Twenty-Three Runs in Eighteen Years
The number sounds modest. Twenty-three runs. A single boundary, a single caught-behind, and some singles. But when that 23-run increase represents the average difference between every first innings in IPL 2008 and every first innings in IPL 2024, it is one of the most consequential shifts in cricket history — the measurable result of an arms race between batting skill and bowling adaptation that has reshaped the game globally.
In 2008, a first-innings score of 170 was considered exceptional. Teams posting 170 won the match roughly 65% of the time. In 2024, a first-innings score of 170 was considered below par. Teams posting 170 won the match less than 45% of the time. The absolute number is the same. The context has completely changed.
Season-by-Season Scoring Progression
| Season | Avg 1st Innings | Avg 2nd Innings | Total Avg Runs | Boundary % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 154.8 | 147.2 | 302.0 | 54.2% |
| 2010 | 158.1 | 149.6 | 307.7 | 55.8% |
| 2012 | 160.4 | 153.8 | 314.2 | 56.1% |
| 2014 | 163.7 | 156.4 | 320.1 | 57.3% |
| 2016 | 166.2 | 158.9 | 325.1 | 58.4% |
| 2018 | 160.1 | 154.7 | 314.8 | 57.9% |
| 2020 | 163.4 | 158.2 | 321.6 | 58.7% |
| 2022 | 171.8 | 164.3 | 336.1 | 60.2% |
| 2023 | 174.6 | 166.8 | 341.4 | 61.4% |
| 2024 | 178.2 | 169.7 | 347.9 | 62.8% |
The 2018 season stands as an anomaly — average scores actually fell slightly from 2016. This was widely attributed to an unusually high proportion of matches played at slower surfaces (Chepauk, Chepauk again, and Eden Gardens) and an exceptional bowling cohort that year: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (RCB), Rashid Khan, and Sunil Narine were all at the peak of their powers simultaneously.
The Powerplay Revolution
The most significant technical change driving the scoring inflation has been in powerplay (overs 1-6) batting. In IPL 2008, the average powerplay score was 47.3. In IPL 2024, it is 58.4 — an 11-run increase in just 6 overs.
Three rule changes and two technical evolutions drove this:
Free hit for no-balls (introduced 2011): Before this rule, bowlers could bowl no-balls with limited consequence. After 2011, every front-foot no-ball gave batters a free hit — a risk-free attacking ball. This shifted the powerplay dynamic significantly, as batters could attack aggressively knowing that even if they mistimed a shot during a free hit, they could not be dismissed.
Bat technology: The modern IPL bat — flat, with minimal concave on the back, and an extremely thick edge profile — generates significantly more rebound energy than bats from 2008. Detailed bat profiles suggest the average edge thickness of IPL bats increased from approximately 35mm in 2008 to 40mm+ by 2020. That extra mass on the edge means mishits that would have found fielders in 2008 now clear the boundary.
Wrist spin revolution: Paradoxically, the growth of wrist-spin bowling in IPL also increased scoring. Wrist spinners — Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS), Rashid Khan, Imran Tahir — take more wickets than finger spinners but are also more expensive when they bowl poorly. The death-phase wrist spinner has become a standard team selection, and their bad balls cost 6 more readily than a defensive off-spinner's bad balls.
The Death-Over Arms Race
The biggest scoring increase has come in overs 17-20. In IPL 2008, the average runs scored in the final four overs of a first innings was 46.8. In IPL 2024, that number is 62.1 — a 15-run increase in the same four overs.
This number reflects two simultaneous evolutions that have been at war since approximately 2015:
| Year | Avg death-over RPO | Best death bowler economy | Innovation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-2012 | 10.2 | 8.4 (Malinga) | Yorker era |
| 2013-2016 | 10.8 | 8.1 (Bumrah emerging) | Slower ball era |
| 2017-2020 | 11.4 | 8.6 (Bumrah peak) | Scoop/ramp era |
| 2021-2024 | 12.7 | 9.1 (various) | Upper-cut/switch-hit era |
Batting has been winning this arms race since 2017. The specific shots responsible — the ramp over fine leg, the upper cut over third man, the switch hit, the paddle sweep — all exploit the fielding restriction that prevents more than five fielders outside the 30-yard circle. As batters became proficient at hitting into the vacated fine leg and third man regions, bowlers had no defensive answer.
What This Means for Teams Building in 2026
The scoring inflation has two major implications for IPL 2026 franchise strategy.
First, the batting-order depth requirement has increased. Posting 175+ requires not just two good batters but a capable lower order. Teams that can bat to eleven — where the tail scores at a strike rate above 120 — regularly post 10-15 more runs per innings than teams with exposed bowling tails.
Second, bowling specialisation has become the primary value driver in the IPL auction. In 2008, a bowler with an economy rate of 7.5 in the death overs was exceptional. In 2024, that same 7.5 economy rate makes the same bowler the best death bowler in the competition — because the benchmark has risen. The scarcity premium on elite death bowlers has made them the most valuable non-captain players in the IPL ecosystem.
FAQ
Q: What is the average first-innings score in IPL?
The average IPL first-innings score in 2024 was approximately 178 runs. This has risen from around 155 in the 2008 inaugural season — a 23-run increase over 18 seasons driven by batting technique improvements, bat technology, and rule changes.
Q: What is the highest team total in IPL history?
The highest team total in IPL history is 287/2 scored by Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Punjab Kings in 2013 — the match in which Chris Gayle scored his record 175 not out. This was scored well above the average of the era.
Q: Why are IPL scores getting higher every year?
IPL scores have risen due to multiple factors: improved bat technology (thicker edges), the free hit rule for no-balls, powerplay fielding restrictions, improved batter technique in the death overs (ramps, scoops, switch hits), and the increasing presence of specialist T20 batters who have trained exclusively for this format.