Virat Kohli and Babar Azam (Image: Screengrab/X) Virat Kohli recently became the first player to complete 9000 runs in the IPL and achieved the milestone during a match against Delhi Capitals. This feat not only makes him the highest run-scorer in the league but also puts him at the top among the players with the most runs per series in T20 cricket, including non-domestic leagues around the world. Considering all the T20 leagues, Kohli still leads the charts with the most runs scored in a T20 league tournament, underscoring his unmatched consistency and loyalty in the format.Introduced in 2008, the Indian Premier League (IPL) remains the oldest and most prestigious T20 league. Kohli is one of only four players, along with Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni and Manish Pandey, to have appeared in every season of the IPL from 2008 to 2026. This remarkable longevity played a key role in cementing Kohli’s status as one of the best T20 batsmen, eventually making him the leading 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 on top in the IPL, it’s worth examining how other leagues compare, each boasting their own top scorers who have shaped their tournaments over the years. Here is the list of top scorers of each T20 league tournament around the world:OrderLeaguePlayerteam(s)He’s running1IPLVirat KohliRoyal Challengers Bengaluru90122PSLBabar AzamIslamabad United, Karachi Kings, Peshawar Zalmi43373BBLChris LynnAdelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat41334BPLTamim IqbalChittagong Kings, Chittagong Rajto Vikings,Ha Fortune Victoria,Dutune Barishal, Khulna Tigers, Minister Group Dhaka38355CPLJohnson CharlesAntigua Hawksbills, Barbados Royals, Barbados Tridents, Jamaica Tallawahs, St Lucia Kings, St Lucia Stars, St Lucia Zouks35196LPLAvishka Sta FernandoDambulla Aura,2 Jaffna Kings, Jaffna King RickeltonMI Cape Town13498MLCTom BantonDubai Capitals, MI Emirates9899ILT20Faf du PlessisTexas Super Kings888
