There were quite a few surprises in India's 15-member squad that was announced on Wednesday. But nothing quite like the exclusion of Shikhar Dhawan. However, the long-standing opening batsman of the Indian team in limited-overs cricket. Shikhar Dhawan was even named the captain of the Indian team that travelled to Sri Lanka to play a short ODI and T20I series. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are selected as openers in the side. Although, Surya Kumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan are the two standby openers in the squad. Moreover, both of them can bat in the upper-middle order. 

Why Did Shikhar Dhawan Misses Out?

Shikhar Dhawan's reputation is built as a 'Big-Match Player'. He is known for performing in bigger matches, just the way he did during the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia. So, why would he miss out on a spot? SportzPoint.com is here to find the reasons.

1. Too many opening options in the team 

Practically, there was no room for him. KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma are undroppable names, consistently providing turbocharged starts to their franchises. With the terrific touch Rahul has been in, it would be unwise to push him down the order. That would disrupt the team's balance. Had the event been held outside Asia, maybe Dhawan, with his vast experience, would have been included as a replacement opener.

KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma are two of the biggest names at the Indian top-order currently. Especially after Rahul's performance in England, it would not have made sense to drop the Karnataka batsman. Other than that, Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan, both of whom are selected as stand by openers can also bat in the middle order. Both of them have been efficiently doing this for their respective IPL franchises. Even Virat Kohli can bat as an opener if need be. Thus, there was no space to accommodate a fifth specialist opener in the team. 

Also Read : Rohit Sharma and test match wins: The Formula

2. Shikhar Dhawan's "conservative" approach 

Sportskeeda quoted a "source" saying: "The selectors and management came to a decision that Shikhar's conservative batting approach might not serve the team's purposes and that has cost him a spot in the squad." The report also read that the selectors do not want someone with a conservative approach to batting.

Dhawan began his career as an explosive batsman but over the years, he has developed himself to be a good ODI batsman. But not someone who could hit the ball right from the word go. He takes time to settle down which can be accepted in 50-over cricket, but certainly not in T20s. Dhawan has 380 runs from 8 matches that he has played in the IPL 2021 so far. Despite his IPL form, he has not been able to get past youngsters like Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav. 

Dhawan has experience of playing in 68 T20I matches as opposed to Kishan who has only played in three. But that is clearly not the criteria that the selectors were looking at. The 35-year old Delhi opener would want to consolidate his place in the ODI team of India, but even there he has younger challengers like Padikkal. 

Read Also : IPL 2021: Number of matches each team needs to win to qualify for playoffs

Meanwhile, former Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will join Indian Team as a mentor in T20 World Cup.

Team India 15-member Squad : Virat Kohli , Rohit Sharma , KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul Chahar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohd Shami.

Standby Players : Shreyas Iyer, Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar.

After the Champions Trophy 2025, India's target in ODI cricket will be the ODI World Cup 2027. In such a situation, know what is Team India's ODI schedule till the World Cup 2027. The Men in Blue have to play a total of 9 series in the next ICC ODI tournament, which includes 27 matches.

Apart from this, some more ODI matches can be scheduled near the tournament. So, know what is the ODI schedule of Indian Cricket Team till 2027 and when India will face which team.

Also Read: The Kohli Effect: Will Indian fans lose interest in Test cricket after Virat Kohli's retirement?

The ODI World Cup2027 will be held around October to December. Before this, the Indian team is going to play a lot of matches. India have to play 3-match ODI series against 8 teams. They will play series twice against one country.

India will play New Zealand twice

India will play Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies and Sri Lanka once each in the upcoming ODI series, while it will play New Zealand twice. Out of the nine series, India will play six series at home, while the rest will be held outside the country.

It will start with the tour of Bangladesh in August, which will be played this year. In October-November 2025, India has to play a three-match ODI series on its tour of Australia. South Africa's team will tour India in November-December.

India will host Sri Lankan team in December 2026

In January 2026, the New Zealand team will play an ODI series in India. After this, India has to play a three-match series against Afghanistan in June. In July 2026, Team India will have to play the same number of ODI series on its tour of England.

The West Indies team is scheduled to tour India in September-October. There will be an ODI series against New Zealand at home in October-November. India will host the Sri Lankan team for an ODI series in December 2026.

Also Read: Fav four in Test cricket: Kohli vs Root vs Williamson vs Smith stats in Tests

India's ODI schedule till World Cup 2027

Due to the increasing conflict between India and Pakistan, BCCI has postponed the IPL 2025 for a week. BCCI gave this information on Friday. The board said that it has taken this decision keeping in mind the concerns of the players and the sentiments of the fans. The new schedule of IPL will be released depending on the situation.

At the same time, according to media reports, all foreign players have been asked to return to their country. Meanwhile, Cricket Australia and South Africa Cricket Board have expressed concern over their players. There are still 12 league matches and 4 playoff matches left in IPL 2025. The final of the tournament was to be held on 25 May.

