Average First Innings Score at Wankhede in IPL

The average first-innings score at Wankhede Stadium in the IPL is around 170 to 173 runs through the 2026 season. Across roughly 130 IPL matches at the Mumbai venue, teams batting first have typically posted a total in the low 170s, while teams batting second have won slightly more often than teams batting first. In recent seasons, however, par has crept higher, and a first-innings total below 180 can no longer be treated as safe.

Wankhede is the home ground of the Mumbai Indians and one of the most recognisable venues in the IPL. It has hosted finals, high-scoring shootouts, low-scoring squeezes and some of the most famous individual innings in league history. Because the ground combines a true pitch, short square boundaries, a fast outfield and evening dew, it rewards aggressive batting more than most Indian venues. That character shows up clearly in the numbers: first-innings averages here sit above the IPL average for most grounds, and the biggest totals keep rising.

Average First Innings Score at Wankhede in IPL: The Key Numbers

Venue record summaries from the 2026 season put the average first-innings score at Wankhede at about 173, with other compilations placing it at 170 to 171 depending on the exact match set. The practical reading is the same either way: a team batting first at Wankhede should expect to score in the low 170s, and anything in that range is competitive without being commanding. The table below summarises the venue picture through the 2026 season.

Metric	Figure at Wankhede	What It Means
IPL matches hosted	About 130	One of the largest venue samples in the IPL
Average first-innings score	About 170 to 173	Par sits in the low 170s across all seasons
Matches won batting first	About 57 to 59	Defending wins are slightly less common
Matches won batting second	About 69 to 72	Chasing teams hold a modest edge
Highest team total	249 for 4, Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2026	Set in a successful chase against Mumbai Indians
Lowest team total	67 all out, Kolkata Knight Riders, 2008	Still the lowest IPL total at the venue
Highest successful chase	249 for 4, Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2026	Chasing a target of 244 against Mumbai Indians

The chasing edge is real but modest. Roughly 54 to 55 per cent of completed IPL matches at Wankhede have been won by the team batting second. That is enough to influence toss thinking, especially under lights, but it is nowhere near a guarantee. A strong first-innings total, well-executed death bowling and sharp fielding still win plenty of games at this ground.

What Counts as a Par Score at Wankhede

Par at Wankhede is best understood as a range rather than a single number. Across the full history of the venue, par is about 170 to 175. In recent seasons, with deeper batting line-ups, the Impact Player rule and more aggressive powerplay batting, par has moved closer to 180. A first-innings score of 180 or more gives the defending side a genuine chance; a score below 160 usually leaves the chasing side as the favourite, unless the pitch is unusually slow or the bowling attack is exceptional.

Why Wankhede Produces High Scores

Several features combine to make Wankhede one of the best batting venues in the IPL. The pitch usually offers true bounce, which lets batters trust the surface and play straight and square with confidence. The square boundaries are short by IPL standards, so pull shots, cuts and sweeps that would be caught at a bigger ground can clear the rope here. The outfield is fast, which turns well-placed drives into boundaries and keeps the scoring rate ticking even when batters are not clearing the fence.

The sea breeze can help new-ball bowlers early, particularly under lights, and there are evenings when swing and seam movement make the first few overs genuinely testing. Once the ball gets older and the batters are set, however, conditions usually tilt back towards batting. Evening dew is the other major factor. It makes the ball slippery for bowlers, reduces turn for spinners and helps the ball skid onto the bat in the second innings. That is one of the main reasons chasing teams have enjoyed a slight edge at Wankhede, and it is a central input in venue-wise chasing records across the league.

How the Average First Innings Score Has Changed

First-innings scores at Wankhede have risen over the life of the IPL, broadly in line with the wider evolution of T20 batting. In the early seasons, totals in the 150s and 160s were common and often enough to win. As power-hitting improved, as teams began to plan innings around match-ups and depth, and as the Impact Player rule allowed an extra batter without weakening the bowling attack, totals climbed. The table below gives approximate era bands rather than exact season-by-season averages, because different record compilations use different cut-offs.

