Virat Kohli recently became the first player to complete 9000 runs in the IPL, achieving the milestone during a match against Delhi Capitals. This feat not only makes him the highest run-scorer in the league but also ranks him among the highest run-scorers for a single franchise in T20 cricket outside of domestic leagues around the world. When all T20 leagues are considered, Kohli still tops the charts for highest run-scorers in T20 league tournaments, which underlines his unparalleled consistency and loyalty to the format.The Indian Premier League (IPL), introduced in 2008, is the oldest and most prestigious T20 league. Kohli is one of four players, along with Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, and Manish Pandey, to have featured in every IPL season from 2008 to 2026. This remarkable longevity has played a key role in cementing Kohli’s status as one of the greatest T20 batsmen, ultimately making him the highest run-scorer in IPL history.
Major T20 leagues around the world
Apart from the IPL, several major T20 leagues have emerged globally, bringing together top players in a highly competitive environment. These include:
- IPL (Indian Premier League) – India (since 2008)
- BBL (Big Bash League) – Australia (since 2011)
- BPL (Bangladesh Premier League) – Bangladesh (since 2012)
- CPL (Caribbean Premier League) – West Indies (since 2013)
- PSL (Pakistan Super League) – Pakistan (since 2016)
- LPL (Lanka Premier League) – Sri Lanka (from 2020)
- SA20 – South Africa (from 2023)
- MLC (Major League Cricket) – USA (from 2023)
- ILT20 (International League T20) – UAE (from 2024)
With Kohli already at the top of the IPL, it is important to see how other leagues compare, each boasting their own leading run-scorers who have shaped their tournaments over the years. Here is the list of highest run-scorers in every T20 league tournament around the world:
| Rank | League | the player | team (team) | runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IPL | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 9012 |
| 2 | PSL | Babur Azam | Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Peshawar Zalmi | 4337 |
| 3 | BBL | Chris Lynn | Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat | 4133 |
| 4 | BPL | Tamim Iqbal | Chittagong Kings, Chittagong Vikings, Comilla Victorians, Dhaka Platoon, Duronto Rajshahi, Fortune Barisal, Khulna Tigers, Minister Group Dhaka | 3835 |
| 5 | Cpl | Johnson Charles | Antigua Hawksbills, Barbados Royals, Barbados Tridents, Jamaica Tallawahs, St Lucia Kings, St Lucia Stars, St Lucia Zouks | 3519 |
| 6 | LPL | Ayushka Fernando | Dambulla Ora, Jaffna Kings, Jaffna Stallions | 1544 |
| 7 | SA20 | Ryan Rickelton | MI Cape Town | 1349 |
| 8 | MLC | Tom Benton | Dubai Capitals, MI Emirates | 989 |
| 9 | ILT20 | Faf du Plessis | Texas Super Kings | 888 |
