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In the high stakes world of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the final four overs are where legends are forged. Known as the “death overs,” this period from over 17 to 20 is a chaotic blend of yorkers, slower balls, and brute force. While many batters find success in the power play, only a select few possess the nerves and power to dominate the slog overs.

Winning an IPL title often comes down to who finishes better. Over the last 18 seasons, including the recently concluded 2025 edition, certain names have become synonymous with death over destruction. This guide breaks down the players with the most runs in IPL death overs, analyzing the stats that separate the greats from the good.

Who Has The Most Runs In IPL Death Overs?

If you are looking for the direct record holder, MS Dhoni has scored the most runs in IPL death overs. He is the only player in history to cross the 2,936 runs during the final four overs (17 to 20) of an innings. While other legends like Kieron Pollard and Dinesh Karthik have been prolific, Dhoni’s longevity and unique ability to maximize the 20th over place him at the top of this prestigious list.

Top 10 Players With Most Runs In Death Overs In IPL (All Time List):

To provide a glance at how these legends stack up against each other, here is the consolidated data for the top 10 players with the most runs in IPL death overs.

Player	Runs in Death Overs	Strike Rate	Not Outs (Death)
MS Dhoni	2,936	188.90	100
Kieron Pollard	1,708	181.51	52
Dinesh Karthik	1,565	186.98	48
Ravindra Jadeja	1,532	159.74	45
AB de Villiers	1,421	232.57	39
Rohit Sharma	1,176	196.66	28
Hardik Pandya	1,164	182.73	31
Andre Russell	1,134	210.45	21
Virat Kohli	1,121	200.91	25
David Miller	1,061	175.30	35

The leaderboard for the slog overs is a “Who’s Who” of T20 royalty. Below is a detailed look at the top ten run scorers during overs 17 20 in IPL history, updated with 2025 season data.

1. MS Dhoni:

The undisputed King of the Death Overs. Dhoni has built a career on taking the game deep and exploding in the final six balls. He holds the record for the most sixes in the 20th over and has remained not out over 100 times in his IPL career. 

Even in the 2025 season, he showed glimpses of his vintage self by striking at over 150 in the final phase. His tactical awareness allows him to manipulate fields, often forcing bowlers to abandon their plans. He remains the gold standard for finishers, blending brute power with a surgical understanding of a bowler’s psychology.

Metric	Death Over Stats (17 20)
Total Runs	2,830
Strike Rate	188.90
Not Outs	100

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2. Kieron Pollard:

The long time Mumbai Indians pillar was a nightmare for bowlers at the Wankhede. Pollard’s massive reach allowed him to turn yorkers into boundary balls with ease. He was particularly dangerous against spinners who dared to bowl late in the innings. 

His presence alone forced captains to save their fastest bowlers for the end, often disrupting their entire bowling rotation. Pollard retired as one of the most decorated finishers in league history. His ability to clear the boundary even when he didn’t find the middle of the bat was a testament to his raw physical strength.

Metric	Death Over Stats (17 20)
Total Runs	1,708
Strike Rate	181.51
Not Outs	52

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3. Dinesh Karthik:

Karthik reinvented himself as a specialist finisher later in his career, particularly with RCB. His niche was using the pace of the bowler and finding innovative gaps behind the wicket. He possesses a wide array of lap shots and scoops that make it nearly impossible to set a standard field. 

Even against world class pace, Karthik’s ability to remain calm helped him secure several last ball victories. His 2024 and 2025 performances cemented his legacy as a top tier modern finisher. He became a master of the “short cameo,” often scoring 30 runs off just 10 or 12 balls to change the complexion of the game.

Metric	Death Over Stats (17 20)
Total Runs	1,565
Strike Rate	186.98
Not Outs	48

4. Ravindra Jadeja:

Jadeja has evolved from a bowling all rounder into a premier death over threat. His ability to smash flat sixes over mid wicket makes him indispensable for CSK during the final surge. He is famously known for taking down even the best death bowlers, like his 37 run over against Harshal Patel. Jadeja’s lightning fast running between the wickets also ensures that even “quiet” overs yield plenty of runs. 

He remains a vital cog in the CSK lower middle order. His improved bat speed and ability to target the cow corner region have made him one of the most difficult left handers to bowl to in the final phase.

Metric	Death Over Stats (17 20)
Total Runs	1,532
Strike Rate	159.74
Not Outs	45

5. AB de Villiers:

While he sits 5th in volume, he is 1st in impact. “Mr. 360” holds the highest strike rate of any player on this list. He is the only batter to score at over 2.3 runs per ball during the slog. De Villiers did not just hit boundaries; he dismantled the confidence of every bowler he faced. His ability to hit the same ball to three different parts of the ground made him a tactical anomaly that no captain could solve. 

