IPL MVPs since 2008: From Sachin Tendulkar to Sunil Narine, how the system works

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season is set to kick off on March 28 with defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore (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 determined through a points system that measures a player’s overall contribution during the season. Players do not earn points directly from running. Instead, every four players get 2.5 points and every six players get 3.5 points. Bowlers are awarded 3.5 points for each wicket and one point for each dot. Fielding effort is also counted, with each catch and trip worth 2.5 points. The player with the highest total points at the end of the season will be named MVP.

The concept was introduced in 2017, replacing the previous Player of the Tournament award. Under this system, batting, bowling and fielding performances are all factored into a single point tally.

The highest score in a single season in IPL is 450, achieved by Sunil Narine in the 2024 edition.

Shane Watson was the first man to win the Player of the Tournament award in 2008 and played a key role in Rajasthan Royals’ title win. He won the honor again in 2013 with the same team, becoming the first player to win the honor twice. That season also marked the introduction of the points system. He remains one of three players to win the award multiple times.

Among them, Kolkata Knight Riders players Andre Russell and Sunil Narine have won this award many times, with Narine maintaining this record with three wins in 2012, 2018 and 2024. Adam Gilchrist, Sachin Tendulkar, Chris Gayle, Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli, Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Harshal Patel, Jos Buttler Players such as Buttler and Shubman Gill have won the award. once.

Suryakumar Yadav of Mumbai Indians was named the MVP of the tournament for the 2025 season.

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Complete list of IPL MVPs 2008-2025