A Data Story · IPL 2008–2024

The Science
of Six

How the Indian Premier League transformed cricket from instinct into a precision sport — told through 17 seasons of ball-by-ball data.

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Deliveries Bowled
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Total Runs Scored
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Seasons Analysed
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Chapter 01 — The Dynasties

Which Franchises
Rule the Game?

Five teams have scored more than a million runs over IPL history. Two of them have done it with a consistency that borders on dominance. The data doesn't lie — some franchises are simply built different.

Total Runs Scored by Franchise — All Seasons
Hover over bars for exact figures
Mumbai Indians — most titles
50%+
Wickets via catches — T20 dominance
8.2
Average run rate per over, 2024
How Batters Get Out
Distribution of dismissal types
Boundary Share by Team
% of all fours & sixes hit by each franchise
Chapter 02 — The Rhythm of an Innings

When Does Cricket
Come Alive?

A T20 innings is not uniform. It breathes in three acts — the explosive Powerplay, the patient middle, and the frenetic death overs. See exactly where runs flood in, and where dot balls reign.

⚡ The Powerplay (Overs 1–6)

With only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle, openers attack immediately. Run rates spike — averaging 8.4 RPO. This is where matches are set up.

🧱 Middle Overs (7–15)

The pitch settles. Spinners come on. The run rate drops to 7.1 RPO as batters consolidate, building a platform for the death-over assault.

💥 Death Overs (16–20)

The most explosive phase — 9.8 RPO average. Specialist finishers swing for sixes. Every delivery is a lottery. This is where IPL legends are made.

🗺 Full Innings Heatmap

The complete over-by-over scoring map across all teams. Darker red = more runs. The pattern is unmistakable: the game intensifies at both ends of an innings.

Average Runs per Delivery by Over
Powerplay highlighted
Team × Over Scoring Heatmap
Average runs per delivery — darker = higher scoring
Chapter 03 — The Legends

Batters, Bowlers
& the Data Behind Greatness

Three players have scored over 5,000 IPL runs. A handful of bowlers have taken 150+ wickets. The data shows what makes them extraordinary — not just volume, but consistency across conditions, seasons, and opponents.

Top 15 Run Scorers
All IPL seasons combined
Top 12 Wicket Takers
Wickets vs bowling strike rate

Virat Kohli

The all-time leading run scorer with 8,000+ runs. His ability to bat through innings and absorb pressure makes him uniquely valuable in T20 cricket.

Lasith Malinga

The master of the yorker. With 170+ wickets, his low strike rate at death overs changed how franchises think about fast bowling.

AB de Villiers

The highest six-hit rate among batters with 3,000+ runs. His 360° hitting redefined what was physically possible with a cricket bat.

Dwayne Bravo

The most versatile T20 cricketer: 150+ wickets AND 1,500+ runs. His death-over bowling economy rate of 8.8 is remarkable for such high-pressure overs.

Chapter 04 — The Evolution

How IPL Batting
Has Changed Forever

From 2008 to 2024, the average run rate across all IPL matches has risen by nearly 1.5 runs per over. That's not random — it's the product of specialisation, data science, and a new generation of fearless batters.

Average Run Rate per IPL Season (2008–2024)
The upward march of T20 batting
Sixes Per Season
The six-hitting revolution
Run Rate by Phase (2008 vs 2024)
How each phase has evolved
Reader-Driven — Explore the Data

Your Turn to
Find the Story

Filter by team and season to see how run rates, totals, and wickets shift. Every franchise has a story hiding in the numbers — find yours.

Run Rate Distribution — All Teams, All Phases
Each bar = one match innings
IPL Venues — Total Runs by City
Bubble size = total runs at that venue