The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season is set to begin on March 28, with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
How is the Most Valuable Player selected?
The league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) is decided by a points system that measures a player’s overall contributions over the course of a season. Players do not score points for direct runs. Instead, every four gets 2.5 points and every six gets 3.5 points. Bowlers get 3.5 points per wicket and one point for each dot ball. Fielding attempts are also counted, with 2.5 points awarded for each catch and stumping. The player with the most points at the end of the season is named the MVP.
The concept was introduced in 2017, replacing the previous Player of the Tournament award. Under this system, performance in batting, bowling and fielding is counted as one point.The highest points recorded in an IPL season is 450, scored by Sunil Narine in the 2024 edition.Shane Watson was the first recipient of the Player of the Tournament award in 2008, playing a key role in Rajasthan Royals’ title win. He won it again in 2013 with the same franchise, becoming the first player to claim the honor twice. This season also saw the introduction of a points-based system. He is one of only three players to have won the award more than once.Among others, Kolkata Knight Riders players Andre Russell and Sunil Narine have won the award multiple times, with Narine holding the record with three wins in 2012, 2018 and 2024. Players like Adam Gilchrist, Sachin Tendulkar, Chris Gayle, Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli, Ben Stokes, Ben Stokes, Jofra Patel and Johal. Gill Everyone has won it once.Mumbai Indians’ Suryakumar Yadav was named the Player of the Tournament (MVP) for the 2025 season.
Complete list of MVPs of IPL 2008-2025
