The Indian Premier League, or the T20 format in particular, is about going all guns blazing. This is the format big-hitting batsmen enjoy the most, and thus it is no surprise that the top five batsmen to score the fastest 2000 runs in the IPL are all fearless strikers of the ball. Let’s find out who they are.
Andre Russell – 1120 balls
Andre Russell became the fastest player to 2000 runs in IPL 2022 in the game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The attacking all-rounder, who has been with the Kolkata Knight Riders since the 2012 edition, has overall scored 2030 runs in 97 IPL games at an average of 30.76 and strike rate of nearly 180. Russell has been KKR’s MVP for several years not just with the bat but also with the ball. The all-rounder has picked up 89 wickets in his IPL career at an economy of 9.07. He was one of the four retained players by the team management ahead of IPL 2022, a season in which he has once again played important roles.
Virender Sehwag – 1211 balls
Second on the list is Virender Sehwag, one of the most fearless batsmen to have played for India. The opener, who played 104 IPL matches for Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab, scored 2000 runs in 1211 balls. Sehwag was the captain of the Delhi franchise in the first two editions of the tournament, before he relinquished the position to concentrate more on his batting. However, he was back as the captain for the fourth and fifth editions. He made the record of being the only batsman to score five consecutive half centuries in T20s in the fifth edition. Overall, Sehwag scored 2728 runs in his IPL career at an average and strike rate of 27.56 and 155.44.
Chris Gayle – 1251 balls
Third on the list of batsmen to have taken the least number of balls to score 2000 IPL runs is Universe Boss Chris Gayle. Gayle got to 2000 runs in 1251 balls. Regarded as one of IPL and T20’s all-time greats, the Jamaican made his IPL debut with KKR and later went on to play for RCB, the now-defunct PWI and KXIP. In the 2012 season, Gayle scored a whopping 733 runs at a strike rate of 160 and in 2017, he scored a knock of 175, which still remains the highest individual score in the IPL. Overall, Gayle has 4965 IPL runs at an average of 39.72 and a strike rate of 148.96.
Rishabh Pant – 1306 balls
Gayle is followed on the list by current captain of Delhi Capitals, Rishabh Pant. Pant took 1306 balls to reach 2000 IPL finals. The wicketkeeper batsman was one of the three players retained by Delhi ahead of the 2018 auction, and repaid the investment made in him by scoring nearly 700 runs. He was retained for the upcoming seasons as well and was made the captain ahead of the 2021 season before being retained once again ahead of the mega auctions for IPL 2022. Overall, Pant has 2800 runs in the IPL as of May 18, 2022.
Glenn Maxwell – 1309 balls
The fifth name on the list is Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who currently plays for the RCB. Maxwell got to 2000 IPL runs in 1309 balls. Since joining the IPL in 2012, Maxwell has played 107 matches from which he has an average and strike rate of 25.24 and 153.21. He piled up more than 500 runs in the 2014 and 2021 season respectively. With the ball, he has picked up 27 wickets.
