25 Greatest Players in Franchise Cricket History
Imran Tahir
The 25th spot on this list is occupied by former South African spinner Imran Tahir, who has had an extensive franchise T20 career across many of the major global leagues. Now 46 years old, Imran Tahir has scalped over 550 wickets in T20 cricket, while having bowled at a remarkable average of 19.49, in 446 matches throughout his career.
Shahid Afridi
Having played for four PSL team throughout his career, former Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi is among the few players from the country to have featured in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League. He has played 329 matches in the shortest format, and 347 wickets and over 4,300 runs, has etched his name as one of the greatest all-rounders.
Suresh Raina
Often referred to as 'Mr. IPL' for having consistently scored runs for Chennai Super Kings during his peak year, Suresh Raina however, only featured in one franchise cricket league, before retiring. He however, established himself as a legend in the Indian T20 cricketing space, becoming the first batters to score over 5,000 runs in the IPL.
Shakib Al Hasan
One of the most prominent all-rounders in international cricket history, Bangladesh legend Shakib Al-Hasan is the only player to have topped the ICC all-round rankings across all the three formats of the game. A two-time IPL winner with KKR, Shakib played over 400 T20 matches in his career, scoring over 7,500 runs and taking over 500 wickets in the format.
James Vince
An underrated English white-ball superstar, James Vince has played for over ten franchises throughout his career, in the BBL, PSL, Hundred, ILT20, Super Smash and the BPL. Having also captained Southern Brave to victory in the inaugural edition of the Hundred, Vince has scored over 12,500 runs in 454 matches in the shortest format.
Aaron Finch
Former Australian captain Aaron Finch is among the few players to have turned up for more than six different franchises in the IPL, and remains one of the country's best T20 batters of all time. Having also guided Australia to victory in the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup, Aaron Finch has played over 300 T20s throughout his career, scoring over 11,000 runs.
Nicolas Pooran
A hard-hitting middle-order wicket-keeper batsman, West Indies' Nicolas Pooran stunned fans earlier this year, when he announced his retirement from international cricket at a young age, to focus on his franchise T20 career. Having established himself as a face in the IPL and the CPL, Pooran boasts over 9,000 runs in 424 matches in the shortest format.
Alex Hales
A T20 cricket specialist, former England international Alex Hales recently became the first English player to feature in over 500 T20 matches, as well as the first from the country to score over 14,000 runs in the shortest format. Third on the list of all-time run-getters in T20 cricket, Hales's record stands strong with 14,200 runs in 516 matches.
Rohit Sharma
While having featured only in the IPL throughout his playing career, Rohit Sharma is the joint-most successful captain in the history of the Indian Premier League, with five title triumphs with Mumbai Indians. The 38-year-old is also the second-highest run-getter in the competition's history, with 7,046 runs in 267 innings, since the 2008 edition.
Glenn Maxwell
One of the finest T20 all-rounders of all time, Glenn Maxwell is known for his explosive batting, handy off-spin and dynamic fielding. One of the few cricketers to have scored a century across all the three formats internationally, Maxwell's numbers in T20s are staggering, with over 10,000 runs and over 190 wickets in the shortest format.
Brendon McCullum
Ex-New Zealand skipper-turned head coach of the England national team, Brendon McCullum is best remembered for his historic 158-run innings in the very first match of the IPL in 2008. Having played 370 T20 matches across the world, McCullum boasts a record of 9,922 runs in the shortest formats, the second-highest by a Kiwi star.
David Warner
One of the most successful overseas players in IPL history, David Warner holds the record for having won the Orange Cap in three different editions of the tournament, in 2015, 2017 and 2019. He ranks fourth on the list of players with the most runs in T20s, with 13,595 runs in 424 matches, including eight hundreds and 113 fifties.
Jos Buttler
An IPL veteran and England international, Jos Buttlers ranks second only to Virat Kohli on the list of players who have scored the most hundreds in the IPL, with seven to his name. Second only to countryman Alex Hales on the list of players from England with the most runs in T20 cricket, Buttler has 13,474 runs in 470 matches.
