From Titles to Runs: 10 IPL Records That Seem Impossible to Break
The Indian Premier League (IPL), the world’s richest cricket league, kicked off its journey in 2008 with a star-studded lineup featuring legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Lasith Malinga. The inaugural season saw Shane Warne lead Rajasthan Royals to victory, marking the beginning of a tournament filled with unforgettable performances. As the 18th season of the IPL approaches, let’s take a look at some of the league’s most unbreakable records.
Most Titles by a Team
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) stand tall as the most successful teams in IPL history, each with five titles to their name. However, CSK edges ahead with five runner-up finishes compared to MI’s one. This dominance by the two franchises remains unmatched in the league.
Most Runs by a Batter
Virat Kohli, the face of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), holds the record for the most runs in IPL history . With 8,004 runs in 244 innings, he sits comfortably at the top. Shikhar Dhawan trails behind with 6,769 runs, but Kohli’s record seems untouchable for now.
Gayle Storm in IPL 2013
Chris Gayle’s explosive 175* off just 66 balls for RCB against Pune Warriors India on April 23, 2013, remains the highest individual score in IPL history. A decade later, this record still stands firm.
Highest Team Total
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) set a new benchmark in the 2024 season by scoring 287/3 against RCB at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on April 15, 2024. This broke their previous record of 277/3 against Mumbai Indians on March 27, 2024, at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad.
Lowest IPL Total
RCB also holds the dubious record for the lowest team total in IPL history. On April 23, 2017, they were bowled out for a mere 49 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Biggest Run Chase in IPL
Punjab Kings scripted history on April 26, 2024, by successfully chasing down a mammoth target of 262 runs against KKR, losing only two wickets in the process. This remains the highest successful run chase in IPL history.
Defending the Lowest Total
Chennai Super Kings showcased their bowling prowess on May 20, 2009, by defending a modest total of 116 runs against Punjab Kings. They restricted Punjab to just 92 runs, a record that still stands.
Most Runs in a Single IPL Season
Virat Kohli’s phenomenal 973 runs in the 2016 season remains the highest tally by any batter in a single IPL edition. No other player has even crossed the 900-run mark, with Shubman Gill coming closest in 2023 with 890 runs.
Most Sixes in IPL
Chris Gayle, known for his explosive batting, holds the record for the most sixes in IPL history. Between 2009 and 2021, he smashed 357 sixes. Rohit Sharma is a distant second with 280 sixes.
Most Wickets in IPL
Yuzvendra Chahal leads the bowling charts with 205 wickets, making him the only player to enter the 200-wicket club in IPL history. Among active players, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (181 wickets), Sunil Narine, and R. Ashwin (180 wickets each) are the closest contenders.
As the IPL continues to grow, these records stand as a testament to the league’s thrilling history and the extraordinary performances that have defined it.