Also Read: India-Pakistan War: How Indian athletes reacted to it

It is believed that India's tour of Bangladesh in August will be cancelled. The Asia Cup to be held in September will also be postponed. The remaining matches of IPL can be held in India in their place.

It is difficult for BCCI to bring back foreign players

The biggest challenge for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in resuming the IPL in May is to bring back foreign players. As soon as the IPL was announced to be postponed for a week, most of the foreign players returned to their respective countries. The remaining players will leave India by Saturday.

It will be interesting to see how BCCI brings back the foreign players and restarts the tournament. Because without them, it will be difficult to organize matches.

Players will start playing for the country

If the IPL resumes at the end of May, most of the foreign players will be able to return. The teams believe so. If these matches are played after May 25, it will be difficult for the players to return. The biggest reason for this is that many players will be playing for their national team then.

The final of the World Test Championship (WTC) is also scheduled to be held between the Australia and the South Africa at Lord's from June 11.

Starting the tournament is not easy

BCCI has kept all three grounds ready. Despite this, officials believe that it will not be easy to restart this competition now. All the teams were informed about this on Friday without any formal announcement. People from many teams are saying that all the remaining matches can be held at the end of the year.

Punjab-Delhi match had to be canceled midway

On the night of 8 May at around 8.30 pm, Pakistan attacked the borders of Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan of India with missiles and drones. During this time, a match was being played between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. It had to be stopped midway.

Gujarat on top, 3 teams out of the playoffs race

By the time IPL 2025 was halted midway, 57 matches of the league stage had been completed. The 58th match was halted midway. After 57 matches, Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bangalore had the highest points in the points table with 16-16 points.

GT remained on top due to better run rate. Punjab was third, Mumbai fourth and Delhi fifth. Whereas Chennai, Rajasthan and Hyderabad teams were out of the playoff race.

Also Read: Rohit Sharma stats in Tests: Is Rohit the greatest test opener since Virender Sehwag?

Gujarat-Bengaluru have 3-3 matches left

When the tournament was stopped, 4 teams had 2-2 matches left. Whereas 6 teams including Gujarat and Bangalore had not played 3-3 matches. A match was to be played between Lucknow and Bangalore in Lucknow on Friday, but the tournament was stopped before that.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a stage for batting brilliance, with a select group of players consistently amassing over 500 runs in multiple seasons. With this fourth consecutive fifty of the IPL 2025, Virat Kohli now leads the pack, followed by David Warner, KL Rahul, and Shikhar Dhawan.

Here are all the batters having the IPL records of having the most 500+ runs season in IPL. 

4. Shikhar Dhawan: 5 Seasons

Shikhar Dhawan, the former Indian cricketer with five 500+ run seasons, has been a reliable run-getter for multiple franchises, notably Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Known for his crisp cover drives and steady starts, Dhawan’s 618 runs in 2019 reflect his ability to deliver under pressure.

Dhawan first crossed 500 runs in the 2102 season, playing for Delhi Capitals. That season, he scored 569 runs at a 40.64 batting average. Four seasons later, in 2016, Dhawan scored 501 runs while playing for SRH.

He then crossed the 500-run mark in three consecutive seasons in 2019, 2020 and 2021. All fo those runs came for Delhi Captials. 

Read Also | IPL records: Most consecutive 25+ scores in IPL history

3. KL Rahul: 6 Seasons

KL Rahul has notched up 500+ runs in six IPL seasons, showcasing elegance and consistency for his teams. Be it at the top of the order or in the middle overs, KL Rahul has always shown versatility to score at his will for his team. 

His 670-run haul in 2020 underlines his prowess as a modern T20 great. From 2018 to 2022, Rahul went past the 500-run mark in five consecutive seasons. The first four seasons were for Punjab Kings while the 2022 season was while playing for LSG. 

Rahul's last 500+ run season was in 2024, while playing for LSG. With already 371 runs this season, it looks like he will go past the 500-mark this season as well.

Read Also | IPL Facts: Most 400 Plus Runs in an IPL Season

2. David Warner: 7 Seasons

David Warner, with seven 500+ run seasons, is one of the greatest batters in IPL history. The former Australian opener’s aggressive style and knack for big scores have been pivotal for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals in the past.

Warner’s three Orange Cap titles highlight his consistency, with his 2016 season (848 runs) being a standout.

From 2014 to 2020, he scored 500+ runs in six seasons, with only 2018 being a miss, when he did not play. In the 2023 season, he managed his 7th 500+ runs season with 516 runs for Delhi Capitals.

1. Virat Kohli: 8 Seasons

Like many other IPL records, Virat Kohli now also holds the record for the most 500+ runs season. He has now scored 500+ runs on 8 occasions, going past David Warner's record. 

Kohli scored more than 500 runs in 2011 (557 runs), 2013 (634 runs), 2015 (505 runs), 2016 (973 runs), 2018 (530 runs), 2023 (639 runs), 2024 (741 runs) and 2025 (505 runs and counting). 