Faf du Plessis
A remarkable leader in white-ball cricket, South African legend Faf du Plessis has spent the majority of his franchise cricketing career playing for teams associated with the Super Kings, including CSK, JSK and TSK. Du Plessis has scored over 11,000 runs in 424 T20 matches throughout his career, at a brilliant average of 32.88.
MS Dhoni
A five-time IPL and two-time CLT20 winning captain, MS Dhoni holds the distinction for having captained in the most number of T20 matches (331) throughout his career. Also recognized as the best finisher in the shortest format of the game, Dhoni has scored over 5,400 runs in 278 matches in the IPL, hitting 375 fours and 264 sixes so far.
Dwayne Bravo
Having made his name through brilliant death-bowling in the shortest format of the game, former West Indies icon Dwayne 'DJ' Bravo is second on the list of players with the most wickets in T20 cricket. Having turned to coaching following his retirement, Bravo enjoyed a stellar T20 career with 631 wickets in 582 matches, while also scoring over 6,900 runs.
Shane Watson
Another IPL legend who won the Player of the Tournament award twice, in 2008 and 2013, ex-Australian all-rounder Shane Watson is among the very few players to have won two IPL and two PSL titles. Watson played in 343 T20 matches throughout his career, notching up 8,822 runs and scalping 216 wickets in the shortest format of the game.
Andre Russell
West Indian power-hitter Andre Russell has become an elite franchise player globally, winning multiple titles across major leagues like the IPL, BBL, and CPL. Russell has appeared in over 465 T20 matches throughout his career, blasting over 8,100 runs and taking more than 450 wickets, primarily for KKR in the IPL.
Kieron Pollard
Having built a monumental career defined by his powerhouse all-round performances, Kieron Pollard remains a legend in the shortest format of the game. He holds the record for most T20 appearances worldwide, playing over 670 matches, where he has amassed nearly 13,600 runs and taken over 325 wickets.
Lasith Malinga
Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga is regarded as one of the most destructive fast bowlers in T20 history, with an unparalleled legacy at the Mumbai Indians, whom he helped guide to four IPL titles. Throughout his franchise career, he claimed 390 wickets, and remains the bowler with the most five-wicket hauls in the IPL.
Sunil Narine
The ultimate T20 mystery spinner, Sunil Narine is a two-time IPL champion with Kolkata Knight Riders, having later transformed himself into a hard-hitting all-rounder as well. Across his career, Narine has played in over 530 T20 matches, where he has claimed more than 590 wickets, while also scoring over 3,800 runs.
AB de Villiers
'Mr. 360' AB de Villiers redefined T20 batting with his innovative shots, having played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL across 11 seasons. The South African legend featured in 340 T20 matches, scoring over 9,400 runs with a staggering strike rate above 150, establishing himself as one of the most destructive T20 batters ever.
Rashid Khan
Often hailed as the world's most valuable T20 cricketer, Rashid Khan has established himself as a veteran in the shortest format of the game. A two-time IPL winner, the Afghan superstar has claimed 678 wickets in 497 T20 matches throughout his career, putting him on top of the list of players with the most scalps in the format in history.
Virat Kohli
The greatest IPL batter of all time, Virat Kohli has been the face of Royal Challengers Bengaluru since the tournament's inception, recently leading the franchise to its long-awaited maiden IPL title in 2025. Across his phenomenal T20 franchise career, Kohli has amassed over 13,500 runs, including nine centuries and 105 half-centuries.
Chris Gayle
Unquestionably the greatest T20 player of all time, Chris Gayle remains the all-time highest run-getter in T20 cricket history with 14,562 runs. Known as the 'Universe Boss', Gayle has played nearly 465 T20 matches, smashing a record 22 centuries, as well as the highest individual score in T20 cricket history.
