Suresh Raina holds the record for the most runs in IPL playoffs. He scored 714 runs in 24 playoff innings for Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Lions. No other batter has reached 700 playoff runs. His record has stood since his last playoff appearance, and it still leads the chart by a clear margin.
Playoff matches are the hardest games in the IPL. A team plays only three or four matches at most in one playoff campaign, so a batter gets very few chances to build a big total. That is why this list looks different from the overall IPL run charts. Players who played for teams that reached the playoffs year after year dominate it.
Shubman Gill is the closest challenger. He has scored 591 playoff runs in only 14 innings, and he is the only batter with two centuries in IPL playoff matches. MS Dhoni sits third with 523 runs, and Virat Kohli moved past 500 runs during the 2026 season. The sections below give the full top 10, the biggest individual playoff innings, and the best single season playoff campaigns.
IPL Playoffs Most Overall Runs Overview
The IPL playoffs began in 2008 as semifinals and changed to the Qualifier and Eliminator format in 2011. This record counts runs scored in semifinals, Eliminators, Qualifiers and finals. League stage runs do not count here.
| Record | Detail |
|---|---|
| Record holder | Suresh Raina |
| Total playoff runs | 714 |
| Playoff innings | 24 |
| Average | 37.57 |
| Strike rate | 155.21 |
| Highest playoff score | 87 |
| Second place | Shubman Gill, 591 runs |
| Most playoff centuries | Shubman Gill, 2 |
Raina scored his 714 runs at a strike rate of 155.21, the fastest scoring rate among the top 10. He also hit seven half centuries in playoff matches, more than any other player. His combination of volume and speed is what makes the record so hard to catch.
Top 10 IPL Playoffs Most Overall Runs
| Rank | Player | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suresh Raina | 24 | 714 | 37.57 | 155.21 | 87 |
| 2 | Shubman Gill | 14 | 591 | 45.46 | 149.24 | 129 |
| 3 | MS Dhoni | 23 | 523 | 34.86 | 132.07 | 63 not out |
| 4 | Virat Kohli | 19 | 514 | 32.12 | 130.45 | 75 not out |
| 5 | Suryakumar Yadav | 12 | 406 | 36.90 | 138.56 | 71 not out |
| 6 | Rohit Sharma | 23 | 405 | 18.40 | 116.71 | 81 |
| 7 | Faf du Plessis | 15 | 390 | 27.85 | 130.43 | 86 |
| 8 | Shane Watson | 12 | 389 | 35.36 | 151.36 | 117 not out |
| 9 | Michael Hussey | 11 | 388 | 38.80 | 124.35 | 86 not out |
| 10 | Murali Vijay | 10 | 364 | 36.40 | 147.36 | 113 |
Chennai Super Kings players fill much of this list. Raina, Dhoni, Hussey and Vijay all played their best playoff cricket for CSK, a team that reached the playoffs in almost every season of its early years. Rohit Sharma is the only Mumbai Indians batter in the top 10, with 405 runs from 23 innings.
Record History
Raina built his record across a long run of CSK playoff campaigns. He played 24 playoff innings, the most by any batter in this list, and he scored at a strike rate above 155 in those games. His most famous innings came in Qualifier 2 of 2014 against Kings XI Punjab. Chasing 227, Raina smashed 87 from only 25 balls, with 12 fours and six sixes. He reached 50 from only 16 balls before he was run out. CSK lost that match, but the innings is still remembered as one of the great IPL knocks.
Gill is the only active challenger who can realistically pass Raina. He reached 591 runs in just 14 innings, at an average of 45.46. His 129 against Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 of 2023 is the highest individual score in IPL playoff history. He added a second playoff century in 2026, scoring 104 against Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2, which made him the first batter with two playoff centuries.
Dhoni reached 523 runs from 23 innings, mostly batting in the middle order and finishing games. His highest playoff score is 63 not out. Kohli crossed 500 playoff runs during the 2026 season, scoring 43 in Qualifier 1 and an unbeaten 75 in the final. His highest playoff score is 75 not out, and he has three playoff half centuries but no playoff century.
