Updated October 2026 | All stats are as of the end of IPL 2026 (final played 31 May 2026).
Shikhar Dhawan vs David Warner IPL stats, quick answer: Shikhar Dhawan has slightly more IPL runs, but David Warner scored them in fewer matches, at a higher average and a much higher strike rate. Warner is the better IPL batter by most measures.
- Matches: Shikhar Dhawan 222, David Warner 184
- Runs: Shikhar Dhawan 6769 (SR 127.14), David Warner 6565 (SR 139.77)
- IPL titles: Shikhar Dhawan 1, David Warner 1
Why This Comparison Is Worth Making
Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner opened together for Sunrisers Hyderabad, and their partnership was the base of the 2016 title. They are two of the most prolific openers in league history.
Shikhar Dhawan vs David Warner IPL Stats: Career Numbers Side by Side
| Metric | Shikhar Dhawan | David Warner |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 222 | 184 |
| Seasons | 17 | 15 |
| Runs | 6769 | 6565 |
| Average | 35.26 | 40.52 |
| Strike rate | 127.14 | 139.77 |
| Highest score | 106* | 126 |
| 100s / 50s | 2 / 51 | 4 / 62 |
| Fours | 768 | 663 |
| Sixes | 153 | 236 |
| Player of the match | 12 | 18 |
| Titles | 1 | 1 |
Per match, Shikhar Dhawan has contributed 30.5 runs and David Warner 35.7 runs. Shikhar Dhawan has won player of the match once every 18.5 games, David Warner once every 10.2.
Season-by-Season Parallel
| Season | Shikhar Dhawan | David Warner |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 340 runs, SR 115.25 (14 m) | – |
| 2009 | 40 runs, SR 88.89 (5 m) | 163 runs, SR 123.48 (7 m) |
| 2010 | 191 runs, SR 112.35 (10 m) | 282 runs, SR 147.64 (11 m) |
| 2011 | 400 runs, SR 129.03 (14 m) | 324 runs, SR 117.39 (13 m) |
| 2012 | 569 runs, SR 129.61 (15 m) | 256 runs, SR 164.10 (8 m) |
| 2013 | 311 runs, SR 122.92 (10 m) | 410 runs, SR 126.93 (16 m) |
| 2014 | 377 runs, SR 118.18 (14 m) | 528 runs, SR 140.80 (14 m) |
| 2015 | 353 runs, SR 123.43 (14 m) | 562 runs, SR 156.55 (14 m) |
| 2016 | 501 runs, SR 116.78 (17 m) | 848 runs, SR 151.43 (17 m) |
| 2017 | 479 runs, SR 127.39 (14 m) | 641 runs, SR 141.81 (14 m) |
| 2018 | 497 runs, SR 136.91 (16 m) | – |
| 2019 | 521 runs, SR 135.68 (16 m) | 692 runs, SR 143.87 (12 m) |
| 2020 | 618 runs, SR 144.73 (17 m) | 548 runs, SR 134.64 (16 m) |
| 2021 | 587 runs, SR 124.63 (16 m) | 195 runs, SR 107.73 (8 m) |
| 2022 | 460 runs, SR 122.67 (14 m) | 432 runs, SR 150.52 (12 m) |
| 2023 | 373 runs, SR 142.91 (11 m) | 516 runs, SR 131.63 (14 m) |
| 2024 | 152 runs, SR 125.62 (5 m) | 168 runs, SR 134.40 (8 m) |
- 2008: Shikhar Dhawan (Delhi Daredevils) made 340 runs at a strike rate of 115.25; David Warner did not play.
- 2009: Shikhar Dhawan (Mumbai Indians) made 40 runs at a strike rate of 88.89; David Warner (Delhi Daredevils) made 163 runs at a strike rate of 123.48.
- 2010: Shikhar Dhawan (Mumbai Indians) made 191 runs at a strike rate of 112.35; David Warner (Delhi Daredevils) made 282 runs at a strike rate of 147.64.
- 2011: Shikhar Dhawan (Deccan Chargers) made 400 runs at a strike rate of 129.03; David Warner (Delhi Daredevils) made 324 runs at a strike rate of 117.39.
- 2012: Shikhar Dhawan (Deccan Chargers) made 569 runs at a strike rate of 129.61; David Warner (Delhi Daredevils) made 256 runs at a strike rate of 164.10.
- 2013: Shikhar Dhawan (Sunrisers Hyderabad) made 311 runs at a strike rate of 122.92; David Warner (Delhi Daredevils) made 410 runs at a strike rate of 126.93.
