MS Dhoni. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

The inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) kick-started on April 18, 2008. It proved to be an epic moment in the history of cricket as it changed the way how T20 circuit was played. Since the inception of the cash-rich league, many top-drawer batters have entered the cricket field and made the marquee event their own.

Among them, some players have thrived in the fag end of the innings and decimated bowling line-ups for fun. However, there have been certain batters who have been quite astonishing in the 20th over and plundered a lot of runs.

Here are five players who have scored the most runs in the final over in IPL history:

5. Dinesh Karthik (248 runs)

Dinesh Karthik has been a bankable name in the Indian Premier League. He has put up an exhibition of his flamboyant stroke play and took top-quality bowling attacks to the cleaners. On his day, the wicketkeeper-batter has taken down even the best of bowlers and stamped his authority on the cricket field. 

Karthik has been associated with IPL since its inception and has donned many hats in the marquee event. Be it an anchor batter at the top order, a floater in the middle order, or a destructive finisher, the Indian batter has done it all. Also, he has been a force to be reckoned with behind the stumps.

Karthik has featured in 229 IPL games and aggregated 4376 runs at a strike rate of 132.65., which included 20 half-centuries. There have been many times when he has finished games for his side on a high and it is evident from the fact that he has scored 248 runs in the final over of the innings.

4. Hardik Pandya (256 runs)

Hardik Pandya is one of those players who have made heads turn every time he has stepped into the cricket field. He has tormented bowlers with his marauding bat and turned the game in the favour of his side. The 29-year-old has been sensational with the ball too and chipped in with crucial wickets.

Hardik has featured in 108 IPL games and plundered 1971 runs at an excellent strike rate of 146.98. Also, he has taken 50 wickets at an economy of 8.76. Besides his all-round prowess, he has shown leadership credentials and guided Gujarat Titans to glory in IPL 2022.

Hardik has played the role of a finisher majority of his IPL career thus far and has played many breathtaking knocks at the fag end of the innings. He has notched up 256 runs in the final over of the innings, which portrays the finishing prowess of the Indian all-rounder.

3. Ravindra Jadeja (308 runs)

Ravindra Jadeja has been a prominent figure in the cash-rich league. He has been entrusted to finish games for his side and has played the role to perfection. The 34-year-old has strangled batters with his impeccable lines and lengths and provided timely breakthroughs to his side.

Jadeja has featured in 211 matches and scored 2503 runs at a strike rate of 127.51. On the bowling front, he has picked up 133 wickets in those outings at an economy of 7.60. Besides his skills with bat and ball, the southpaw is lightning quick in the field.

In his journey in the lucrative T20 tournament thus far, Jadeja has been phenomenal at the death overs and played many match-winning knocks for his team. Moreover, the ace all-rounder has displayed his batting credentials in the final over in the innings and hammered a total of 308 runs, which consists of 26 sixes.

2. Kieron Pollard (405 runs)

Kieron Pollard is one of the most destructive batters to have graced the sport. He is a marauder with the bat and has destroyed bowling attacks at will. The Trnidad-born has featured in 625 T20 games and accumulated an insane tally of 12,175 runs at a stunning strike rate of 150.51.

Pollard established his supremacy in the Indian Premier League too. He featured in 189 matches and racked up 3412 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 147.32. The 35-year-old was a wily customer with the ball and bagged 69 wickets at an economy of 8.79.

During his illustrious IPL career, Pollard put up an exhibition of his power-batting might in the slog overs and obliterated bowling line-ups plenty of times. The destructive batter was magnificent in the 20th over too and hammered 405 runs, which includes 33 maximums.

1. MS Dhoni (667 runs)

India has produced many match-winners but there have been only a few of the caliber of MS Dhoni. He has knocked the wind out of bowling attacks and made world cricket his happy hunting ground. The Ranchi-born has displayed his class in the IPL arena too and toyed with bowling attacks.

Dhoni has featured in 235 IPL games and aggregated 4992 runs at a strike rate of 135.32, which consists of 24 half-centuries. Moreover, the wicketkeeper-batter has been a brilliant reader of the game and has shepherded Chennai Super Kings to four title triumphs.

Dhoni is one of the most decorated finishers to have graced the sport. He has annihilated bowlers at the death and won many matches for his side. The legendary cricketer is known for taking the game deep and has racked up 667 runs in the 20th over, which is the most by any batter in the IPL arena.