Ranking the top 5 greatest seasons by an Indian batter in the IPL ft. Sai Sudharsan in 2025
The IPL has been a crucial platform where Indian batters have shown their skills in the shortest format. While there have been numerous memorable knocks over the years, a few batters have also had memorable seasons.
Performing in a game or two and playing a few good knocks is one thing, but many Indian batters have shown their talent with consistent performances throughout an IPL season.
The biggest franchise cricket league in the world, the IPL has seen participation from the best bowlers from across the globe. Under the high pressure of facing them in a two-month-long tournament, maintaining consistency and scoring throughout is laudable.
From youngsters to seniors, Indian batters have always stepped up and plundered runs, leading the charge for their teams and leaving a significant impact with their performances.
Let's look at the top five greatest seasons by Indian batters in the IPL.
#5 Rishabh Pant in 2018
Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is known for his aggressive and attacking style of batting, playing a high-risk, high-reward game more often than not. Pant has established himself among the best hitters in the sport and has been playing the IPL for nine years now.
It was during the 2018 season when he was a part of the Delhi Capitals (DC) that Rishabh Pant had his best-ever year in the league with the bat. The left-hander smashed 684 runs from 14 innings at an average of 52.61 and a strike-rate of 173.60. He had also registered five half-centuries and an unbeaten hundred that year (128*), which is still his highest score in the league.
#4 Suryakumar Yadav in 2025
While the ongoing IPL 2025 season is not yet over for Mumbai Indians (MI) star batter Suryakumar Yadav, it is fair to say that it has been his best-ever season as a batter already, not only in terms of runs, but impact created as well.
Suryakumar Yadav has already notched up 673 runs from 15 matches this season. Notably, these are the most runs ever scored by an MI batter in a single edition of the league. He has an average of 67.30 and a strike-rate of 167.83 with five half-centuries, playing a massive role in Mumbai making it to the second qualifier after having lost four out of their first five league-stage matches.
#3 Sai Sudharsan in 2025
Young Gujarat Titans (GT) opener Sai Sudharsan is making himself the new synonym of consistency. The left-hander, who had an impressive outing in the 2024 season, went a step ahead, having a stellar IPL 2025 season, his best-ever in the league.
Sai Sudharsan accumulated 759 runs this season at an average of 54.21 and a strike-rate of 156.17, with a hundred and six half-centuries from 15 matches. He has been solid at the top of the order, playing a key role in GT making it to the playoffs. Although they lost the Eliminator to MI, Sudharsan scored 80 runs off 49 balls.
#2 Shubman Gill in 2023
Considered the future of Indian cricket, Shubman Gill displayed top form in the 2025 season. Gill has been among the top performers over the last few IPL seasons. However, his best season with the bat came in 2023.
The right-handed opener was at his absolute best, as he piled on 890 runs from 17 matches at an average of 59.33 and a strike-rate of 157.80, with three hundreds and four half-centuries, as GT made the final but lost to the Chennai Super Kings. He fell just 10 runs short of becoming only the second batter to cross 900 runs in a single season. His 890-run season is the second-best by an Indian batter and overall in the league.
#1 Virat Kohli in 2016
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star batter Virat Kohli was at a different level altogether in the iconic 2016 IPL season. He had an outstanding campaign as a batter, plundering 973 runs from 16 matches at an average of 81.08 and a strike-rate of 152.03, with four hundreds and seven half-centuries.
It remains the most hundreds by any batter in a single IPL season and also the most runs by anyone in a single edition. He fell just 27 runs short of the 1000-run mark. It was an incredible season as he took RCB to the final, but unfortunately, lost to the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). Among the many records in the league, this one seems almost impossible to ever be broken.