IPL Records: 10 Of The Biggest Numbers From The Indian Premier League

One thing that Indian cricket, other than lifting two ICC World Cups, will always be remembered has to be the introduction of Indian Premier League. It has been more than a decade since we first witnessed this high octane tournament and MAN that first ever IPL match gave us a great insight into what we were going to experience in the coming years. Here are some of the greatest IPL records ever created. 

It was a match between Kolkata Knight Rider and Royal Challengers Bangalore, and that 73-ball 158* innings by Brendon McCullum was the beginning of the T20-era where runs were going to be treated as candy and bowlers were yet to face their worst nightmares.

In days when a target of 250 runs was considered defendable, KKR went on giving a 223-run target and what came next was enough to make Indian Premier League a highly competitive tournament. The whole RCB batting line-up was bowled out for 82 runs, making it one of the biggest upsets in IPL history.

During these ten years, IPL went on to become one of the most followed leagues in the world, going head to head to with the likes of La Liga and NFL, which perfectly sums up the kind of instant success as well as fan following it garnered.

The cash-rich league might be in the news for both the right and wrong reasons but the one thing that it has never failed in, is the Entertainment factor. It doesn’t matter if you are a cricket lover or not, it doesn’t matter if your domestic franchise features your favorite International player or not, if there is an IPL match nearby, you should be part of that crazy crowd for at least once.

With money being spent like anything in Indian Premier League, several players have justified their price tag over the years and have gradually made some astonishing IPL records in their career.

Here we take a look at some of the biggest IPL records in the last decade which has made Indian Premier League a force to reckon with, when it comes to entertainment.

IPL Records: 10 Of The Biggest Numbers From The Indian Premier League

1. Most Runs By A Player In A Single Innings

While Brendon McCullum’s 158* was definitely a great start for the Indian Premier League, it was Chris Gayle’s 175* off 66 balls against Pune Warriors India in 2013 that remains the biggest individual innings in IPL. On the way of his unbeaten 175, the Jamaican also registered the fastest ever century in the history of IPL.

Most Runs By A Player In A Single Innings
Player	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR	Team	Opposition	Ground	Match Date
CH Gayle	175*	66	13	17	265.15	RCB	v Warriors	Bengaluru	23 Apr 2013
BB McCullum	158*	73	10	13	216.43	KKR	v RCB	Bengaluru	18 Apr 2008
Q de Kock	140*	70	10	10	200	Super Giants	v KKR	DY Patil	18 May 2022
AB de Villiers	133*	59	19	4	225.42	RCB	v Mumbai	Wankhede	10 May 2015
KL Rahul	132*	69	14	7	191.3	Kings XI	v RCB	Dubai (DSC)	24 Sep 2020

2. Most Runs in IPL (Overall)

Virat Kohli, the T20 specialist of India, holds the record for being the highest run-scorer in the history of the Indian Premier League, having scored a total of 6844 runs in 220 innings. While Shikhar Dhawan is second on the list with 6477 runs, the top five list features four Indian players, with Rohit Sharma (6014) and Suresh Raina (5528) being the other two.

That said Suresh Raina also holds the IPL Record for the most number of catches (109).

3. Most Sixes In An Innings By A Player: IPL Records

Chris Gayle has to be one of the most successful batsmen in the Indian Premier League as not he holds the record of the most number of sixes by a player in an innings, he is also leading the tally of having the biggest bag of maximums in ten years of IPL history. While he became the worst nightmare of Pune Warriors’ bowling attack in a group match of IPL 2013, hitting a total of 17 sixes, his overall tally in the league stands at 265 maximums in 100 innings.

Most sixes in an innings
Player	6s	Team	Opposition	Ground	Match Date
Chris Gayle	17	RCB	v Warriors	Bengaluru	23 Apr 2013
Brendon McCullum	13	KKR	v RCB	Bengaluru	18 Apr 2008
Chris Gayle	13	RCB	v Daredevils	Delhi	17 May 2012
Chris Gayle	12	RCB	v Kings XI	Bengaluru	6 May 2015
AB de Villiers	12	RCB	v Guj Lions	Bengaluru	14 May 2016

4. Biggest Batting Partnership

In a do-or-die match to qualify for IPL 2016 playoffs against Gujarat Lions, after the fall of Chris Gayle early in the game, AB De Villiers joined Virat Kohli at the crease and saved RCB with record-breaking 229-runs stand in 96 deliveries with the skipper. While Virat Kohli played a steady innings of 109 runs on 55 balls, De Villiers breathed fire with his 52-ball 129.

