Virat Kohli holds the record for being the highest run-scorer in IPL history, with over 8,600 runs. Throughout his IPL career, he has only played for one franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the largest and most-watched T20 cricket tournaments in the world, having launched in 2008.
As we approach the IPL 2026 season, career records and cumulative run totals are becoming increasingly important in the tournament’s history.
This article lists the top 10 highest run-scorers in IPL history, ranked solely based on total runs scored. The official IPL statistics compile the rankings to ensure accuracy and credibility. They update the stats to reflect the latest completed edition.
Most Runs in IPL: Top 10 Highest Run-Scorers in IPL History
Virat Kohli captained Royal Challengers Bangalore for multiple seasons, leading them to IPL finals in 2016. Kohli holds the record for the most fours in IPL history, highlighting his consistent boundary-hitting.
He won the Orange Cap twice, becoming the only player to do so in separate IPL seasons. Rohit Sharma is the most-capped player among the top run-scorers in IPL history.
This table highlights the all-time leading run scorers in Indian Premier League history, ranked by total runs.
| Rank | Player | Team | Runs | Matches | Average | Strike Rate | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | RCB | 8661 | 267 | 39.54 | 132.85 | 113* |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | DCH, MI | 7046 | 272 | 29.73 | 132.09 | 109* |
| 3 | Shikhar Dhawan | DC, DCH, MI, PBKS, SRH | 6769 | 222 | 35.25 | 127.14 | 106* |
| 4 | David Warner | DC, SRH | 6565 | 184 | 40.52 | 139.77 | 126 |
| 5 | Suresh Raina | CSK, GL | 5528 | 205 | 32.51 | 136.73 | 100* |
| 6 | MS Dhoni | CSK, RPS | 5439 | 278 | 38.30 | 137.45 | 84* |
| 7 | KL Rahul | DC, KXIP, LSG, PBKS, RCB, SRH | 5222 | 145 | 46.21 | 136.02 | 132* |
| 8 | AB de Villiers | DC, RCB | 5162 | 184 | 39.70 | 151.68 | 133* |
| 9 | Ajinkya Rahane | CSK, DC, KKR, MI, RPS, RR | 5032 | 198 | 30.49 | 125.01 | 105* |
| 10 | Chris Gayle | KKR, KXIP, PBKS, RCB | 4965 | 142 | 39.72 | 148.96 | 175* |
Shikhar Dhawan is one of the few batsmen to score over 6,500 runs while playing for multiple teams. David Warner boasts one of the highest batting averages among the top run-getters in the IPL.
MS Dhoni maintains a high career average mainly due to the significant number of not-out innings he has accumulated.
1. Virat Kohli – RCB
Virat Kohli is the highest run-scorer in IPL history with 8,661 runs across 267 matches from 2008 to 2025. He is the only player to score over 8,500 IPL runs for a single franchise. Kohli holds the record for most runs in a single IPL season, scoring 973 runs in 2016.
He has scored 8 IPL centuries, the most by any player, and 63 half-centuries, also an IPL record. Kohli has faced 6,519 balls, showing unmatched longevity. His strike rate of 132.85 reflects consistency rather than power-hitting.
He has spent 17 consecutive seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the longest tenure by a batter with one team.
2. Rohit Sharma – DCH, MI
Rohit Sharma has scored 7,046 runs in 272 IPL matches, making him one of the most experienced batters in league history. He is among the top three most-capped players in IPL history.
He has scored 2 centuries and 47 half-centuries, with a highest score of 109*. Rohit’s strike rate stands at 132.09, reflecting his evolution from a middle-order batter to a consistent opener. He has played in the IPL continuously since 2008, spanning 18 seasons.
Rohit began his IPL career with the Deccan Chargers before becoming a long-term pillar for the Mumbai Indians. Rohit is also one of the few players to score 7,000+ runs while captaining a team for over a decade.
