Most Runs in IPL History: Updated List of All-Time Top Run Scorers
🚨 Virat Kohli holds the record for most runs in IPL history with 8661 runs in 267 matches, making him the only batter to cross the 8000-run mark in the tournament. With IPL 2026 starting March 28, his record could stretch even further this season. Find the complete IPL 2026 team squads to see which top run-scorers are still active this year.
Most Runs in IPL: Top 15 All-Time Run Scorers
The table below shows every batter who has scored 4500 or more runs in IPL history. These are the names who built the tournament’s batting legacy over 17 seasons.
| Rank | Player | Team | Runs | Matches | Innings | HS | 100s | 50s | Average | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virat Kohli | RCB | 8661 | 267 | 259 | 113 | 8 | 63 | 39.55 | 132.86 |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | MI | 7046 | 272 | 267 | 109* | 2 | 47 | 29.73 | 132.10 |
| 3 | Shikhar Dhawan | PBKS | 6769 | 222 | 221 | 106* | 2 | 51 | 35.26 | 127.14 |
| 4 | David Warner | DC | 6565 | 184 | 184 | 126 | 4 | 61 | 40.52 | 139.77 |
| 5 | Suresh Raina | CSK | 5528 | 205 | 200 | 100* | 1 | 39 | 32.52 | 136.76 |
| 6 | MS Dhoni | CSK | 5439 | 278 | 242 | 84* | 0 | 24 | 38.30 | 137.45 |
| 7 | KL Rahul | DC | 5222 | 145 | 136 | 132* | 5 | 40 | 46.21 | 136.03 |
| 8 | AB de Villiers | RCB | 5162 | 184 | 170 | 133* | 3 | 40 | 39.70 | 151.68 |
| 9 | Ajinkya Rahane | KKR | 5032 | 198 | 183 | 105* | 2 | 33 | 30.50 | 125.02 |
| 10 | Chris Gayle | PBKS | 4965 | 142 | 141 | 175* | 6 | 31 | 39.72 | 148.96 |
| 11 | Robin Uthappa | CSK | 4952 | 205 | 197 | 88 | 0 | 27 | 27.51 | 130.35 |
| 12 | Dinesh Karthik | RCB | 4842 | 257 | 234 | 97* | 0 | 22 | 26.32 | 135.36 |
| 13 | Faf du Plessis | DC | 4773 | 154 | 147 | 96 | 0 | 39 | 35.10 | 135.79 |
| 14 | Sanju Samson | RR | 4704 | 177 | 172 | 119 | 3 | 26 | 30.95 | 139.05 |
| 15 | Ambati Rayudu | CSK | 4348 | 204 | 187 | 100* | 1 | 22 | 28.23 | 127.54 |
Virat Kohli: The King of IPL Batting Records
No conversation about most runs in IPL is complete without understanding just how far ahead Virat Kohli is from everyone else. He crossed the 8000-run mark in the IPL 2024 Eliminator against Rajasthan Royals, becoming the first player in history to reach that milestone.
His gap over second-placed Rohit Sharma is 1615 runs, which is a massive lead when you consider both players have played roughly the same number of seasons. What makes Kohli’s record even more impressive is his consistency across all conditions and all types of pitches over 17 seasons.
Virat Kohli IPL Career Highlights
- 8661 runs in 267 matches, the highest ever in IPL history
- 8 centuries in IPL, the most by any batter in the tournament
- 63 fifties in IPL, also the all-time record
- First and only batter to cross 8000 IPL runs
- 973 runs in IPL 2016, the record for most runs in a single season
- Average of 39.55 across 17 seasons, outstanding for T20 cricket
Kohli is still active with RCB and playing IPL 2026. Every match he plays this season adds to a record that may never be broken in the next decade.
Active Players Who Can Climb the List in IPL 2026
Several players currently in IPL 2026 squads have a real chance to move up the all-time list this season. The ones to watch are the consistent performers who bat in the top three and play all 14 league matches.
Active Batters With Most IPL Runs Heading Into IPL 2026
| Player | Current Runs | Team | Matches Played |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 8661 | RCB | 267 |
| Rohit Sharma | 7046 | MI | 272 |
| KL Rahul | 5222 | DC | 145 |
| Sanju Samson | 4704 | RR | 177 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 4311 | MI | 166 |
| Jos Buttler | 4120 | GT | 121 |
| Shubman Gill | 3866 | GT | 118 |
| Rishabh Pant | 3553 | LSG | 125 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 2166 | RR | 67 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 1816 | SRH | 77 |
Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the two names to watch most closely. Both are young, bat at the top of the order, and have the consistency to add 400 to 600 runs in a single season. Jaiswal in particular averages 34.38 with a strike rate of 152.86, which means he scores fast and scores big. Track how these batters perform match by match through the IPL 2026 live points table and season stats.
Which Teams Have the Most IPL Run Scorers in the Top 15
CSK leads the way when it comes to producing volume run-scorers in IPL history. Three CSK legends sit in the all-time top 15 and the franchise has consistently had batters who play long innings rather than just smash at every ball.
- CSK — Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, Robin Uthappa (3 players in top 15)
- RCB — Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Dinesh Karthik (3 players in top 15)
- DC — David Warner, KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis (3 players in top 15)
- PBKS — Shikhar Dhawan, Chris Gayle (2 players in top 15)
- KKR — Ajinkya Rahane (1 player in top 15)
- RR — Sanju Samson (1 player in top 15)
Stay updated with all team news, player availability and match previews through the latest IPL 2026 news and updates section and catch all the batting records being chased live this season on JioHotstar and Star Sports. The full IPL 2026 broadcast and streaming guide covers every platform you need.
FAQs
FAQs
Who has scored the most runs in IPL history?
Virat Kohli holds the record with 8661 runs in 267 matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He is the only player in IPL history to cross the 8000-run mark.
Who is second on the most runs in IPL list?
Rohit Sharma is second with 7046 runs in 272 matches for Mumbai Indians, sitting 1615 runs behind Kohli in the all-time standings.
What is the record for most runs in a single IPL season?
Virat Kohli holds this record too with 973 runs in IPL 2016, the only time any batter has crossed 900 runs in a single IPL season.
How many centuries has Virat Kohli scored in IPL?
Kohli has scored 8 centuries in IPL, which is also the all-time record. He is well ahead of Chris Gayle who has 6 IPL hundreds.
Which active players could break Kohli’s IPL run record in the future?
Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal are the most likely candidates in the long term given their age, consistency and top-order batting positions. However, Kohli’s 8661-run total will take many seasons to catch.
How many players have scored 4500 or more runs in IPL history?
A total of 14 players have scored 4500 or more runs in IPL history, with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan making up the top three on that list.