- 2014: Shikhar Dhawan (Sunrisers Hyderabad) made 377 runs at a strike rate of 118.18; David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad) made 528 runs at a strike rate of 140.80.
- 2015: Shikhar Dhawan (Sunrisers Hyderabad) made 353 runs at a strike rate of 123.43; David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad) made 562 runs at a strike rate of 156.55.
- 2016: Shikhar Dhawan (Sunrisers Hyderabad) made 501 runs at a strike rate of 116.78; David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad) made 848 runs at a strike rate of 151.43.
- 2017: Shikhar Dhawan (Sunrisers Hyderabad) made 479 runs at a strike rate of 127.39; David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad) made 641 runs at a strike rate of 141.81.
- 2018: Shikhar Dhawan (Sunrisers Hyderabad) made 497 runs at a strike rate of 136.91; David Warner did not play.
- 2019: Shikhar Dhawan (Delhi Capitals) made 521 runs at a strike rate of 135.68; David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad) made 692 runs at a strike rate of 143.87.
- 2020: Shikhar Dhawan (Delhi Capitals) made 618 runs at a strike rate of 144.73; David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad) made 548 runs at a strike rate of 134.64.
- 2021: Shikhar Dhawan (Delhi Capitals) made 587 runs at a strike rate of 124.63; David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad) made 195 runs at a strike rate of 107.73.
- 2022: Shikhar Dhawan (Punjab Kings) made 460 runs at a strike rate of 122.67; David Warner (Delhi Capitals) made 432 runs at a strike rate of 150.52.
- 2023: Shikhar Dhawan (Punjab Kings) made 373 runs at a strike rate of 142.91; David Warner (Delhi Capitals) made 516 runs at a strike rate of 131.63.
- 2024: Shikhar Dhawan (Punjab Kings) made 152 runs at a strike rate of 125.62; David Warner (Delhi Capitals) made 168 runs at a strike rate of 134.40.
They played in the same IPL season 15 times. In those seasons Shikhar Dhawan finished with more runs 5 times and David Warner 10 times (ties counted for neither when equal).
By phase of the innings
| Phase | Shikhar Dhawan runs (SR) | David Warner runs (SR) |
|---|---|---|
| Powerplay (1-6) | 3415 (122.8) | 3316 (138.3) |
| Middle (7-15) | 2686 (126.5) | 2621 (134.8) |
| Death (16-20) | 668 (158.7) | 628 (176.9) |
In the powerplay Shikhar Dhawan scores at 122.8 and David Warner at 138.3; at the death the figures are 158.7 and 176.9. That difference largely reflects where each has batted in the order.
Against each opponent
| Opponent | Shikhar Dhawan runs (SR) | David Warner runs (SR) |
|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | 1057 (131.80) | 696 (133.08) |
| Mumbai Indians | 901 (128.35) | 727 (135.38) |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 724 (123.97) | 862 (160.52) |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 907 (118.25) | 1093 (145.15) |
| Delhi Capitals | 579 (139.52) | 448 (128.37) |
| Punjab Kings | 894 (138.60) | 1134 (144.27) |
| Rajasthan Royals | 679 (129.83) | 583 (128.13) |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 378 (122.73) | 122 (119.61) |
| Gujarat Titans | 106 (113.98) | 39 (114.71) |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 76 (113.43) | 71 (97.26) |
Home, away and neutral
| Venue type | Shikhar Dhawan | David Warner |
|---|---|---|
| Home | 2141 runs, SR 124.84 | 2303 runs, SR 148.01 |
| Away | 2838 runs, SR 128.01 | 2761 runs, SR 138.81 |
| Neutral | 1790 runs, SR 128.59 | 1501 runs, SR 130.30 |
Peak Seasons Compared
Shikhar Dhawan’s best season was 2020 for Delhi Capitals: 618 runs in 17 matches at an average of 44.14 and a strike rate of 144.73, with 2 hundreds and 4 fifties.
David Warner’s best season was 2016 for Sunrisers Hyderabad: 848 runs in 17 matches at an average of 60.57 and a strike rate of 151.43, with 0 hundreds and 9 fifties.
| Player | Three best seasons |
|---|---|
| Shikhar Dhawan | 2020 (618), 2021 (587), 2012 (569) |
| David Warner | 2016 (848), 2019 (692), 2017 (641) |
Shikhar Dhawan: five best innings
- 106* off 61 balls for DC against PBKS, 20 Oct 2020. 20 Oct 2020, Dubai International Cricket Stadium: DC batted first and made 164/5, led by Shikhar Dhawan 106* (61), with Mohammed Shami 2/28 the pick of the PBKS bowlers. PBKS replied with 167/5, Nicholas Pooran 53 (28) top-scoring as Kagiso Rabada 2/27 did the damage for DC. PBKS won by 5 wickets. Player of the match: Shikhar Dhawan.
