Most Threes in IPL History: Rare Running Records

The Indian Premier League is famous for sixes, fours and explosive strike rates, but one of the rarest scoring events in the tournament is far less spectacular: running three runs. On the relatively quick outfields and short boundaries used at many IPL venues, a well-timed shot usually reaches the rope before batters can complete three. When the ball stays inside the boundary, most pairs settle for one or two.

That makes three-run shots a fascinating measure of placement, fitness, awareness and running between the wickets. A batter must find a large gap, judge the fielder’s position quickly and have a partner willing to push hard for the third run. Large grounds such as the MCG-sized venues used during overseas IPL seasons have naturally offered more opportunities, but running three still requires excellent coordination.

Ball-by-ball compilations of IPL scoring records place David Warner at the top with 24 threes, narrowly ahead of Shikhar Dhawan with 23 and Virat Kohli with 21. Ajinkya Rahane and Faf du Plessis complete the top five. Because the IPL does not prominently maintain an official public career leaderboard for threes, these figures come from detailed ball-by-ball statistical records rather than one of the league’s standard headline categories such as fours and sixes.

Most Threes in IPL History

The list is dominated by batters who spent long periods near the top or middle of an IPL batting order. That makes sense: longevity creates more opportunities, while top-order players face far more deliveries than specialist finishers.

However, opportunity alone does not explain the rankings. Warner, Dhawan, Kohli, Rahane and du Plessis have all been outstanding runners who regularly converted singles into twos and pushed fielders when a third run was available.

Top Five Batters with the Most IPL Threes

1. David Warner – 24 Threes

David Warner leads the recorded IPL three-run leaderboard with 24.

Warner is better known for boundaries. He scored more than 6,500 IPL runs, won multiple Orange Caps and became one of the tournament’s greatest overseas batters. Yet his running between wickets added another dimension to his game.

As a left-handed opener, Warner frequently hit through cover, point and the leg-side gaps. When the ball did not reach the boundary, he immediately looked for extra runs.

His speed was particularly valuable on larger grounds. A shot splitting two deep fielders could become three if the boundary rider had a long distance to cover and Warner’s partner responded quickly.

Warner also maintained high intensity between the wickets even after batting for long periods. That matters because most three-run opportunities require both batters to sprint close to 60 yards in quick succession.

His position at No. 1 therefore reflects more than simply a long IPL career. Warner combined placement, anticipation and aggressive running with the boundary-hitting power that made him one of the league’s greatest opening batters.

2. Shikhar Dhawan – 23 Threes

Shikhar Dhawan sits only one behind Warner with 23 recorded threes.

Dhawan’s IPL batting was built around timing and placement. The left-hander became one of the tournament’s most prolific run-scorers without depending on six-hitting as heavily as many modern openers.

He was particularly strong square of the wicket.

His cuts, square drives, flicks and controlled shots through the gaps frequently forced fielders to cover long distances. If the ball slowed before reaching the boundary, Dhawan was usually alert enough to convert a comfortable two into three.

Fitness also became an important part of his game.

Dhawan played IPL cricket from the inaugural season and remained a regular top-order batter for well over a decade. He represented Delhi, Mumbai, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings.

That long career created opportunities, but his total of 23 threes still required a willingness to run hard instead of settling for two.

Dhawan and Warner were actually teammates at Sunrisers for several seasons. When they opened together, SRH had two left-handers who were experienced, aggressive and highly capable between the wickets.

3. Virat Kohli – 21 Threes

Virat Kohli’s presence near the top of this rare list should surprise nobody.

Kohli is one of the greatest runners between wickets in modern cricket. He has built a large part of his white-ball batting around turning low-risk scoring opportunities into constant scoreboard movement.

Through his IPL career with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Kohli has combined huge numbers of boundaries with exceptional running.

He reads fielders quickly and often starts moving immediately after making contact. That early commitment can be the difference between stopping at two and completing three.

Kohli’s fitness has also allowed him to maintain running intensity deep into long innings.

That becomes important in the IPL because three-run opportunities often come late in an innings when a batter has already faced 40 or 50 deliveries.

His career also illustrates why running matters even for elite boundary hitters.

A batter does not need to attack every delivery. Kohli can collect six or seven runs from an over without hitting a boundary simply by finding gaps and pressuring fielders.