Kohli's record 973 runs in the 2016 season is still the most runs scored in an IPL season. 

The Indian Premier League (IPL), which began in 2008, is presently in its 18th season. It is considered one of the hardest and most energizing T20 leagues in the world. Consistently scoring runs isn't a simple thing to do in the IPL, indeed for world-class batsmen. With plenty of world batters playing in the IPL, it's not simple to be among the best run scorers. However, a few players have stood the test of time and have reliably performed within the IPL.

On that note, let's take a look at five batters who have scored most 400 plus runs in an IPL season.

Also Read: Most Wickets in IPL history

Most 400 Plus Runs in an IPL Season

5. Rohit Sharma | 8 Times

Former Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma occupies the fourth spot on this list. Rohit, powered MI to five titles, is among four players with over 6,000 runs in the IPL. Rohit smashed 400 or more runs in seven different seasons - 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2019. He also bolstered the now-defunct Deccan Chargers initially with his power-packed knocks.

4. David Warner | 9 Times

Like Dhawan, Australia's David Warner also has a knack for smashing the bowlers in the Powerplay. He is the fourth-highest run-scorer (6,565) in the IPL after Rohit Dhawan and Kohli. Warner also holds the record for slamming 400 plus runs in most IPL seasons among overseas players. The dashing left-handed batter attained this feat in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023.

3. Shikhar Dhawan | 9 Times

Shikhar Dhawan remains one of the most prolific run-scorers in IPL history. He is one of only three players with over 6,700 IPL runs, the other being Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Notably, Dhawan has slammed 400 or more runs in nine different IPL seasons (2011, 2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022).

2. Suresh Raina | 9 Times

Suresh Raina, who was once the backbone of Chennai Super Kings' batting line-up, scored 400 plus runs in nine different IPL seasons. Raina, also known as Mr. IPL, is still the highest run-scorer of CSK in the IPL.

Overall, the stylish left-hander owns 5,529 IPL runs with 40 fifty-plus scores. He scored 400 plus runs in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2018.

Also Read: Most Sixes in an innings by an Indian in IPL

1. Virat Kohli | 11 Times

Virat Kohli continued his record-breaking run in the IPL 2025 after continuing a good run of form during the clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The 36-year-old etched his name in the history books as he completed 400 runs in the ongoing tournament in a run that seen him make five-centuries in the season.

This is the third successive season in which Kohli has managed to cross the 400-run mark in a season, while the 11th time in his career, making him the first player to achieve the most 400 plus runs in an IPL season. Infact, no player before Kohli had even reached the milestone 10 times in their career.

Kohli is also the leading run-getter in IPL history and is nearing the 8500-run mark. He is the only player with 7000 and 8000 runs in the league's history. He also holds the record for the most centuries with eight tons.

The seventeenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to begin on Friday, March 22 with a huge clash between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chennai. IPL has seen several world-class players over the years. The best players in the world, like Kohli, Gayle, AB de Villiers, and Warner, have scored plenty of runs in the league. So it's time we have a look at the players with the most runs in IPL history.

Also Read: MS Dhoni Captaincy Record and Stats in IPL

Top Five Players with Most Runs in IPL History

Virat Kohli holds the record for scoring the most runs in IPL. He is in the top of this list with 7263 runs in 237 matches, including 7 centuries and 50 fifties. Virat has scored those runs at an average of 37.24 and a strike rate of 130.02. His best season came in 2016 when he made an incredible 973 runs in a single season, including 4 hundreds which is still the highest individual runs in a single season.

Shikhar Dhawan is second on the list in terms of scoring the most runs in IPL. He has been consistent in the IPL, crossing the 400-run mark each season from 2016 to 2022. Dhawan has scored 6617 runs in 217 games at an average of 35.38, including 2 centuries and 50 half-centuries. His best season came in the 2020 season when he scored 618 runs with 2 centuries and 4 half-centuries. 

The former captain of Hyderabad, David Warner, is the top run-getter among the foreign players and comes third overall. He has made 6397 runs in 176 matches at an average of 41.53 and a strike rate of 139.91. He has scored 4 centuries and 61 half-centuries in the Indian cash-rich league. His best season came in 2016 when he made 848 runs with 9 fifties.

The Hitman, Rohit Sharma is one of the most dangerous batsmen in the IPL. He has led Mumbai Indians to five titles so far. Rohit began his IPL career with Deccan in 2008 before joining Mumbai in 2011. In 243 matches, Rohit Sharma has scored 6211 runs at an average of 29.57, with 1 hundred and 42 half-centuries. The Hitman is the 2nd highest six-hitter in IPL with 256 sixes. 

Mr. IPL, Suresh Raina has been a key member for Chennai in the league. He has been always consistent for CSK and led the team to 4 titles and 5 runner-up titles. In 205 matches, Raina has scored 5528 runs at a fantastic strike rate of 136.76, with 1 hundred and 39 fifties. Raina retired from international cricket in 2020 and from IPL in 2022.