IPL: Top 5 batsmen who have covered the most distance by running between the wickets

Running between the wickets seems to be the easiest action performed on a cricket field, however, not everyone has the ability to master the art… Art? Yes! For it indeed is. As the fans of the game, many of us fail to understand and appreciate the importance of running. And with the advent of short-format leagues such as IPL, the significance of ones and twos in our minds have diminished drastically.

There’s no denial to the fact that boundaries appeal far more to the eyes than singles and doubles, however, there’s no denial to another fact that not every ball can land beyond the ropes. A common notion related to T20 cricket is that dealing in boundaries is the superior method of accumulating runs and dealing in boundaries is considered to be scoring freely.

But what if a batsman slams one for four on the first ball of the over only to play five consecutive dot balls? That certainly is not free-scoring! Is it? Whereas a boundary on the first followed by 5 singles makes it a nine-run over. Regardless of the format of the game, the importance of accumulating runs through running cannot be ignored.

The batsmen who know how to steal singles, how to convert the ones into twos, and twos into threes will always prove a bigger asset than the one blindly relying on boundaries as a scoring mechanism. The dynamics of running are not limited to only scoring. So what else does a single do apart from ticking the scoreboard? It is common knowledge that bowlers love bowling to the same batsman for 6 balls.

For that puts them into a rhythm and opens doors for them to get a wicket. That’s precisely what a run hinders. It unsettles the bowlers. Rotation of strike is an ever-important phenomenon in cricket also in terms of keeping the required rate under check and easing the pressure whenever the boundaries dry up.

None of this is to deny the excitement and joy of watching raining fours and sixes, but let’s be honest, the game of cricket cannot sustain without the ones and twos. By the way, running a single means covering 22 yards. Sounds easy right? Try asking anyone mentioned underneath!

Here are 5 batsmen who have covered the most distance through running* between the wickets in the IPL-

5. Shikhar Dhawan- 38.4 kilometers

Even though his name is often lost in between the Kohlis, Dhonis, and Rainas, the reality remains that Shikhar Dhawan happens to be one of the most consistent performers in the IPL. He has plenty of experience under his belt and has made some reputation in the cash-rich league.

In terms of fitness too, his name is not taken with equal vigour and respect as that of a Kohli or Jadeja, but “Gabbar’s” physical agility and swiftness can certainly not be denied.

In 159 IPL clashes, Dhawan has accumulated 4579 runs and has slammed 524 fours and 96 sixes. Therefore, 2672 or 58.35% of his runs have come in boundaries whereas 1907 or 41.65% runs have been scored by running between the 22 yards.

4. MS Dhoni- 40.03 kilometers

Mahendra Singh Dhoni needs no introduction. His performance as a skipper in the IPL has been second to none and the “Yellow Army” has won 3 titles under his leadership. MS has the distinction of featuring in 9 finals- the most for any player- in 12 IPL seasons thus far and these numbers speak for him.

Come running between the wickets and this “39-year-old young man” can simply not be kept out of the discussion. There is a different joy to watch MS run between the wickets. He is unarguably one of the cleverest runners and a double is always on when ‘Thala’ is running.

Dhoni has accumulated 4432 runs in 190 IPL matches. Of these 4432, a total of 2442 or 55.09% runs have come through 297 fours and 209 sixes whereas 1990 or 44.91% have been scored by running between the wickets.

3. Rohit Sharma- 40.43 kilometers

The flamboyant opener has been another star performer in the IPL both as a captain and a player. Rohit Sharma has changed the fortunes of Mumbai Indians ever since he has assumed the role of captain and the Mumbai-based franchise has won a title every odd year running from 2013 under him.

Though appearance-wise Rohit might not look the most agile player out in the middle, he has shown his strength and stamina by playing a plethora of long knocks over the years. He happens to be the only man to have three double centuries to his name in 50-overs cricket.

In 188 IPL matches, Rohit has 4898 runs with 431 fours and 194 sixes to his name. Therefore, as many as 2888 or 58.96% of his runs have come in boundaries whereas 2010 or 41.03% runs have been scored by him by running.

2. Suresh Raina- 44.90 kilometers

There have been few contenders in the history of the league who have come close to Suresh Raina’s level of consistency. With his incredibly steady and dependable exploits, he does complete justice to his renowned tag of Mr. IPL.

The much-adored ‘Chinna Thala’, who has the distinction of scoring runs in excess of 350 in every season of the IPL, held the position of the leading run-scorer for long until Kohli notched up his IPL game briskly and came abreast with Raina.

In 193 IPL encounters, Raina has accumulated 5368 runs, of which as many as 3136 or 58.42% runs have come courtesy 493 fours and 193 sixes. Whereas 2232 or 41.58% have come by ones, twos, and threes.

1. Virat Kohli- 47.31 kilometers

Given his habit of topping every list, it was unlikely to not have this boy at the top. Virat Kohli’s freakish obsession with fitness and a strict regimen is known to one and all. He is the one who is credited to develop a culture of fitness in the Indian team and the standard of players’ fitness has undeniably improved in his reign.

Kohli, the batsman, has had many successful IPLs but none better than the 2016 edition when he slammed a record 4 centuries in the season and ended up with 973 runs to his name.

The 31-year-old has, in 177 IPL matches, scored 5412 runs and sits atop the list of most runs in the league. Kohli has hit 480 fours and 190 sixes in his IPL career hitherto i.e. 3060 or 56.55% of the total 5412 have been scored by him boundaries. He has scored 2352 or 43.45% runs the by running between the wickets.

*Disclaimer – Runs came through Leg-byes, byes, and runner are not considered.