Warner sets new IPL benchmark

David Warner has become just the second player in IPL history to post back-to-back 600-run seasons after another match-winning performance for Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday night.

Warner, who came into the T20 tournament off the back of a relatively lean run with the bat in the Border-Gavaskar Test series, exploded into form from the outset of the competition, carrying on his stunning run in the IPL that now extends to an incredible four seasons.

Since the beginning of IPL7 in 2014, Warner has amassed 2,542 runs at an average of 52.95 and a strike-rate of 148.57.

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That's more runs than any other player in that period, while only West Indian blaster Chris Gayle, who plundered consecutive seasons of 608, 733 and 708 runs between 2011 and 2013 can match the Australian's current hot streak in terms of consistency.

The left-hander is also closing in on another milestone – he's just 23 runs short of becoming the first overseas player to score 4,000 IPL runs.

Should he get there, he would join Indian foursome Suresh Raina (4,540), Virat Kohli (4,360), Rohit Sharma (4,156) and Gautam Gambhir (4,088) in an exclusive club, while the Australian is the only man in that group to be averaging above 40 in the tournament.

Warner, who captained Sunrisers to the title last year, anchored his side's chase against Gujarat on Saturday to put them through to the finals once again, making 69 not out from 52 deliveries – the fifth time he has passed fifty in another prolific campaign for the destructive left-hander.

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His nearest rival for the Orange Cap in IPL10 is teammate Shikhar Dhawan, whose 468 runs currently pales in comparison to Warner's 604.

Warner said the dismissal of the in-form Dhawan early in the run chase changed his approach. 

"Shikhar got off to a flier but once he got out, I knew I had to play the anchor," he explained post match.

"To have the luxury to have guys come and rotate strike in the middle overs, we are very happy.

"With the way this wicket was, we knew this was going to be tough as the ball got older.

"When we lost two wickets, I was scratching my head but I spoke with Vijay (Shankar, who made 63no).

"The ball was moving a bit initially."

 Warner will have at least one more match to add to his 2017 tally, when his Sunrisers play their first finals match on either Tuesday or Wednesday night, depending on other results.

Master blasters: 600-plus run IPL seasons

2008: Shaun Marsh 616 at 68.44, SR 139.68. 1x100, 5x50s

2010: Sachin Tendulkar 618 at 47.53, SR 132.61. 5x50s

2011: Chris Gayle 608 at 67.55, SR 183.13. 2x100s, 3x50s

2012: Chris Gayle 733 at 61.08, SR 160.74. 1x100, 7x50s

2013: Mike Hussey 733 at 52.35, SR 129.50. 6x50s

2013: Chris Gayle 708 at 59.00, SR 156.29. 1x100, 4x50s

2013: Virat Kohli 634 at 45.28, SR 138.73. 6x50s

2014: Robin Uthappa 660 at 44.00, SR 137.78. 5x50s

2016: Virat Kohli 973 at 81.08, 152.03. 4x100s, 7x50s

2016: David Warner 848 at 60.57, SR 151.42. 9x50s

2017: David Warner 604 at 60.40, SR 144.84. 1x100, 4x50s