- 101* off 58 balls for DC against CSK, 17 Oct 2020. 17 Oct 2020, Sharjah Cricket Stadium: CSK batted first and made 179/4, led by Faf du Plessis 58 (47), with Anrich Nortje 2/44 the pick of the DC bowlers. DC replied with 185/5, Shikhar Dhawan 101* (58) top-scoring as Deepak Chahar 2/18 did the damage for CSK. DC won by 5 wickets. Player of the match: Shikhar Dhawan.
- 99* off 66 balls for PBKS against SRH, 9 Apr 2023. 9 Apr 2023, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium: PBKS batted first and made 143/9, led by Shikhar Dhawan 99* (66), with Mayank Markande 4/15 the pick of the SRH bowlers. SRH replied with 145/2, Rahul Tripathi 74* (48) top-scoring. SRH won by 8 wickets. Player of the match: Shikhar Dhawan.
- 97* off 63 balls for DC against KKR, 12 Apr 2019. 12 Apr 2019, Eden Gardens: KKR batted first and made 178/7, led by Shubman Gill 65 (39), with Chris Morris 2/38 the pick of the DC bowlers. DC replied with 180/3, Shikhar Dhawan 97* (63) top-scoring. DC won by 7 wickets. Player of the match: Shikhar Dhawan.
- 95* off 57 balls for DCG against PBKS, 21 May 2011. 21 May 2011, Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium: DCG batted first and made 198/2, led by Shikhar Dhawan 95* (57). PBKS replied with 116, Adam Gilchrist 51 (37) top-scoring as Amit Mishra 4/9 did the damage for DCG. DCG won by 82 runs. Player of the match: Shikhar Dhawan.
David Warner: five best innings
- 126 off 59 balls for SRH against KKR, 30 Apr 2017. 30 Apr 2017, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium: SRH batted first and made 209/3, led by David Warner 126 (59). KKR replied with 161/7, Robin Uthappa 53 (28) top-scoring as Mohammed Siraj 2/26 did the damage for SRH. SRH won by 48 runs. Player of the match: David Warner.
- 109* off 54 balls for DC against DCG, 10 May 2012. 10 May 2012, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium: DCG batted first and made 187/4, led by Shikhar Dhawan 84 (49), with Varun Aaron 2/30 the pick of the DC bowlers. DC replied with 193/1, David Warner 109* (54) top-scoring. DC won by 9 wickets. Player of the match: David Warner.
- 107* off 69 balls for DC against KKR, 29 Mar 2010. 29 Mar 2010, Feroz Shah Kotla: DC batted first and made 177/4, led by David Warner 107* (69), with Charl Langeveldt 2/35 the pick of the KKR bowlers. KKR replied with 137/9, Chris Gayle 30 (21) top-scoring as Umesh Yadav 2/27 did the damage for DC. DC won by 40 runs. Player of the match: David Warner.
- 100* off 55 balls for SRH against RCB, 31 Mar 2019. 31 Mar 2019, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium: SRH batted first and made 231/2, led by Jonny Bairstow 114 (56). RCB replied with 113, C de Grandhomme 37 (32) top-scoring as Mohammad Nabi 4/11 did the damage for SRH. SRH won by 118 runs. Player of the match: Jonny Bairstow.
- 93* off 58 balls for SRH against GL, 27 May 2016. 27 May 2016, Feroz Shah Kotla (Qualifier 2): GL batted first and made 162/7, led by Aaron Finch 50 (32), with Ben Cutting 2/20 the pick of the SRH bowlers. SRH replied with 163/6, David Warner 93* (58) top-scoring as Shivil Kaushik 2/22 did the damage for GL. SRH won by 4 wickets. Player of the match: David Warner.
Performance in Playoffs and Finals
| Knockout record | Shikhar Dhawan | David Warner |
|---|---|---|
| Playoff matches | 18 | 9 |
| Won | 7 | 4 |
| Runs | 330 | 256 |
| Strike rate | 106.11 | 132.64 |
| Wickets | 0 | 0 |
| Finals played | 4 | 1 |
| Finals won | 1 | 1 |
Shikhar Dhawan has played 18 playoff matches and David Warner 9. In finals, Shikhar Dhawan has 69 runs and David Warner 69.