3. Shikhar Dhawan – DC, DCH, MI, PBKS, SRH
Shikhar Dhawan has scored a total of 6,769 runs in 222 IPL matches from 2008 to 2024. He is considered one of the most reliable openers in IPL history, with 51 half-centuries, ranking him among the top five players for the most fifties in the league.
Throughout his career, Dhawan has represented five different franchises, the highest number for any batter with over 6,000 runs. His highest score in the IPL is an unbeaten 106. Dhawan maintains a strike rate of 127.14.
He has surpassed 400 runs in a season multiple times and has achieved back-to-back seasons with over 500 runs. Additionally, Dhawan has scored over 1,000 IPL runs against several teams.
4. David Warner – DC, SRH
David Warner has scored 6,565 runs in 184 IPL matches, making him the most successful overseas batter in IPL history. He has the highest batting average (40.52) among players with over 6,000 IPL runs.
Warner has scored 4 centuries and 62 half-centuries, the most fifties by any overseas player. His highest IPL score is 126, achieved as an opener. Warner’s strike rate of 139.77 reflects aggressive powerplay dominance.
He won the Orange Cap three times (2015, 2017, 2019), the most by any player. Warner played a significant role in SRH’s 2016 title win, scoring 848 runs that season. His IPL career spans 15 seasons, beginning in 2009.
5. Suresh Raina – CSK, GL
Suresh Raina scored 5,528 runs in 205 IPL matches from 2008 to 2021. He was the first player to cross 5,000 IPL runs, earning the nickname “Mr. IPL.” Raina scored 1 century and 39 half-centuries, often performing in high-pressure playoff matches.
His highest IPL score is an unbeaten 100. Raina achieved a strike rate of 136.73, which is impressive for a middle-order batter. He played a crucial role in CSK’s four IPL titles, consistently scoring in knockout games.
Raina also holds the record for most runs in IPL playoffs. His career spanned 14 seasons, with the majority of them spent with the Chennai Super Kings.
6. MS Dhoni – CSK, RPS
MS Dhoni has scored 5,439 runs in 278 IPL matches, the most matches played by any batter in IPL history. He has remained not out 100 times, the highest number of not-outs in the league, which contributes to his strong average of 38.30.
Dhoni has never scored an IPL century, but he has hit 24 half-centuries with a highest score of 84*. His strike rate of 137.45 reflects his role as a finisher. He has represented CSK and RPS, winning five IPL titles as captain.
He played in the IPL from 2008 to 2025, making him one of the longest-serving players in league history.
7. KL Rahul – DC, KXIP, LSG, PBKS, RCB, SRH
KL Rahul has scored 5,222 runs in 145 IPL matches from 2013 to 2025, making him the fastest among the top 10 to cross 5,000 runs. He has the highest average (46.21) among players with over 5,000 IPL runs.
Rahul has scored 5 centuries and 40 half-centuries, with a highest score of 132*. His strike rate of 136.02 combines consistency with controlled aggression. Rahul has represented six franchises, reflecting frequent leadership roles and team transitions.
He won the Orange Cap in 2020, scoring 670 runs. Rahul is known for scoring heavily as an opener in both powerplay and middle overs.
8. AB de Villiers – DC, RCB
AB de Villiers scored 5,162 runs in 184 IPL matches between 2008 and 2021. He has the highest strike rate (151.68) among the top 10 run-scorers, highlighting his explosive batting style. De Villiers scored 3 centuries and 40 half-centuries, often batting in the middle order.
His highest IPL score is 133*. He played most of his career for RCB, forming a long-standing partnership with Virat Kohli. AB de Villiers is known for scoring runs at a strike rate above 150 in multiple seasons.
Despite retiring in 2021, he remains one of the most impactful batters in IPL history.
9. Ajinkya Rahane – CSK, DC, KKR, MI, RPS, RR
Ajinkya Rahane has scored 5,032 runs in 198 IPL matches from 2008 to 2025. He has represented six franchises, showing adaptability across roles and team structures. Rahane has scored 2 centuries and 33 half-centuries, with a highest score of 105*.
