In T20 cricket, boundaries win matches. A four or a six scores runs without any running between the wickets. The IPL has seen batters score almost their entire innings through boundaries alone. Some knocks in this league have been pure boundary-hitting shows from the first ball to the last.
The biggest boundary-hitting innings in IPL history came in 2013, when Chris Gayle scored 154 of his 175 runs through fours and sixes alone. That means only 21 runs came from running. The 2026 season added a new name near the top, with KL Rahul scoring 118 boundary runs in his unbeaten 152.
This article ranks the most runs scored from boundaries in a single IPL innings with a complete top 10 table, lists the top boundary-hitting knocks by Indian batters, answers the most asked questions about the record, and covers the 2026 season updates.
What Are Boundary Runs in Cricket?
In cricket, a boundary is scored when the ball reaches or crosses the rope around the field. A ball that touches the ground before crossing the rope counts as four runs. A ball that clears the rope without touching the ground counts as six runs. These are called boundary runs because they come from hitting the boundary.
Boundary runs are the fastest way to score in T20 cricket. Running between the wickets takes time and risks a run out. A four or six adds runs instantly with zero risk of losing a wicket to a run out. That is why the best T20 batters aim to score most of their runs through boundaries.
Who Scored the Most Runs from Boundaries in an IPL Innings?
Chris Gayle holds the record with 154 runs from boundaries in a single IPL innings. He did it during his unbeaten 175 for Bengaluru against Pune Warriors in 2013. His boundary count was 13 fours and 17 sixes. Only three other batters have ever crossed 115 boundary runs in the IPL.
To score 154 runs from boundaries means hitting 30 balls to or over the ropes in one innings. Gayle faced only 66 balls in total that night. Nearly half the balls he faced ended at or beyond the boundary rope.
Most Runs from Boundaries in an IPL Innings – Top 10 List
Scoring 100 runs from boundaries alone in a T20 innings is a rare feat. It needs at least 17 fours, or a mix of fours and sixes that keeps the scoreboard racing. The ten innings in the table below are the greatest boundary-hitting displays in IPL history.
| Rank | Player | Boundary Runs | Score | 4s | 6s | Against | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gayle | 154 | 175* | 13 | 17 | Pune Warriors | 2013 |
| 2 | Brendon McCullum | 118 | 158* | 10 | 13 | RCB | 2008 |
| 3 | KL Rahul | 118 | 152* | 16 | 9 | Punjab Kings | 2026 |
| 4 | Abhishek Sharma | 116 | 141 | 14 | 10 | Punjab Kings | 2025 |
| 5 | AB de Villiers | 112 | 129* | 10 | 12 | Gujarat Lions | 2016 |
| 6 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | 112 | 124 | 16 | 8 | Mumbai Indians | 2023 |
| 7 | Chris Gayle | 106 | 128* | 7 | 13 | Delhi Daredevils | 2012 |
| 8 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 102 | 114* | 9 | 11 | Chennai Super Kings | 2008 |
| 9 | Rishabh Pant | 102 | 128* | 15 | 7 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2018 |
| 10 | AB de Villiers | 100 | 133* | 19 | 4 | Mumbai Indians | 2015 |
Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers are the only batters with two 100-plus boundary-run innings each. The 2026 season pushed KL Rahul to joint second place with 118 boundary runs.
1. Chris Gayle – 154 boundary runs vs Pune Warriors, 2013
The 154 boundary runs by Gayle came from 13 fours and 17 sixes in his unbeaten 175. That is 88 percent of his total score through boundaries alone. He scored a hundred in 30 balls and never slowed down. Bowlers had no hiding place on that record night in Bengaluru.
2. Brendon McCullum – 118 boundary runs vs RCB, 2008
The 118 boundary runs by McCullum came in the first-ever IPL match, with 10 fours and 13 sixes in his unbeaten 158. His fearless hitting launched the league in style. For years, this was the benchmark for boundary-hitting. It took Gayle five years to go past it.
3. KL Rahul – 118 boundary runs vs Punjab Kings, 2026
Rahul matched McCullum with 118 boundary runs in his unbeaten 152 in 2026. His 16 fours are among the most by an Indian in one innings, mixed with 9 clean sixes. It was a masterclass in placing the ball into gaps. The knock also set the Indian record for boundary runs in an innings.
4. Abhishek Sharma – 116 boundary runs vs PBKS, 2025
Abhishek smashed 14 fours and 10 sixes in his 141 against Punjab in 2025. His boundary-hitting powered a giant chase of 242. The left-hander attacked from the first over and never let the bowlers settle. It remains one of the great chasing knocks in league history.
5. AB de Villiers – 112 boundary runs vs Gujarat Lions, 2016
The 112 boundary runs by de Villiers came from 10 fours and 12 sixes in his unbeaten 129. His 360-degree strokeplay left fielders helpless all around the ground. It was innovation mixed with pure power. Few innings have combined artistry and destruction like this one.
