There is more aggressive batting in the Indian Premier League (IPL) than before. Since the introduction of the Impact Player rule, batsmen are playing more openly. Royal Challengers Bangalore had scored 263 runs against Pune Warriors in the 2013 season. This record remained unbroken for 10 years but has been crossed 6 times in the last two seasons. However, despite the Impact Player rule being in place, Shikhar Dhawan has made an unwanted record of playing the most number of dot balls in a match.

While captaining Punjab Kings (PBKS) in IPL 2023, he played an unbeaten inning of 99 runs in 66 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad, taking the score to 143/9. In this match, apart from Dhawan, only Sam Curran (22) could reach double digits from PBKS. Taking the lead from one end, Dhawan took PBKS to a respectable score but during this time an unwanted record was added to his name. He could not score any runs on 31 balls, which is a record for playing the most number of dots in a single IPL match.

When Bravo came to inaugurate

Before Dhawan, the record of playing most dot balls was in the name of Dwayne Bravo. Veteran Caribbean all-rounder Bravo had made this unwanted record in his name in IPL 2009. At that time he was in the Mumbai Indians (MI) team. In the 42nd match of that IPL season played in South Africa, MI had restricted Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) to the score of 119/9. In reply, MI lost the wickets of Sanath Jayasuriya and Ajinkya Rahane early.

Dwayne Bravo, who came to open, batted fast in the powerplay but after that he looked stranded. Along with captain Sachin Tendulkar (41 not out in 29 balls), he helped MI reach the target easily but he could only score 70 not out in 59 balls. During this he played 30 dot balls. This shameful record was broken after 14 years.

Batsman who played most dot balls in an IPL match

• Shikhar Dhawan (PBKS) – 31 dot balls, vs SRH, 2023


• Dwayne Bravo (MI) – 30 dot balls, vs KXIP, 2009


• Aaron Finch (SRH) – 29 dot balls, vs MI, 2014


• Dwayne Smith (MI) – 29 dot balls, vs KKR, 2013


• Jos Buttler (RR) – 28 dot balls, vs MI, 2022


• Chris Gayle (RCB) – 28 dot balls, vs CSK, 2014


• Dwayne Smith (MI) – 28 dot balls, vs CSK, 2014