Most Player of the Match Awards in IPL History — All-Time Top 25 Ranked

The Universal IPL Records: Most Player of the Match Awards

When Chris Gayle walked to the crease during his IPL career, the opposition knew they were one devastating innings away from handing him another Player of the Match award. The Jamaican left-hander collected 19 such awards across his time with Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Punjab Kings — a tally that speaks to his ability to produce match-defining performances at will. From his record-shattering 175 not out against Pune Warriors in 2013 to countless other brutal assaults on bowling attacks, Gayle turned IPL matches into personal showcases more often than anyone else in the tournament's history.

Behind him, a gallery of legends has accumulated double-digit Player of the Match tallies. AB de Villiers sits one behind on 18, while Sunil Narine and MS Dhoni share third with 17 apiece — proof that this list rewards not just batting firepower but match-winning contributions across all disciplines. These 25 players represent the elite tier of IPL match-winners: the men opposing captains feared most when the game hung in the balance.

All-Time Top 25 — Most Player of the Match Awards in IPL

The Top 5 — Deep Dive

1. Chris Gayle — 19 Awards

Chris Gayle redefined what a single batsman could do to an IPL match. His 19 Player of the Match awards came predominantly during his golden years at Royal Challengers Bangalore (2011–2017), where he combined raw power with an almost unfair ability to clear any ground. His most iconic match-winning performance — 175 not out off 66 balls against Pune Warriors in Bengaluru during the 2013 season — remains the highest individual score in IPL history. That innings featured 17 sixes and produced a 263-run total that the opposition never threatened. Gayle's strike rate in award-winning performances averaged over 180, underlining that when he won the award, he hadn't just contributed — he had annihilated.

2. AB de Villiers — 18 Awards

AB de Villiers collected his 18 awards almost exclusively at RCB between 2011 and 2021, where his 360-degree batting made him the most unpredictable threat in the competition. Unlike Gayle's top-of-the-order demolitions, de Villiers often produced his match-winners from the middle order — coming in at 15-2 or 80-3 and accelerating the innings beyond what the opposition could contain. His unbeaten 133 off 59 balls against Mumbai Indians in 2015, struck at a rate of 225.42, exemplified his capacity to take complete control of a match from ball one. De Villiers earned awards with both bat and fielding brilliance, his athleticism in the outfield directly preventing runs that swung outcomes.

3. Sunil Narine — 17 Awards

Sunil Narine's 17 awards at Kolkata Knight Riders reflect one of the IPL's most remarkable evolutions. His early awards (2012–2016) came almost entirely from mystery spin — suffocating batting lineups with economy rates below 5 in powerplay overs and death phases alike. From 2017 onwards, Narine added explosive opening batting to his repertoire, earning awards for 30-ball fifties that set the tone for KKR chases. His 2024 season, where he scored 488 runs at a strike rate of 180 while taking 17 wickets, epitomised why he earned awards — he won matches in two completely different disciplines.

4. MS Dhoni — 17 Awards

MS Dhoni's 17 awards span the entire IPL history from 2008 to 2023, every single one earned at Chennai Super Kings or the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant. What distinguishes Dhoni is that many of his awards came in tight chases — 6-run finishes, last-ball boundaries, and calm run-chases where his unbeaten 40 off 25 was more valuable than any century. His match-winning 84 not out against RCB in the 2018 season — chasing 205 — was struck at 200 and featured clinical placement rather than brute force. Captain, wicketkeeper, and finisher: Dhoni's awards reflect the widest range of match-winning skills on this list.

5. Rohit Sharma — 16 Awards

Rohit Sharma's 16 awards split between his early career at Deccan Chargers (2008–2010) and his peak years at Mumbai Indians (2011–2025). As MI captain, Rohit developed a habit of producing match-defining innings in high-pressure knockout matches — including multiple Qualifier and Final performances that earned him the tag of IPL's most decorated captain with 5 titles. His 109 not out against KKR in the 2012 season remains his highest IPL score, but his most impactful award-winning displays often came in sub-100 scores played at exactly the right tempo for the situation.

Patterns & Insights

Batsmen dominate this list overwhelmingly — 20 of the 25 entries are primary batsmen or batting all-rounders. Only Jasprit Bumrah (10), Rashid Khan (12), Amit Mishra (11), and Sunil Narine (17, partly as bowler) represent bowling-first players. This confirms T20 cricket's structural bias: a batting performance of 80+ almost always trumps 3-30 in the adjudicator's eyes. KKR and MI feature most heavily as employers of these players, with RCB close behind due to the Gayle-de Villiers-Kohli trio accumulating 50 awards between them at the franchise. The 2013–2018 window produced the highest concentration of repeat winners, coinciding with the IPL's golden era of overseas recruitment.

Why This Record Matters

The Player of the Match award is the IPL's ultimate individual currency — proof that in a team sport played across 40 overs, one player bent the result. Tracking accumulation over careers reveals something deeper: consistency of impact across seasons, conditions, and opposition quality. A player reaching 15+ awards has typically produced 3-4 match-defining performances per season across 5+ years — a level of sustained excellence that separates franchise legends from one-season wonders. The threshold for entry into this top-25 (10 awards) requires approximately 8-10 seasons of regular participation, meaning this list naturally filters for both excellence and longevity.

Could Anyone Break Gayle's #1 Record?

Gayle's 19 awards were accumulated across 142 IPL matches over 13 seasons (2008–2023). For an active player to surpass him, they need both sustained dominance and career length. Shubman Gill (12 awards, age 26) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (11 awards, age 27) have the trajectory — both are accumulating at roughly 2-3 awards per season during their peak years. However, the increasing depth of IPL squads makes individual domination harder: in 2008–2013, a single great player could carry a weak franchise far more easily than in the auction-era parity of recent seasons. The record is beatable but requires a player to maintain elite form for 3-4 more seasons while remaining injury-free and in favourable batting positions.

FAQ

Who has the most Player of the Match awards in IPL history?

Chris Gayle holds the all-time record with 19 Player of the Match awards across his IPL career spanning 2008 to 2023, primarily earned while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

How many MOM awards does AB de Villiers have in the IPL?

AB de Villiers earned 18 Player of the Match awards in the IPL, placing him second on the all-time list. All were earned during his tenure at Royal Challengers Bangalore from 2011 to 2021.

Which bowlers have the most Player of the Match awards in IPL?

Sunil Narine leads bowlers with 17 awards (though many came for batting contributions post-2017). Among specialist bowlers, Rashid Khan has 12 and Amit Mishra has 11. Jasprit Bumrah, the leading fast bowler, has 10.

Why do batsmen dominate the MOM awards list?

T20 cricket's scoring patterns mean a 70+ score or a rapid fifty has more visible impact than 3-25 bowling figures. Match adjudicators tend to reward batting performances that directly set up winning totals or complete successful chases.

Has any player won back-to-back Player of the Match awards in consecutive matches?

Yes — multiple players have achieved this. Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, and Shane Watson all recorded streaks of consecutive MOM awards during peak-form stretches, with Gayle achieving three consecutive awards during the 2012 season.

What is the minimum number of awards needed to be in the all-time top 25?

Currently, 10 Player of the Match awards is the threshold to enter the top 25. Six players share this mark: Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah, David Warner, Faf du Plessis, Andre Russell, and Virender Sehwag.

Is this record IPL-specific or does it cover all T20 leagues?

This ranking covers only the Indian Premier League (2008–2025). Other T20 leagues maintain separate records. Chris Gayle also holds significant MOM tallies in the CPL and BPL, making him the most decorated T20 franchise match-winner globally.