Most Runs in an IPL Season: Kohli’s 973 in 2016 and the Full All-Time List
🚨 Virat Kohli scored 973 runs in IPL 2016 for RCB, the most runs ever scored by any batter in a single IPL season, a record that has survived nine years without anyone getting close to it. IPL 2026 starts March 28 and all 10 team squads for this season are confirmed with several top-order batters ready to mount a serious run-scoring challenge.
Most Runs in an IPL Season: Top 20 Performances
| Rank | Player | Team | Runs | Season | HS | 100s | 50s | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | RCB | 973 | 2016 | 113 | 4 | 7 | 81.08 |
| 2 | Shubman Gill | GT | 890 | 2023 | 129 | 3 | 4 | 59.33 |
| 3 | Jos Buttler | RR | 863 | 2022 | 116 | 4 | 4 | 57.53 |
| 4 | David Warner | SRH | 848 | 2016 | 93* | 0 | 9 | 60.57 |
| 5 | Sai Sudharsan | GT | 759 | 2025 | 108* | 1 | 6 | 54.21 |
| 6 | Virat Kohli | RCB | 741 | 2024 | 113* | 1 | 5 | 61.75 |
| 7 | Kane Williamson | SRH | 735 | 2018 | 84 | 0 | 8 | 52.50 |
| 8 | Chris Gayle | RCB | 733 | 2012 | 128* | 1 | 7 | 61.08 |
| 9 | Michael Hussey | CSK | 733 | 2013 | 95 | 0 | 6 | 52.35 |
| 10 | Faf du Plessis | RCB | 730 | 2023 | 84 | 0 | 8 | 56.15 |
| 11 | Suryakumar Yadav | MI | 717 | 2025 | 73* | 0 | 5 | 65.18 |
| 12 | Chris Gayle | RCB | 708 | 2013 | 175* | 1 | 4 | 59.00 |
| 13 | David Warner | SRH | 692 | 2019 | 100* | 1 | 8 | 69.20 |
| 14 | AB de Villiers | RCB | 687 | 2016 | 129* | 1 | 6 | 52.84 |
| 15 | Rishabh Pant | DC | 684 | 2018 | 128* | 1 | 5 | 52.61 |
Virat Kohli’s 973 Runs in IPL 2016: Why It May Never Be Broken
IPL 2016 was not just a great season for Kohli. It was a season that belonged entirely to him. He scored 973 runs in 16 matches at an average of 81.08, numbers that do not look like T20 cricket at all. He hit 4 centuries and 7 fifties in the same season, both of which are also individual season records.
To understand how extraordinary 973 is, consider this. The second highest runs in a single IPL season is 890 by Shubman Gill in 2023. Kohli’s record is 83 runs ahead of that, and Gill had the benefit of playing in the conditions and with the equipment of a more recent era.
Virat Kohli IPL 2016 Season Breakdown
| Detail | Stats |
|---|---|
| Runs Scored | 973 |
| Matches | 16 |
| Innings | 16 |
| Centuries | 4 |
| Fifties | 7 |
| Average | 81.08 |
| Highest Score | 113 |
The closest anyone has come to 973 since 2016 was Jos Buttler’s 863 in IPL 2022 for Rajasthan Royals. Buttler was in the form of his life that season, hitting 4 centuries himself, but still fell 110 runs short. That gap shows just how special Kohli’s 2016 campaign truly was.
Players Most Likely to Challenge the Record in IPL 2026
The record of 973 in a season requires a batter to average above 60 across 16 matches while also converting starts into big hundreds consistently. Very few batters in the world have the combination of consistency and conversion rate that makes that possible.
These are the active players best placed to mount a challenge this season:
- Virat Kohli himself is still the most consistent run-scorer in IPL and is already sitting on 973 career runs in 2016 form. Playing for RCB in a batting-friendly tournament, he remains the biggest threat to his own record
- Shubman Gill holds the second-highest season total with 890 in 2023 and captains GT with a top-order batting position that gives him maximum overs to bat in every game
- Yashasvi Jaiswal averages 34.38 in IPL with a strike rate of 152 and is improving every season for RR, making him a genuine dark horse for a big run haul
- Sai Sudharsan scored 759 runs in IPL 2025 at an average of 54.21, showing the kind of consistency needed to mount a serious challenge
- Travis Head has a strike rate of 170 in IPL and if he fires at the top of the order for SRH consistently, a 700 plus season is well within reach
Track every run these batters score match by match through the IPL 2026 live points table and batting stats updated throughout the season. Catch every innings live through the complete IPL 2026 streaming guide covering JioHotstar, Star Sports and every international platform.
FAQs
Who scored the most runs in a single IPL season?
Virat Kohli scored 973 runs in IPL 2016 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the most by any batter in a single IPL season. He averaged 81.08 across 16 matches that year.
Which season had the most run-scoring by a single batter after 2016?
Shubman Gill’s 890 runs in IPL 2023 for Gujarat Titans is the closest any batter has come to Kohli’s record, followed by Jos Buttler’s 863 for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2022.
How many centuries did Kohli score in IPL 2016?
Kohli hit 4 centuries and 7 fifties in IPL 2016, both of which are also individual season records in IPL history.
Has any batter crossed 900 runs in a single IPL season other than Kohli?
No. Kohli is the only batter to ever cross 900 runs in a single IPL season. Shubman Gill’s 890 in 2023 is the only other score above 850 in IPL season history.
Who are the active players most likely to challenge 973 runs in IPL 2026?
Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan are the four active batters best placed to post the highest season totals in IPL 2026 based on recent form and batting position.
How many players have scored 700 or more runs in a single IPL season?
Looking at the all-time list, around 15 instances of a batter scoring 700 or more runs in a single IPL season have been recorded, with the majority coming from consistent top-order batters across different franchises.
