5 players who could break Virat Kohli’s 973-run season record in IPL 2026

Only three batters, apart from Virat Kohli, have scored more than 800 runs in a single season of IPL.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) stalwart Virat Kohli scored 973 runs during the 2016 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). In that season, he scored four centuries and seven half-centuries, with an average of 81.08 and a strike rate of 152.

After a decade, the record still stays the same, as no other batter has managed to cross the 900-run mark in a single season of the tournament. Only three batters, Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler and David Warner, have scored more than 800 runs once in different seasons.

As the game is getting faster and more runs are being scored, it seems like the record might be broken soon. However, it would still be an uphill battle for any batter. Thus, on the same note, let’s take a look at the top five players who could break Virat Kohli’s 973-run season record in IPL 2026

5 players who could break Virat Kohli’s 973-run season record

5. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

It can be a huge claim to make; however, 2026 could be Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s year. The 15-year-old scored a century in the IPL last season, which displayed his potential and fearless attitude against the world’s best bowlers. Meanwhile, he started the year with explosive batting performances at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup.

He scored 439 runs in seven matches, including his 175-run innings against England in the final. Teaming up with Yashasvi Jaiswal as RR’s opening pair, the 15-year-old can be a menace for the opposition.

4. Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav, who recently led India to their third T20 World Cup title, has solidified his image as an explosive batter in the limited-overs format. Last season, playing for the Mumbai Indians, the 35-year-old scored 717 runs in 16 matches, including five fifties, with an average of 65.18.

Yadav’s recent form in international cricket hasn’t been the best, as he has had only one 50+ score in the 2026 T20 World Cup, and that came against the USA in the first game. However, Suryakumar Yadav is known for helping the team win a match from a clutch position; as a result, he can also find his form at the 2026 IPL and break Virat Kohli’s record.

3. Jos Buttler

An absolute T20 star, Jos Buttler’s IPL statistics have been commendable. The Englishman has scored seven centuries in the IPL, the most by an overseas player and the second-most in history, only behind Virat Kohli, who has racked up eight.

While playing for the Rajasthan Royals in 2022, Buttler scored 863 runs in a total of 17 innings, the third most runs scored in a single IPL season by an individual. In the last few seasons, the Englishman has struggled to set his feet; however, if he finds his flair, Buttler could be a threat to Kohli’s top-scoring record too.

2. Yashasvi Jaiswal

One of the youngest and most talented players in the league, Yashasvi Jaiswal, could make any bowler sweat on his day. In the last three seasons, he has been a crucial part of the Rajasthan Royals’ batting line-up; however, in 2026, he might be looking forward to reaching the pinnacle of individual excellence.

Jaisawal’s best performance came in 2023, when he scored 625 runs in 14 innings at an average of 48.07. In that season, he scored one century and five fifties.

1. Shubman Gill

Gujarat Titans captain, Shubman Gill, will be aiming to finally break Virat Kohli’s decade-old record at the 2026 IPL. In 2023, the 26-year-old scored 890 runs in 17 matches, the second most runs in a single season of IPL, racking up three centuries and four fifties with an average of 59.

However, in the end, he failed to break Kohli’s record of 973 runs in a single season by just 83 runs. Gill has tried to replicate the 2023 season’s prowess in the last two editions but has been missing a piece of the giant jigsaw. The 26-year-old can potentially create a new record in the 2026 season.

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