AB de Villiers finished his IPL career with 5,162 runs in 184 matches. Fans called him Mr 360 because he could hit the ball to every part of the ground. He played in the league from 2008 to 2021, first for Delhi Daredevils and then for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His year by year numbers tell the story of a batter who started slowly and ended as one of the finest finishers the tournament has ever seen.
His best year was 2016, when he scored 687 runs in 16 innings with one hundred and six fifties. A year before that he had made 513 runs, including his highest IPL score of 133 not out against Mumbai Indians. He retired from all cricket in November 2021, leaving behind 25 Player of the Match awards, the most won by any player in IPL history.
AB de Villiers IPL Runs Year by Year Overview
| Record | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total IPL runs | 5,162 |
| Matches and innings | 184 matches, 170 innings |
| Teams | Delhi Daredevils (2008 to 2010), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2011 to 2021) |
| Highest score | 133 not out vs Mumbai Indians, 2015 |
| Best season | 2016, with 687 runs |
| Hundreds and fifties | 3 hundreds, 40 fifties |
| Career average | 39.71 |
| Career strike rate | 151.68 |
| Sixes and fours | 251 sixes, 413 fours |
AB de Villiers Runs Season by Season
| Season | Team | Matches | Innings | Runs | High Score | Strike Rate | 50s | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Delhi Daredevils | 6 | 6 | 95 | 26* | 96.93 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | Delhi Daredevils | 15 | 13 | 465 | 105* | 130.98 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010 | Delhi Daredevils | 7 | 7 | 111 | 45 | 93.27 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 16 | 13 | 312 | 65 | 128.39 | 2 | 0 |
| 2012 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 16 | 13 | 319 | 64* | 161.11 | 3 | 0 |
| 2013 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 14 | 14 | 360 | 64 | 164.38 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 14 | 13 | 395 | 89* | 158.63 | 3 | 0 |
| 2015 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 16 | 14 | 513 | 133* | 175.08 | 2 | 1 |
| 2016 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 16 | 16 | 687 | 129* | 168.79 | 6 | 1 |
| 2017 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 9 | 9 | 216 | 89* | 132.51 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 12 | 11 | 480 | 90* | 174.54 | 6 | 0 |
| 2019 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 13 | 13 | 442 | 82* | 154.00 | 5 | 0 |
| 2020 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 15 | 14 | 454 | 73* | 158.74 | 5 | 0 |
| 2021 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 15 | 14 | 313 | 76* | 148.34 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 2008 to 2021 | 184 | 170 | 5,162 | 133* | 151.68 | 40 | 3 |
Record History
De Villiers arrived in the IPL in 2008 with Delhi Daredevils and managed only 95 runs in 6 matches. His first real mark came in 2009 in South Africa, where he scored 465 runs and hit his first IPL hundred, 105 not out against Chennai Super Kings in Durban. The next year was quiet again, with just 111 runs in 7 matches. In three seasons at Delhi he made 671 runs in total.
Everything changed in 2011 when he joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He scored between 312 and 395 runs in each of his first four seasons at the club and slowly became the batter the team turned to in pressure moments. The 2014 season gave a first taste of the fireworks to come, with an unbeaten 89 off 41 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Then came the golden years. In 2015 he smashed 133 not out off 59 balls against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede, adding 513 runs for the season at a strike rate of 175.08. In 2016 he went even better with 687 runs in 16 innings, including 129 not out off 52 balls against Gujarat Lions in a 229 run stand with Virat Kohli. The 2017 season was cut short by injury and gave him only 216 runs in 9 matches.
He bounced back strongly with 480 runs in 2018, 442 in 2019 and 454 in 2020, all at strike rates above 150. His last season in 2021 brought 313 runs, and he announced his retirement from all cricket in November 2021 after eleven seasons with RCB. He finished as the club’s second highest run getter with 4,491 runs in 156 matches.
What This Record Tells Us
The year by year numbers show a player who peaked late. His three biggest seasons all came after he turned 30, which is unusual for a T20 batter. He also kept a strike rate above 150 in almost every full season, so his big totals never slowed the team down. The mix of 251 sixes with 40 fifties shows he could both clear the ropes and build an innings. Perhaps the clearest sign of his value is the 25 Player of the Match awards, still the most in IPL history. When de Villiers scored big, his team usually won.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many runs did AB de Villiers score in the IPL?
AB de Villiers scored 5,162 runs in 184 matches and 170 innings. He averaged 39.71 with a strike rate of 151.68, hitting 3 hundreds and 40 fifties.
Which teams did AB de Villiers play for in the IPL?
He played for Delhi Daredevils from 2008 to 2010, scoring 671 runs, and then for Royal Challengers Bengaluru from 2011 to 2021, scoring 4,491 runs.
What was AB de Villiers best IPL season?
His best season was 2016, when he scored 687 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 168.79. His highest knock that year was 129 not out against Gujarat Lions.
What is AB de Villiers highest IPL score?
His highest IPL score is 133 not out, made against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede in May 2015. He faced 59 balls, hit 19 fours and 4 sixes.
How many centuries did AB de Villiers score in the IPL?
He scored 3 centuries: 105 not out in 2009, 133 not out in 2015 and 129 not out in 2016. He also made 40 half centuries.
When did AB de Villiers retire from the IPL?
He retired from all forms of cricket in November 2021, right after the 2021 IPL season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Does AB de Villiers hold any IPL record?
Yes. He won 25 Player of the Match awards, the most by any player in IPL history. He is also the second highest run getter among overseas batters with 5,162 runs.
How many sixes did AB de Villiers hit in the IPL?
He hit 251 sixes and 413 fours in his IPL career, finishing with a strike rate of 151.68 across 14 seasons.
Statistics updated through: 16 October 2026