Their biggest knockout performances
- Shikhar Dhawan, 2020 Qualifier 2: 78 (50). 8 Nov 2020, Sheikh Zayed Stadium (Qualifier 2): DC batted first and made 189/3, led by Shikhar Dhawan 78 (50). SRH replied with 172/8, Kane Williamson 67 (45) top-scoring as Kagiso Rabada 4/29 did the damage for DC. DC won by 17 runs. Player of the match: Marcus Stoinis.
- Shikhar Dhawan, 2021 Qualifier 2: 36 (39). 13 Oct 2021, Sharjah Cricket Stadium (Qualifier 2): DC batted first and made 135/5, led by Shikhar Dhawan 36 (39), with Varun Chakravarthy 2/26 the pick of the KKR bowlers. KKR replied with 136/7, Venkatesh Iyer 55 (41) top-scoring as Kagiso Rabada 2/23 did the damage for DC. KKR won by 3 wickets. Player of the match: Venkatesh Iyer.
- Shikhar Dhawan, 2018 Qualifier 2: 34 (24). 25 May 2018, Eden Gardens (Qualifier 2): SRH batted first and made 174/7, led by Wriddhiman Saha 35 (27), with Kuldeep Yadav 2/29 the pick of the KKR bowlers. KKR replied with 160/9, Chris Lynn 48 (31) top-scoring as Rashid Khan 3/19 did the damage for SRH. SRH won by 14 runs. Player of the match: Rashid Khan.
- David Warner, 2016 Qualifier 2: 93* (58). 27 May 2016, Feroz Shah Kotla (Qualifier 2): GL batted first and made 162/7, led by Aaron Finch 50 (32), with Ben Cutting 2/20 the pick of the SRH bowlers. SRH replied with 163/6, David Warner 93* (58) top-scoring as Shivil Kaushik 2/22 did the damage for GL. SRH won by 4 wickets. Player of the match: David Warner.
- David Warner, 2016 Final: 69 (38). 29 May 2016, M Chinnaswamy Stadium (Final): SRH batted first and made 208/7, led by David Warner 69 (38), with Chris Jordan 3/45 the pick of the RCB bowlers. RCB replied with 200/7, Chris Gayle 76 (38) top-scoring as Ben Cutting 2/35 did the damage for SRH. SRH won by 8 runs. Player of the match: Ben Cutting.
- David Warner, 2017 Eliminator: 37 (35). 17 May 2017, M Chinnaswamy Stadium (Eliminator): SRH batted first and made 128/7, led by David Warner 37 (35), with Nathan Coulter-Nile 3/20 the pick of the KKR bowlers. KKR replied with 48/3, Gautam Gambhir 32* (19) top-scoring. KKR won by 7 wickets (DLS). Player of the match: Nathan Coulter-Nile.
When They Have Faced Each Other Directly
Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner have been on opposite sides in 15 IPL matches and in the same XI in 59. When opponents, Shikhar Dhawan’s team won 8 and David Warner’s team won 7.
| In head-to-head matches | Shikhar Dhawan | David Warner |
|---|---|---|
| Runs | 372 | 537 |
| Strike rate | 130.53 | 143.97 |
| Wickets | 2 | 0 |
As team-mates they have shared 59 matches, for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Awards, Titles and Milestones
| Shikhar Dhawan | David Warner | |
|---|---|---|
| IPL titles | 2016 | 2016 |
| Caps | None | Orange Cap 2015, Orange Cap 2017, Orange Cap 2019 |
| Player of the match | 12 | 18 |
Dhawan captained Punjab Kings in 2023 and part of 2024. Warner captained Sunrisers Hyderabad to the 2016 title and also led Delhi in 2023.
Where Each One Is Genuinely Better
- Warner is better at: average, strike rate, hundreds and Orange Caps (three to none).
- Dhawan is better at: longevity and run volume, built over more matches and more franchises.
- Playoffs: Dhawan has played more knockout matches, while Warner has scored faster in them.
The Honest Verdict
Warner is the better batter, and their shared title in 2016 shows how well the two complemented each other. Dhawan’s record of steady run-scoring across five franchises still makes him one of the great IPL openers.
Related: most sixes in IPL history, most wickets in IPL history, Orange Cap winners, Purple Cap winners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is better in the IPL, Shikhar Dhawan or David Warner?
Shikhar Dhawan has slightly more IPL runs, but David Warner scored them in fewer matches, at a higher average and a much higher strike rate. Warner is the better IPL batter by most measures.
Who has scored more IPL runs, Shikhar Dhawan or David Warner?
Shikhar Dhawan, with 6769 runs to 6565.
Have Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner played in the same team?
Yes, in 59 IPL matches, for Sunrisers Hyderabad.