How Many Runs from Boundaries Did Gayle Score in 175*?
Gayle scored 154 runs from boundaries in his unbeaten 175, made up of 13 fours (52 runs) and 17 sixes (102 runs). Only 21 runs came from running between the wickets. That means 88 percent of his score came without running a single run hard.
Most batters never score 154 runs in a full T20 innings, let alone from boundaries alone. Gayle did it in 66 balls. The record has stood for over a decade and still looks untouchable.
Which Indian Scored the Most Runs from Boundaries in an IPL Innings?
KL Rahul holds the Indian record with 118 runs from boundaries in his unbeaten 152 against Punjab Kings in 2026. His 16 fours and 9 sixes beat the previous Indian best. Before Rahul, Abhishek Sharma held the mark with 116 boundary runs in 2025. Here are the top boundary-hitting knocks by Indian batters:
| Player | Boundary Runs | Score | 4s | 6s | Against | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KL Rahul | 118 | 152* | 16 | 9 | Punjab Kings | 2026 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 116 | 141 | 14 | 10 | Punjab Kings | 2025 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 112 | 124 | 16 | 8 | Mumbai Indians | 2023 |
| Rishabh Pant | 102 | 128* | 15 | 7 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2018 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 100 | 135* | 10 | 10 | Delhi Capitals | 2026 |
Indian batters now occupy three of the top six spots on the all-time list. The 2026 season showed that the new generation hits boundaries as freely as any overseas star. This Indian record could fall again very soon.
Most Runs from Boundaries in an IPL Innings in 2026
| Rank | Player | Team | Against | Score | 4s | 6s | Runs from Boundaries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KL Rahul | Delhi Capitals | Punjab Kings | 152* | 16 | 9 | 118 |
| 2 | Abhishek Sharma | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Delhi Capitals | 135 | 10 | 10 | 100 |
| 3 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Rajasthan Royals | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 103 | 5 | 12 | 92 |
| 4 | Ryan Rickelton | Mumbai Indians | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 123* | 10 | 8 | 88 |
| 5 | Sanju Samson | Chennai Super Kings | Delhi Capitals | 115* | 15 | 4 | 84 |
The 2026 season produced two century-plus boundary knocks. KL Rahul led the way with 118 boundary runs in his unbeaten 152 against Punjab Kings. Abhishek Sharma added 100 boundary runs in his unbeaten 135 against Delhi. Young Indian batters are now dominating this record list like never before.
Why Is the 154 Record So Hard to Break?
Scoring 154 runs from boundaries means hitting 30 fours and sixes in a single innings of 120 balls. The batter must find the rope once every four balls while staying unbeaten throughout. One quiet over can end the charge. That is why only four batters have ever crossed 115 boundary runs in the IPL.
Modern T20 batting keeps getting more aggressive, and Indian youngsters are leading the charge. Rahul and Abhishek showed in 2025 and 2026 that the gap is closing fast. But 154 remains a mountain that needs a perfect storm of form, pitch and courage.
Conclusion
The 154 boundary runs by Chris Gayle remain the gold standard of IPL power-hitting, untouched for over a decade. McCullum set the early mark, de Villiers brought genius to the list, and KL Rahul is now leading the Indian charge. The race to 154 continues, and this page will track every boundary-filled knock that joins the chase.
Suggested Read
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- IPL Orange Cap Winners List
- Most Man of the Match in IPL
- Rahul Dravid Biography
FAQs
Q: Who scored the most runs from boundaries in an IPL innings?
A: Chris Gayle scored 154 runs from boundaries in an IPL innings, during his unbeaten 175 for Bengaluru against Pune Warriors in 2013.
Q: How many runs from boundaries did Gayle score in 175*?
A: Gayle scored 154 runs from boundaries in his unbeaten 175, with 13 fours and 17 sixes. Only 21 runs came from running.
Q: Which Indian scored the most runs from boundaries in an IPL innings?
A: KL Rahul scored 118 runs from boundaries in his unbeaten 152 against Punjab Kings in 2026, the most by an Indian batter.
Q: What are boundary runs in cricket?
A: Boundary runs are runs scored from fours and sixes, when the ball reaches or crosses the boundary rope around the field.
Q: How many fours and sixes did Gayle hit in his 175*?
A: Gayle hit 13 fours and 17 sixes in his unbeaten 175 against Pune Warriors in 2013.
Q: What percentage of Gayle’s 175 came from boundaries?
A: 154 of Gayle’s 175 runs came from boundaries, which is 88 percent of his total score.
Note: Jaiswal, Jayasuriya, Pant ke profile links site version mein lagenge. Ab 99 Runs aur First Ball articles links ke saath baqi hain, plus Opening Fifties (jo abhi share hi nahi hua). Kaunsa chahiye?