His 21 threes are a small statistical category compared with his overall IPL run total, but they fit perfectly with the way he has approached batting throughout his career.

4. Ajinkya Rahane – 19 Threes

Ajinkya Rahane has recorded 19 IPL threes, putting him fourth on the historical list.

Rahane’s game has often relied more on timing than brute power. At his best, he places the ball into gaps and allows the pace of the delivery to do much of the work.

That style naturally creates opportunities for running.

During his strongest seasons with Rajasthan Royals, Rahane regularly opened the batting and accumulated runs with controlled drives, cuts and flicks.

He was particularly good at hitting into wide gaps rather than directly toward boundary riders.

When the ball stopped short of the rope, his awareness gave him the chance to come back for three.

Rahane has also played across a wide variety of IPL grounds and conditions. His career has included spells with Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Rising Pune Supergiant, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings.

That experience across different venues helped him understand when a third run was realistic and when pushing one would create unnecessary run-out risk.

5. Faf du Plessis – 18 Threes

Faf du Plessis has always treated running as an attacking skill rather than merely a way to rotate strike.

The South African batter recorded 18 threes during his IPL career, placing him among the leaders in this unusual category.

Du Plessis brought elite athleticism to the tournament.

He could sprint quickly between the wickets, turn efficiently and judge fielders well. These qualities were visible not only in his batting but also in his outstanding outfielding.

His batting style created opportunities too.

Faf frequently hit firmly along the ground through cover, midwicket and straight areas. When fielders intercepted the ball close to the rope, he was rarely satisfied automatically with two.

His years at Chennai Super Kings also paired him with experienced runners who understood the value of stealing an extra run.

Later, as an RCB opener, he continued to combine boundary hitting with aggressive running.

His 18 threes underline an important T20 principle: power and running are not opposing styles. The best batters can do both.

Other Batters Among the IPL Three-Run Leaders

AB de Villiers recorded 17 threes despite being remembered primarily for extraordinary boundary hitting.

The South African was one of the fittest cricketers of his generation and possessed exceptional awareness. His ability to hit into unconventional areas also created running opportunities that conventional batters might not find.

Murali Vijay is level with de Villiers on 17. Vijay was a technically strong opener who played many of his best IPL innings for Chennai Super Kings.

Sanju Samson also appears with 17 in the compiled career records. Samson combines effortless boundary hitting with athletic running and remains capable of adding to his overall career statistics.

MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir are among the players recorded with 15 threes.

Gambhir’s inclusion reflects his long career as an opener and No. 3, while Dhoni’s record is especially interesting because he spent much of his career batting lower down the order and therefore faced fewer deliveries than the leading openers.

Famous Three-Run Efforts in IPL Cricket

Three-run shots rarely make highlight packages.

There is no dramatic celebration, no crowd catch and no giant six-distance graphic. Yet they can become extremely important during close matches.

A three usually begins with excellent placement.

The batter finds a gap between two fielders, often behind square or through a large part of the outfield. One fielder must chase the ball while another moves into position to receive the throw.

The batters complete two and immediately assess whether the chasing fielder is balanced enough to return the ball quickly.

That moment decides the third.

Three-run opportunities have been more common on larger IPL grounds and during seasons played outside India. The 2009 edition in South Africa, for example, offered different outfield dimensions from many traditional Indian IPL venues.

Similarly, the 2020 season in the UAE required batters to adapt to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where certain parts of the grounds could offer more room than compact Indian stadiums.

A three can also become decisive late in an innings.

If a team needs four from two balls, running three changes the final delivery completely. Instead of needing another boundary, the batting side suddenly needs only one run.

That is why elite runners continue pushing even when three runs look unusual in T20 cricket.

MS Dhoni’s Running Between the Wickets

MS Dhoni built his reputation around enormous sixes and calm finishes, but his running has always been an underrated part of his batting.

The former Chennai Super Kings captain recorded 15 threes in the compiled IPL career statistics.

That total becomes more impressive because Dhoni generally batted in the middle or lower middle order rather than opening.

He therefore had fewer career deliveries from which to accumulate rare three-run shots.

Dhoni’s technique between the wickets was built around acceleration and efficient turning.

For much of his career, he was exceptionally quick over short distances. He also appeared willing to challenge even strong fielders when he believed an extra run was available.

