Home » Top 10 Players With Most Man of The Match In IPL (2026 List)
Written By: Ben Crawley
Published: April 19, 2026

The IPL has completed its 18th edition, and in these seasons, AB de Villiers is the leading player with 25 Man of the Match awards, followed by Chris Gayle with 22 and Rohit Sharma with 21. 

This list includes the greatest IPL players who have contributed to their team’s win by their performances.  In this list, there are 5 overseas players and 5 Indian players. Although this list is highly dominated by the batsmen, as 7 are either play as batter or wicket-keeper batter, while the rest are all-rounders.  Surprisingly, there is no bowler in the top 10. Want to explore more such IPL records and player stats? Stay connected and keep reading for deeper insights!

Top 10 Players With Most Man of The Match IPL

Here is the list of the top 10 players who have won the most Man of the Match awards in IPL history. 

PlayerTeamsMatchesAwards
AB de VilliersDelhi Daredevils, Royal Challengers Bangalore18425
Chris GayleKolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab14222
Rohit SharmaDeccan Chargers, Mumbai Indians27621
Virat KohliRoyal Challengers Bangalore27119
David WarnerDelhi Daredevils, Sunrisers Hyderabad18418
MS DhoniChennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Supergiant27818
Sunil NarineKolkata Knight Riders19217
Shane WatsonRajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings14516
Yusuf PathanRajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad17416
Andre RussellDelhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders14016

1. AB de Villiers – 25 Awards

AB de Villiers has won 25 Man of the Match awards, the most in IPL history. He played 184 matches and scored 5162 runs with an average of 39.71. Known for his 360-degree shots, he could hit the ball anywhere on the ground. 

AB de Villiers
Source: ESPNcricinfo 

His ability to handle pressure made him a true match-winner. Even though he played his last IPL match in 2021, he is still the top in this list. 

2. Chris Gayle – 22 Awards

Chris Gayle has won 22 Man of the Match awards in IPL. He played 142 matches and scored 4965 runs at an average of 39.72. 

Chris Gayle
Source: RCB

Gayle also took 18 wickets with his bowling. Known as the “Universe Boss,” he dominated bowlers with his powerful hitting. 

3. Rohit Sharma – 21 Awards

As a captain, Rohit Sharma is a successful captain, along with MS Dhoni, and with the bat, he has also won 21 Man of the Match awards. He has played 276 matches and scored 7183 runs with an average of 29.93. 

Rohit Sharma
Source: Firstpost 

He also picked up 15 wickets with a hat-trick. Rohit is known for his smooth batting and smart captaincy. Even though he is not always aggressive, his timing and control are excellent. 

4. Virat Kohli – 19 Awards

The IPL’s highest run-scorer, Virat Kohli, has won 19 Man of the Match awards. He has played 271 matches and scored 8840 runs with an impressive average of 39.82. Kohli is known for his consistency and passion. 

Virat Kohli

He scored runs in almost every season and 8 IPL editions with 500+ runs. He also holds the record of most runs in an IPL edition with 973 runs in the 2016 edition. 

5. David Warner – 18 Awards

David Warner has won 18 Man of the Match awards in IPL. He played 184 matches and scored 6565 runs at an average of 40.52. Warner is one of the most consistent openers in IPL history. 

David Warner
Source: Outlook India 

He gave his team a strong start with aggressive batting. Warner rarely fails with the bat. His ability to dominate bowlers in the powerplay earned him multiple Man of the Match awards.

6. MS Dhoni – 18 Awards

The most successful captain of the IPL, MS Dhoni, has won 18 Man of the Match awards across his 278 matches. MS has scored 5439 runs at an average of 38.30 and has also led CSK to 5 titles. 

MS Dhoni
Source: NDTV Sports 

His experience and decision-making helped his team win many titles. His match-winning finishes earned him several Man of the Match awards.

7. Sunil Narine – 17 Awards

One of the greatest IPL bowling all-rounders, Sunil Narine, has won 17 Man of the Match awards. He played 192 matches and scored 1792 runs with an average of 17.57. 

Sunil Narine
Source: NDTV Sports 

He also took 194 wickets at an average of 25.79, the 3rd-best in the history of the tournament. Narine is known for his mystery spin bowling. He often troubled batsmen with his variations. He also contributed as a pinch hitter with quick runs as an opener. 

8. Shane Watson – 16 Awards

In the 145 IPL matches, Shane Watson has won 16 Man of the Match awards. He has scored 3874 runs at an average of 30.99 and also took 92 wickets with an average of 29.15. 

Shane Watson
Source: ESPNcricinfo 

Watson was a strong all-rounder who contributed with both bat and ball. He has also won the Man of the Match in the IPL 2018 with a knock of 117* in 57 balls. 

9. Yusuf Pathan – 16 Awards

Yusuf Pathan has won 16 Man of the Match awards in IPL. He played 174 matches and scored 3204 runs with an average of 29.13. He also took 42 wickets with an average of 33.02. 

Yusuf Pathan
Source: NDTV Sports 

Yusuf was known for his powerful hitting. He could change the game in just a few overs. His aggressive batting and useful bowling made him a key player. 

10. Andre Russell – 16 Awards

Russell is one of the most dangerous all-rounders in the IPL and has won 16 Man of the Match awards. He played 140 matches and scored 2651 runs with an average of 28.20. 

Andre Russell
Source: ESPNcircinfo 

He also took 123 wickets with an average of 23.28. He can hit big sixes, and he has the best six per ball of 6.79.

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Conclusion: AB de Villiers Has Won 25 Man of the Match Awards 

AB de Villiers has won 25 Man of the Match awards, the highest in IPL, followed by Chris Gayle (22) and Rohit Sharma (21). Players like Virat Kohli (19) and David Warner (18) also showed consistency. 

This list includes 10 players, with 5 Indians and 5 overseas stars, showing global talent. As IPL 2026 is going on, which player will surpass these legends in this elite list? 

About the Author

Hey, I am a cricket writer based in London with over 7 years of experience covering everything from county championships to international showdowns. I bring a sharp eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, highlighting England’s rising stars and memorable match moments. At DurhamCricket, I deliver weekly coverage that's honest, insightful, and easy to follow—perfect for fans who live and breathe the game.

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