Gautam Gambhir IPL profile: 11 seasons, 4 217 runs, 36 fifties, 492 fours – the Delhi opener who turned KKR into champions. From the inaugural 2008 season to his 2018 swansong with Delhi Capitals, Gautam Gambhir owned the top of the IPL order. In 151 innings he amassed 4 217 runs—every 123rd run coming off the sweet spot of his blade—making him one of only five batsmen to cross 4 000 for a single franchise. The left-hander peppered boundaries at will: 492 fours flicked and driven through off-side gaps and 59 sixes lofted over mid-wicket. Although he narrowly missed an individual hundred, his 36 half-centuries tell a tale of relentless consistency; his highest score of 93 came while chasing under lights at the Eden Gardens, the ground he eventually called home for seven unforgettable years. Gambhir’s true legacy lies in transforming Kolkata Knight Riders from also-rans to title-winners in 2012 and 2014. Leading from the front, he scored 590 and 408 runs in those respective seasons, finishing as the tournament’s second-highest run-getter in 2012. Whether donning the purple of KKR or the blue of Delhi Capitals, Gambhir’s strike rate of 123 ensured scoreboard pressure never eased. His 3 404 balls faced are a testament to his role as anchor and aggressor rolled into one—an enduring symbol of IPL batting excellence.

Ajinkya Rahane IPL journey spans 17 seasons, 183 innings and a mountain of 5,032 runs that have come off 4,025 balls at a brisk strike-rate of 125. The Mumbai-born right-hander has punished bowlers for 514 fours and 123 sixes, crossing fifty 33 times and reaching three figures on two memorable occasions, the highest being an unbeaten 105. After stints with Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Rising Pune Supergiant, Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings, he is back with Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 2025. While Rahane has rolled his arm over only once in the league, picking up a solitary wicket in a six-ball cameo that cost five runs, he remains celebrated as one of the league’s most technically sound and consistent top-order batsmen.

Note: This overview is partially generated using AI and is based on statistical data. Please verify with official sources for complete accuracy.