The 16th season of the IPL has been a captivating affair so far, with the first 10 days of the competition featuring an array of high-scoring games and nail-biting thrillers. Viewers have been treated to a wide variety of exciting cricket matches.
During the ongoing match between the Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings, Jos Buttler achieved an impressive feat by becoming the third-quickest batter to reach 3000 runs in the tournament. This is an important milestone for any player in the IPL, and Buttler’s accomplishment is especially noteworthy given the quality of the competition.
However, it’s worth noting that this metric of fastest to 3000 runs by innings tends to favor top-order batters. Nevertheless, the fact that there is a sizable sample space of players who have reached this milestone highlights the quality of the competition.
In light of Buttler’s achievement, it’s worth taking a closer look at the three fastest batters to reach the 3000-run milestone in the IPL. This can provide valuable insights into the skills and abilities of some of the league’s most accomplished players.
Chris Gayle – 75 innings
When it comes to the greatest batters in IPL history, Chris Gayle is undoubtedly a name that springs to mind. The left-handed West Indies cricketer achieved a major milestone in the 2015 IPL season when he scored 117 runs off just 57 deliveries against Punjab at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Following this innings, Gayle’s record stood at an impressive 3065 runs at an average of 47.89 and a strike rate of 155.19. This remarkable performance not only highlighted his ability to score quickly but also his consistency in a format that can be extremely volatile.
Gayle’s contribution to T20 cricket is unparalleled, and his impressive record speaks volumes about his T20 legacy. While his numbers did take a hit in the latter stages of his IPL career, he finished with a total of 4965 runs at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 149. This impressive performance has cemented his position as one of the greatest T20 players of all time.
KL Rahul – 80 innings
Over the last five seasons of the Indian Premier League, KL Rahul has undoubtedly been one of the most consistent run accumulators. In the 2021 season, he achieved an important milestone by scoring 49 runs off just 33 balls against the Rajasthan Royals.
In his IPL career so far, KL Rahul has scored 3970 runs in 104 innings at an impressive average of 46.71 and a strike rate of 135.22. Despite these impressive numbers, fans and critics have often criticized him for his slow starts in the T20 format.
However, it’s worth noting that Rahul is capable of attacking from the word go. The 2018 season was a testament to this, as he demonstrated his ability to score quickly and effectively. While he may have his critics, there is no denying that Rahul’s consistency and ability to score runs make him a valuable asset to any team.
Jos Buttler – 85 innings
Jos Buttler’s achievement in reaching the 3000-run milestone in just 85 innings is truly remarkable. What makes this feat even more impressive is the fact that he has batted in the middle order for 28 of those innings. This highlights his versatility as a player and his ability to adapt to different roles in the team.
At present, Buttler is considered to be one of the best T20 batters in the world, if not the best. He had a brilliant season in the IPL and the T20 World Cup last year, further cementing his reputation as a top performer in the format.
As of the 12th over of the Rajasthan Royals innings, Buttler’s record stands at 3023 runs at an average of 40.85 and a strike rate of 151.22. If he can maintain this level of performance over the next few seasons, he will undoubtedly be in the debate for the greatest IPL batters of all time.