Era	Approximate First-Innings Range	Main Scoring Trend
2008 to 2015	155 to 165	Anchor-based batting, fewer 200-plus totals
2016 to 2020	165 to 175	Deeper power-hitting and faster middle overs
2021 to 2026	170 to 180	Impact Player depth and relentless chasing intent

The 2026 season provided the clearest example of the modern Wankhede. Mumbai Indians posted 243 for 5, built around Ryan Rickelton’s unbeaten 123, and still lost, as Sunrisers Hyderabad chased 244 and finished on 249 for 4 in 18.4 overs. Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen led that chase. The match did not just set new venue records; it showed that even a 240-plus total is no longer automatically a winning score at Wankhede when the chasing side bats with full intent.

Record Innings That Define Wankhede

A handful of innings explain why Wankhede has its reputation. The most famous individual knock remains AB de Villiers’ unbeaten 133 off 59 balls for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Mumbai Indians in 2015, in a match in which Royal Challengers Bengaluru posted 235 for 1, then the highest IPL total at the venue. De Villiers shared an unbroken partnership with Virat Kohli in that game and produced one of the most complete displays of T20 batting seen at the ground.

Other landmark innings include Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 124 for Rajasthan Royals, Virender Sehwag’s 122 for Delhi Daredevils and Sanju Samson’s 119 for Rajasthan Royals. Rohit Sharma has been the most prolific batter at the venue across his IPL career, with more than 2,400 runs at Wankhede reported in venue record compilations, ahead of Suryakumar Yadav and Kieron Pollard among the venue’s leading scorers. With the ball, Harbhajan Singh’s 5 for 18 for Mumbai Indians in 2011 remains the best bowling return recorded at the ground in the IPL.

Chasing and Defending at Wankhede

Wankhede’s chasing edge comes from a combination of dew, short boundaries and a pitch that usually stays true through the second innings. Chasing teams know the target, can plan their powerplay and middle overs around the required rate, and can keep wickets in hand for a late assault. That structure suits modern IPL batting, in which teams increasingly back themselves to chase almost any total if they bat deep.

Tactical Takeaways for Teams and Fantasy Players

• First-innings target: Treat 175 as par and 190-plus as a strong score; below 160, the chasing side is usually favoured.
• Toss thinking: Bowling first is often attractive at night because of dew, but it is not compulsory; a strong batting line-up can still set a winning total.
• Powerplay value: Early wickets matter more than economy in the first six overs, because a settled batting side can accelerate sharply at Wankhede.
• Death-overs planning: Yorkers, wide yorkers and slower balls are essential, since short boundaries punish length bowling late in the innings.
• Spin role: Spinners can control the middle overs when the pitch grips, but dew can remove their advantage in the second innings.
• Batting depth: Teams with batting down to number eight or nine are better placed to chase or to recover from early wickets.

How Wankhede Compares With Other IPL Venues

For wider context, see venue-wise batting stats and highest scores at every venue.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average first-innings score at Wankhede in IPL?

Through the 2026 season, the average first-innings score at Wankhede is around 170 to 173 runs, based on venue record summaries from the 2026 season. Recent seasons have trended higher, so par in a modern night match is closer to 180.

What is a par score at Wankhede Stadium?

A par score at Wankhede is about 175 to 180 in current conditions. A total of 180 or more gives the defending side a real chance, while a total below 160 usually leaves the chasing side as the favourite.

What is the highest IPL total at Wankhede?

The highest IPL total at Wankhede is 249 for 4 by Sunrisers Hyderabad against Mumbai Indians in April 2026. Sunrisers Hyderabad chased a target of 244 and won by six wickets. The previous venue record was 235 for 1 by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2015.

Is Wankhede good for batting or bowling?

Wankhede is generally good for batting. The pitch offers true bounce, the square boundaries are short and the outfield is fast. Bowlers can still succeed, especially with the new ball and with well-executed yorkers and slower balls at the death.

Does dew affect IPL matches at Wankhede?

Yes. Evening dew often makes the ball slippery for bowlers in the second innings, reduces grip for spinners and helps the ball skid onto the bat. It is one of the main reasons chasing teams have a modest edge at the venue.

Which team has the best record at Wankhede?

Mumbai Indians, as the home team, have played the most matches at Wankhede and have the deepest record there. Visiting teams have still won many high-profile games at the ground, including Sunrisers Hyderabad’s record chase in 2026.