Virat Kohli, Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Sanju Samson [Source: AFP/X]IPL 2026 is around the corner, and as the tournament gets closer, the excitement is building. Every season, fans look forward to big runs, big hits, and new records. However, there is one record that has remained untouched for almost 10 years now. It is a huge milestone that was set by Virat Kohli in 2016 while playing for RCB.In that historic season, Virat Kohli scored 973 runs in 16 innings from 16 matches. He had an incredible average of 81.08 and scored four centuries and seven half-centuries. This record is still the highest number of runs scored by a player in a single IPL season, and no one has been able to break it yet.However, IPL 2026 could be different. There are a few players who are in great form and have the potential to either come close to this record or even break it. Let’s take a look at five players who might break this long-standing record this year.IPL players who might break most runs in a single IPL season recordSanju SamsonThe first name on the list is Sanju Samson. The Indian opener has been in phenomenal form recently, and the Samson is coming into IPL 2026 with a lot of confidence. Notably, he will be playing for a new team, CSK, and this could be a big opportunity for him to have a record-breaking season.Notably, Sanju Samson is currently in red-hot form after his performance in the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2026. He was awarded the Player of the Tournament for his outstanding performance and played a major role in India’s victory. The Indian opener scored 321 runs in just 5 matches with an incredible strike rate of 199.37. Notably, he even broke Virat Kohli’s record for the most runs by an Indian player in a single T20 World Cup edition.Considering his current form, confidence, and aggressive batting style, Sanju Samson could be one of the strongest contenders to score the most runs in a single IPL season. Therefore, it would not be surprising if he breaks another record that currently belongs to Virat Kohli.Also Read: Akash Deep Joins KKR's Absentee List, Fans Claim Out Of IPL 2026Virat KohliThe next player on the list is none other than Virat Kohli himself. The big question is, can Virat Kohli break his own record?Notably, the RCB star showed excellent form in the previous IPL season as well, scoring 657 runs in 15 innings and leading his team to their first IPL trophy. Because of his consistency and hunger for runs, he will once again be one of the top contenders to score the most runs this season.Moreover, he recently performed brilliantly in the ODI series against New Zealand, where he scored 240 runs in 3 innings and finished as India’s highest run-scorer in the series. Even though he may have retired from T20Is, he is still performing very well in domestic and franchise cricket.While defending the RCB title, Virat Kohli might aim to create history again by breaking his own record and becoming the only player to score the most runs in an IPL season twice. Aiden MarkramAnother strong contender is South African batter Aiden Markram. Notably, he is entering IPL 2026 in very good form and has been performing well in T20 tournaments recently.It is worth mentioning that he was in good form in the T20 World Cup 2026 and also performed strongly in the SA20 League 2025-26. In the T20 World Cup, he scored 286 runs in 8 innings with a strike rate of 165.32, which shows his aggressive batting form.Notably, the LSG opener also performed well in IPL 2025, where he scored 445 runs in 13 innings with a strike rate of 148.83. He has the ability to play big innings and score centuries. Additionally, since he is an opener, he gets more balls to face, which increases his chances of scoring more runs in the season. Therefore, if he continues his current form, Aiden Markram could also be one of the players who might challenge Virat Kohli’s record.Finn AllenNew Zealand opener Finn Allen is another explosive batter who could be a strong contender. Notably, he is known for his aggressive batting, especially in the powerplay overs.The 26-year-old was in outstanding form during the T20 World Cup 2026. In the semi-final against South Africa, he played a historic match-winning innings where he scored an unbeaten 100 off just 33 balls. During that innings, he broke Chris Gayle’s record for the fastest century in T20 World Cup knockout matches.It is important to mention that Allen finished the tournament with 298 runs in 8 innings with a strike rate of around 200, which is extremely impressive. His aggressive starts could help his team get strong beginnings, and if he continues this form throughout the season, he could score a huge number of runs.Therefore, Finn Allen is also one of the players who could potentially break the record for most runs in a single IPL season.Vaibhav SuryavanshiThe final player on the list is young Indian sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi. He is one of the most talked-about young players in India right now.Notably, the Bihar batter made his IPL debut last season and shocked everyone by scoring a 35-ball century on debut against Gujarat Titans. That innings made him an instant star and showed his fearless batting style.Recently, he also performed brilliantly in Under-19 cricket and played a key role in India’s title win. In the Under-19 final against England, he smashed 175 runs off just 80 balls and finished the tournament with a record number of sixes.It is worth mentioning that his game plan is very simple, see the ball and hit the ball. Due to this aggressive approach, if he gets a good start in the season and maintains consistency, he could end up scoring a massive number of runs.Hence, Vaibhav Suryavanshi could be a surprise contender to break the record for most runs in a single IPL season.Also Read: Arshdeep Singh Cooks Shreyas Iyer As Soon As Sarpanch Joins Punjab Kings