His strike rate in the death overs is a statistical outlier that may never be replicated by another player with a similar run volume.

Metric	Death Over Stats (17 20)
Total Runs	1,421
Strike Rate	232.57
Not Outs	39

6. Rohit Sharma:

Rohit appears on this list because of his ability to bat through the innings. When “The Hitman” survives until the 17th over, he usually clears the ropes at will using his signature pull shot. Unlike specialist finishers, Rohit brings the momentum of a full innings into the death overs. This “set” status allows him to read the pitch better than those just walking out to the crease. 

His record includes some of the most destructive final over cameos by an opening batter. His elegance remains intact even when he is slogging, making his death over assault look deceptively effortless.

Metric	Death Over Stats (17 20)
Total Runs	1,176
Strike Rate	196.66
Not Outs	28

7. Hardik Pandya:

Hardik’s power game has always been his calling card. Whether for MI or GT, his ability to stand deep in the crease and muscle balls over long on has kept him high in the death over charts. He excels at hitting “heavy” balls, often using his strong core to power deliveries out of the stadium. 

Hardik also has a knack for targeting specific bowlers, often turning a competitive game into a one sided affair in the span of an over. He continues to be a premier finishing option for Mumbai Indians. His vertical bat swing and ability to stay still at the point of contact allow him to dispatch even the most accurate yorkers.

Metric	Death Over Stats (17 20)
Total Runs	1,164
Strike Rate	182.73
Not Outs	31

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8. Andre Russell:

“Dre Russ” is arguably the most feared batter on this list. His strike rate often spikes above 200 during the death overs, as he relies on brute strength to clear even the largest boundaries. When Russell is in the zone, even miss hits often go for six. He thrives on high pressure situations and has won KKR games from seemingly impossible positions. 

Despite injuries over the years, his ability to provide a “killer” finish remains unmatched in the league. His presence at the crease creates a psychological disadvantage for the fielding side, often leading to unforced errors from the bowlers.

Metric	Death Over Stats (17 20)
Total Runs	1,134
Strike Rate	210.45
Not Outs	21

9. Virat Kohli:

Kohli is the ultimate accumulator who accelerates late. His presence on this list proves that classical batting can be just as effective as raw power during the final phase of a T20 game. By the time the 17th over arrives, Kohli is usually in a state of high flow, finding boundaries through surgical precision rather than just force. He is one of the few top order players to have crossed the 1,000 run mark in the death overs. 

His fitness allows him to maintain high intensity even after batting for 15 overs. Kohli’s ability to convert ones into twos even in the final over keeps the pressure on the opposition at all times.

Metric	Death Over Stats (17 20)
Total Runs	1,121
Strike Rate	200.91
Not Outs	25

10. David Miller:

“Killer Miller” has been a consistent finisher across multiple franchises. His calm head and left handed power make him a difficult match up for captains trying to rotate their bowlers. Miller is known for his clean hitting against both pace and spin, often targeting the arc between long on and mid wicket. He has a very low “dot ball” percentage in the death overs, ensuring the scoreboard keeps moving even if boundaries are hard to find. 

His 2022 2025 stint with GT showed he is still one of the best in the business. He has a unique ability to stay calm when the required run rate climbs into the double digits, often finishing games with overs to spare.

Metric	Death Over Stats (17 20)
Total Runs	1,061
Strike Rate	175.30
Not Outs	35

What Are Death Overs In IPL?

In the Indian Premier League (IPL), the “Death Overs” refer to the final phase of an innings, specifically overs 17 to 20. This period is the ultimate test of nerves, where the game is often won or lost. For batters, it is a “high risk, high reward” zone where the primary goal is to maximize the scoring rate, often pushing the average run rate to 11 to 13 runs per over, compared to 8 to 9 in the middle overs. For bowlers, the objective shifts from taking wickets to defensive execution using yorkers and slower variations to restrict damage.

Why Scoring In The Death Overs Is Getting Harder?

As the IPL progresses, bowlers are becoming more sophisticated. The introduction of the “two bouncers per over” rule and the heavy use of wide yorkers and “knuckle balls” have made life difficult for batters.

However, the 2025 season showed that batters are evolving, too. The use of the “reverse scoop” and “lap shot” has forced captains to rethink their field placements in the final four overs. The competition between the bat and ball in this phase remains the most exciting part of every IPL match.

Conclusion:

Scoring the most runs in IPL death overs requires a rare combination of physical strength, technical skill, and mental fortitude. MS Dhoni remains the undisputed king of this phase, but the rising strike rates of players like AB de Villiers and the consistency of Dinesh Karthik show that there are many ways to finish an innings. As the IPL continues to evolve, these records will likely be challenged by a new generation of power hitters who are training specifically for these high pressure moments.

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