Highest Individual Scores in IPL Playoffs
| Rank | Player | Score | Team | Opponent | Stage | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shubman Gill | 129 | Gujarat Titans | Mumbai Indians | Qualifier 2 | 2023 |
| 2 | Virender Sehwag | 122 | Kings XI Punjab | Chennai Super Kings | Qualifier 2 | 2014 |
| 3 | Shane Watson | 117 not out | Chennai Super Kings | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Final | 2018 |
| 4 | Wriddhiman Saha | 115 not out | Kings XI Punjab | Kolkata Knight Riders | Final | 2014 |
| 5 | Murali Vijay | 113 | Chennai Super Kings | Delhi Capitals | Qualifier 2 | 2012 |
Gill’s 129 came from 60 balls and included 10 sixes. Gujarat Titans scored 233 for 3 and beat Mumbai Indians by 62 runs. Watson’s unbeaten 117 in the 2018 final is the highest score in an IPL final by a batter in a winning cause, and Saha’s unbeaten 115 in the 2014 final remains the first century ever scored in an IPL final.
Most Runs in a Single IPL Playoff Season
| Player | Season | Playoff Runs | Key Scores |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jos Buttler | 2022 | 234 | 89, 106 not out, 39 |
| Shubman Gill | 2023 | 210 | 42, 129, 39 |
| David Warner | 2016 | 190 | 28, 93 not out, 69 |
| Rajat Patidar | 2022 | 170 | 112 not out, 58 |
| Suresh Raina | 2014 | 141 | 54 not out, 87 |
Buttler is the only batter to score more than 200 runs in a single playoff campaign. His 89 in Qualifier 1 and unbeaten 106 in Qualifier 2 took Rajasthan Royals to the 2022 final. Warner’s 190 runs in 2016 took Sunrisers Hyderabad to their first title, with an unbeaten 93 in Qualifier 2 and 69 in the final.
What This Record Tells Us
Playoff runs reward two things at once: playing for a team that keeps reaching the knockouts, and scoring quickly when the pressure is highest. Raina did both better than anyone. He played the most playoff innings and scored them at the fastest rate in the top 10. That is why his total has survived even though he retired years ago.
Gill shows the other way to climb this list. He has played far fewer playoff innings than Raina, but his average of 45.46 is the best in the top 10, and he already owns two playoff centuries. If Gujarat Titans keep reaching the playoffs, Gill is the one batter who can realistically pass 714 runs. Kohli’s rise to fourth shows that late career playoff runs count too: he crossed 500 during the 2026 season after years of modest knockout numbers.
For readers, the lesson is simple. League stage records reward long careers. Playoff records reward big match temperament. The batters on this list scored when one bad game could end their team’s season, and that is why their names carry extra weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has scored the most runs in IPL playoffs?
Suresh Raina holds the record with 714 runs from 24 playoff innings at an average of 37.57 and a strike rate of 155.21.
Who is second for most runs in IPL playoffs?
Shubman Gill is second with 591 runs from 14 innings through the 2026 season. He is also the only batter with two centuries in IPL playoff matches.
How many playoff runs has MS Dhoni scored?
MS Dhoni scored 523 runs in 23 IPL playoff innings at an average of 34.86 and a strike rate of 132.07. His highest playoff score is 63 not out.
How many playoff runs has Virat Kohli scored?
Virat Kohli has scored 514 runs in 19 playoff matches through the 2026 season. His highest playoff score is 75 not out, and he has not scored a century in a playoff match.
What is the highest individual score in IPL playoffs?
Shubman Gill holds the record with 129 against Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 of 2023. It came from 60 balls and included 10 sixes.
Who scored the most runs in one IPL playoff season?
Jos Buttler scored 234 runs during the IPL 2022 playoffs for Rajasthan Royals, with scores of 89, 106 not out and 39.
How many half centuries has Suresh Raina scored in IPL playoffs?
Raina scored seven half centuries in playoff matches, more than any other player in IPL history.
Which team has produced the most playoff run scorers?
Chennai Super Kings dominate the list, with Raina, Dhoni, Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay all scoring their best playoff runs for CSK. That reflects how often CSK reached the playoffs during their careers.
Statistics updated through: 3 November 2026
