Most runs while batting first in IPL is a record that rewards batters who set the pace instead of chasing a target. When a team bats first, its batters must judge the pitch, use the powerplay well and post a total the bowlers can defend. The published leaderboard for this record is led by Shikhar Dhawan with 3,770 runs, just ahead of Virat Kohli with 3,724 runs. The gap between the top two is only 46 runs, which shows how close this race has been across many seasons.
The table in this article gives the widely published top 10 for runs scored while batting first. It covers IPL seasons from 2008 to 2023. No updated batting first split for the 2024 to 2026 seasons has been published by a reliable source, so this article presents the published figures as they stand and does not guess new totals. Readers should keep that coverage note in mind when they compare these numbers with career totals from later seasons.
Openers fill most of the top 10, which makes sense. The openers face the new ball and get the full 20 overs to build a score. AB de Villiers is the big exception. He batted in the middle order and still scored 3,163 runs while batting first, with the best average and the best strike rate in the top 10.
Most Runs while Batting First Overview
| Detail | Record |
|---|---|
| Record | Most runs scored while batting first in IPL |
| Leader in published split | Shikhar Dhawan |
| Runs while batting first | 3,770 |
| Innings while batting first | 122 |
| High score while batting first | 106* |
| Seasons covered by published split | 2008 to 2023 |
| Closest challenger | Virat Kohli with 3,724 runs |
Top 10 Most Runs while Batting First
| Rank | Player | Runs | Innings | High Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s/50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shikhar Dhawan | 3,770 | 122 | 106* | 34.27 | 127.32 | 1/28 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | 3,724 | 113 | 113 | 36.15 | 128.81 | 4/29 |
| 3 | Rohit Sharma | 3,465 | 121 | 109* | 31.21 | 135.51 | 1/24 |
| 4 | Suresh Raina | 3,194 | 109 | 100* | 32.26 | 135.62 | 1/26 |
| 5 | AB de Villiers | 3,163 | 88 | 133* | 45.84 | 161.95 | 3/25 |
| 6 | David Warner | 3,151 | 83 | 126 | 42.58 | 137.35 | 3/27 |
| 7 | MS Dhoni | 2,952 | 124 | 75* | 39.89 | 138.20 | 0/14 |
| 8 | Chris Gayle | 2,873 | 76 | 175* | 40.46 | 153.39 | 5/18 |
| 9 | Dinesh Karthik | 2,521 | 109 | 97* | 28.32 | 135.24 | 0/12 |
| 10 | Ajinkya Rahane | 2,204 | 76 | 105* | 31.48 | 127.25 | 2/15 |
These figures are the published batting first split. Career totals for active players have moved on since 2023, but the split between batting first and chasing has not been republished in a verified form, so no later season runs are added here.
Record History
Chris Gayle set the tone for this record in 2013. His unbeaten 175 against Pune Warriors India came while batting first, and it remains the highest individual score in T20 cricket. Royal Challengers Bengaluru posted 263 for 5 in that match, a total built entirely on Gayle setting the pace from the first ball. That innings is also why Gayle, even at number 8 on this list, is the first name many fans recall when they talk about batting first.
Shikhar Dhawan reached the top through steady scoring over a long career. He played for five teams and opened the batting in most of his matches. His 28 fifties while batting first show a batter who gave his team a strong start again and again, even if he did not always turn those starts into centuries. Only one of his two IPL centuries came in this split, but his volume of runs kept him ahead of the field.
Virat Kohli sits just 46 runs behind Dhawan in the published split. Four of his centuries in the split came while batting first, including 113 against Kings XI Punjab in 2016 and 101 not out against Gujarat Titans in 2023. Kohli has scored heavily since 2023, with 741 runs in 2024 and 657 runs in 2025, so the order at the top may change when an updated split is published. Until then, the published figures keep Dhawan in front.
AB de Villiers and David Warner show two different ways to pile up first innings runs. De Villiers averaged 45.84 and struck at 161.95, the best marks in the top 10, with a high score of 133 not out. Warner scored 3,151 runs in only 83 innings, the fewest innings of anyone in the top six, with three centuries and 27 fifties. Rohit Sharma, with 3,465 runs, and Suresh Raina, with 3,194 runs, round out a top four full of players who led their teams from the front for years.
MS Dhoni is the only player in the top 10 without a century while batting first. His high score in this split is 75 not out, yet he still scored 2,952 runs across 124 innings. That tells its own story. Dhoni often batted late in the innings and finished games, so his first innings runs came in short bursts rather than long hundreds. Dinesh Karthik and Ajinkya Rahane complete the top 10 with 2,521 and 2,204 runs.
What This Record Tells Us
Batting first tests a different skill from chasing. There is no target on the board to aim at, so batters must guess what a good total looks like and then build toward it. The list shows that openers have the best chance to score big in this role because they get the most balls and the fielding limits in the powerplay. That is why Dhawan, Warner, Gayle and Rohit all feature so high.
The list also shows that strike rate matters as much as volume. De Villiers scored fewer runs than the top four but did it faster than anyone else in the list. Gayle struck at 153.39 and turned five of his six IPL centuries into first innings scores. In modern IPL cricket, a quick 40 can shape a total just as much as a slow 70, and the best first innings batters mix both.
Finally, the close gap at the top shows how durable this record is. Dhawan, Kohli and Rohit all played for well over a decade, and their first innings runs piled up season by season rather than in one hot year. Any young batter who wants this record will need the same mix: a long career, a regular place at the top of the order, and the skill to set a target on all kinds of pitches. For more on big hitting in the league, see the most runs by overseas batters in IPL and the highest team totals in IPL. Fans who follow the yearly run race can also check the Orange Cap winners in IPL and the IPL 2026 batting stats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has scored the most runs while batting first in IPL?
Shikhar Dhawan leads the published split with 3,770 runs in 122 innings while batting first, covering IPL seasons from 2008 to 2023.
How many runs has Virat Kohli scored while batting first in IPL?
Virat Kohli scored 3,724 runs in 113 innings while batting first in the published split, with four centuries and 29 fifties.
What is the highest individual score while batting first in IPL?
Chris Gayle scored 175 not out against Pune Warriors India in 2013 while batting first. It remains the highest individual score in T20 cricket.
Which batter has the best average among the top 10?
AB de Villiers has the best average in the top 10 at 45.84, along with the best strike rate at 161.95.
Which batter has the most fifties while batting first in IPL?
Virat Kohli has 29 fifties while batting first in the published split, one more than Shikhar Dhawan with 28.
Has the batting first leaderboard changed after 2023?
An updated batting first split for the 2024 to 2026 seasons has not been published by a reliable source, so the order in this article reflects the last published split. Kohli and Rohit have both added career runs since 2023, so the top order may change when new split figures appear.
Where can fans check official IPL records?
Fans can check official records on the official IPL website and on ESPNcricinfo stats pages. For the road ahead, the IPL 2027 retention deadline, rules and purse guide explains the key dates before the next auction.
Statistics updated through: 4 November 2026
