed 1149 runs in just 76 runs at a strike rate of around 200.