His game frequently involved pushing the ball into the leg side and immediately looking for two.

If a fielder had to run toward the boundary before collecting, Dhoni could turn that two into three.

Communication mattered as well.

As a highly experienced captain and keeper, Dhoni constantly read field placements. He knew which fielders had longer throws, who was moving away from the ball and where a relay throw might take extra time.

This awareness helped him make aggressive running decisions without turning every attempt into unnecessary risk.

The Art of Running Between the Wickets

Good running in T20 cricket starts before the batter actually hits the ball.

Elite players know the field.

They understand whether third man is fine or square, whether deep midwicket is close to the rope and which side of a fielder offers the best chance of an extra run.

Calling Early

Clear communication is essential.

The striker normally makes the first call when the ball travels in front of the wicket, while the non-striker often has a better view when it goes behind the striker.

Late calls cause hesitation.

A half-second delay can be the difference between completing three comfortably and creating a run-out chance.

Turning Efficiently

Fast straight-line speed helps, but turning technique matters almost as much.

A batter who slows dramatically before reaching the crease loses valuable time.

Top runners lower their body, ground the bat efficiently and accelerate immediately in the opposite direction.

This is especially important when attempting three because the pair must complete two turns.

Watching the Fielder

The third run often depends on the fielder rather than the ball.

If the boundary rider collects while moving away from the pitch or has to use the weaker throwing arm, a third may be available.

If the fielder reaches the ball comfortably and turns toward the wicket, stopping at two is usually safer.

Running Every Ball Hard

Three runs are rarely available if the pair jog the first run.

Warner, Kohli, Dhoni and du Plessis have been so effective because they often run the first two aggressively.

That puts them in position to take a third when the opportunity appears.

Why Threes Are So Rare in the IPL

IPL grounds and modern batting explain why three is such an uncommon score.

If a batter times the ball perfectly into a large gap, it usually reaches the boundary.

If the shot is weaker, a nearby fielder generally stops it early enough to restrict the pair to one or two.

Three therefore exists in a narrow middle ground: the ball must travel far enough to require a long chase but not quickly enough to reach the boundary.

T20 strategy creates another factor.

Batters often prefer conserving energy rather than risking a run-out for one extra run, especially if a strong boundary hitter is on strike.

Even so, the career leaderboard proves that some batters repeatedly identify opportunities others might ignore.

Warner’s 24 and Dhawan’s 23 may appear tiny compared with hundreds of fours and sixes, but that scarcity is exactly what makes the record interesting.

Running Pressure in Modern T20 Cricket

Running between wickets remains essential even as boundary rates continue to rise.

A pair that converts six singles into three twos has gained six extra runs without taking an additional boundary-hitting risk.

Over an entire innings, those gains can decide a close game.

Hard running can also unsettle the fielding side.

Fielders begin rushing pickups and throws. Bowlers become concerned about backing up. Captains may move boundary riders several metres inward, which can then create opportunities for fours.

The best T20 batting therefore combines power with movement.

Warner, Dhawan, Kohli, Rahane, du Plessis and Dhoni all demonstrate this in different ways. They have scored thousands of IPL runs, but their rare three-run records highlight a less celebrated skill behind those totals.

In a tournament dominated by boundaries, sometimes the hardest-earned runs are the ones that never reach the rope.

FAQs

Who has scored the most threes in IPL history?

David Warner leads compiled IPL three-run statistics with 24 threes during his career, narrowly ahead of Shikhar Dhawan.

How many threes did Shikhar Dhawan score in the IPL?

Shikhar Dhawan recorded 23 three-run scores, placing him second on the historical leaderboard.

How many IPL threes has Virat Kohli scored?

Compiled ball-by-ball records credit Virat Kohli with 21 threes, placing him among the leading IPL batters in this rare scoring category.

How many threes has MS Dhoni scored in the IPL?

MS Dhoni is recorded with 15 threes. His total is notable because he has spent most of his IPL career batting in the middle and lower order.

Why are three-run shots rare in IPL cricket?

IPL outfields are generally fast and many boundaries are relatively short. Well-hit balls often reach the rope, while weaker shots are usually stopped early enough to limit batters to one or two.

What skills are needed to run three runs?

Batters need excellent fitness, quick turning, clear communication, field awareness and the ability to judge a fielder’s position and throwing angle.