His strike rate of 125.01 reflects a classical batting approach. Rahane played a key role in the Rajasthan Royals’ early seasons and later adapted his game with the Chennai Super Kings. He has multiple IPL seasons with 400+ runs.
Rahane’s longevity of 18 seasons places him among the most durable batters in IPL history.
10. Chris Gayle – KKR, KXIP, PBKS, RCB
Chris Gayle scored 4,965 runs in 142 IPL matches between 2009 and 2021. He holds the record for the highest individual score in IPL history, scoring 175* in 2013. Gayle has hit 6 centuries and 31 half-centuries, the most IPL hundreds by an overseas batter.
His strike rate of 148.96 reflects unmatched power-hitting. Gayle has hit 357 sixes, the most by any player in IPL history. He won the Orange Cap in 2011 and 2012.
Despite playing fewer matches than others on the list, Gayle remains one of the most destructive batters the IPL has ever seen.
Most Runs in a Single IPL Season
Virat Kohli’s remarkable achievement of scoring 973 runs in the IPL 2016 season still stands as the highest total runs by any player in a single IPL season.
The following table lists the highest individual run totals in a single Indian Premier League season, ranking players by their total runs in a single tournament.
| Rank | Player | Team | Runs | Matches | Tournament |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | RCB | 973 | 16 | IPL 2016 |
| 2 | Shubman Gill | GT | 890 | 17 | IPL 2023 |
| 3 | Jos Buttler | RR | 863 | 17 | IPL 2022 |
| 4 | David Warner | SRH | 848 | 17 | IPL 2016 |
| 5 | B Sai Sudharsan | GT | 759 | 15 | IPL 2025 |
Shubman Gill’s 890 runs in IPL 2023 are the most runs scored by a Gujarat Titans batter in one season. Jos Buttler scored four centuries in IPL 2022, equalling the record for most hundreds in a single IPL season.
David Warner’s 848-run campaign in IPL 2016 played a key role in Sunrisers Hyderabad winning their maiden IPL title. B Sai Sudharsan’s 759 runs in IPL 2025 are the highest by a player in an IPL season while playing only 15 matches.
Highest Batting Average in IPL
The highest batting average in IPL history belongs to Vivrant Sharma (SRH), who averaged 69.00 in the 2023 season. He scored 69 runs in a single innings, remaining unbeaten, which statistically gives him the top average, though from a very small sample size.
Among players with long-term consistency, B Sai Sudharsan (Gujarat Titans) stands out with an impressive career IPL average of 49.80 across 40 matches, making him the most reliable high-average batter over multiple seasons.
- Vivrant Sharma – Highest IPL average (69.00) but from only 1 innings
- B Sai Sudharsan – Best sustained IPL average (49.80) with 40 innings played
- KL Rahul – Highest average among long-career players (46.21)
KL Rahul follows closely, maintaining a 46.21 average across 145 matches, underlining durability and adaptability in different teams and conditions.
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Conclusion – Kohli leads IPL run charts historically
Virat Kohli leads the list of players with the most runs in the IPL, boasting over 8,600 runs and setting an unparalleled standard for consistency since 2008.
The list of Most Runs in the IPL showcases sustained excellence over multiple seasons in the world’s most competitive T20 league.
Players like Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, and David Warner show the importance of staying strong and adapting to different teams and conditions. High strike-rate batters such as AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle prove that making an impact is just as important as scoring runs.
As the IPL moves toward 2026, these achievements remain the key measures of batting greatness in league history.
FAQs
Virat Kohli holds the record with 8,600+ runs, making him the highest run-scorer in IPL history.
Rohit Sharma is second, having scored 7,000+ IPL runs across multiple seasons.
As of the latest completed season, 9 players have scored over 5,000 runs in the IPL.
David Warner is the highest run-scoring overseas batter in IPL history.
KL Rahul has one of the highest averages (46+) among players with 5,000+ IPL runs.
MS Dhoni has played 278 IPL matches, the most among elite run-getters.