While the previous highest of 215 runs was also set by the same duo, their 229-runs stand remains the biggest partnership in all T20 leagues.

Highest partnerships by runs
Partners	Runs	Wkt	Team	Opposition	Ground	Match Date
V Kohli, AB de Villiers	229	2nd	RCB	v Guj Lions	Bengaluru	14 May 2016
V Kohli, AB de Villiers	215*	2nd	RCB	v Mumbai	Wankhede	10 May 2015
Q de Kock, KL Rahul	210*	1st	Super Giants	v KKR	DY Patil	18 May 2022
AC Gilchrist, SE Marsh	206	2nd	Kings XI	v RCB	Dharamsala	17 May 2011
CH Gayle, V Kohli	204*	2nd	RCB	v Daredevils	Delhi	17 May 2012

5. Most Wickets By A Bowler In An Innings

Alzarri Joseph’s remarkable bowling figures of 6-12 in just 3.4 overs for Mumbai Indians against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2019 broke the previous record set by Sohail Tanvir in the first season of IPL back in 2008, and held for a remarkable 11 years. Tanvir had taken 6-14 for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in four overs. Joseph’s record-breaking performance now stands as the best bowling figures in the history of IPL.

In third place is Adam Zampa, who took 6-19 in four overs for Rising Pune Supergiants against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016. The fourth position is held by former Indian spinner Anil Kumble, who picked up 5-5 in 3.1 overs for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Rajasthan Royals in 2009. The fifth and final spot in the list is occupied by Mumbai Indians’ Jasprit Bumrah, who took 5-10 in four overs against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022. These five bowlers have etched their names in the IPL history books with their remarkable bowling performances, which will be remembered for years to come.

Best bowling figures in an innings
Player	Overs	BBI	Team	Opposition	Match Date
AS Joseph	3.4	6-12	Mumbai	v Sunrisers	6 Apr 2019
Sohail Tanvir	4	6-14	Royals	v Super Kings	4 May 2008
A Zampa	4	6-19	Supergiants	v Sunrisers	10 May 2016
A Kumble	3.1	5-5	RCB	v Royals	18 Apr 2009
JJ Bumrah	4	5-10	Mumbai	v KKR	9 May 2022

6. Most Number Of Hat-Tricks: IPL records

Out of the 17 hat-tricks taken in 10 years of Indian Premier League history, Amit Mishra holds the IPL record of the most number of Hat-Tricks by a player, having achieved the feat thrice (2008, 2011 and 2013). A veteran of 126 IPL matches, Mishra has picked up 134 wickets in total and is the second highest wicket-taker of the league with best bowling figures of 5/17.

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7. Most Number Of Wickets (Overall)

Dwayne Bravo, who is considered one of the greatest bowlers in limited-overs, has been the highest wicket-taker in IPL history, having picked 183 wickets in 158 innings and 22/4 being his best figures.

Yuzvendra Chahal, who has played for Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore, has taken 177 wickets in 136 innings over 137 matches from 2013-2023. Lasith Malinga, who has played for Mumbai Indians, has taken 170 wickets in 122 innings over 122 matches from 2009-2019. Amit Mishra, who has played for Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad, is fourth on the list with 169 wickets in 157 innings over 157 matches from 2008-2023. These bowlers have consistently made an impact on the league, and their impressive records are a testament to their skills and contributions to the sport.

Most Number Of Wickets (Overall)
Player	Span	Mat	Inns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Ave	Econ
DJ Bravo	2008-2022	161	158	4360	183	4/22	23.82	8.38
YS Chahal	2013-2023	137	136	3822	177	5/40	21.59	7.64
SL Malinga	2009-2019	122	122	3365	170	5/13	19.79	7.14
A Mishra	2008-2023	157	157	4032	169	5/17	23.85	7.34
R Ashwin	2009-2023	190	187	4696	165	4/34	28.46	6.96

8. Highest Team Total In A Match

Royal Challengers Bangalore features thrice in top five of the highest team total by a team, all thanks to a formidable batting lineup including the likes of Chris Gayle, AB De Villiers, and Virat Kohli.

On the same day when the Chris Gayle-storm hit Chinnaswamy stadium in 2013, RCB posted a total of 263 runs against Pune Warriors and as expected, the visitors lost the match by 130 runs.

Highest Team Total In A Match
Team	Score	Overs	RR	Opposition	Ground	Match Date
RCB	263/5	20	13.15	v Warriors	Bengaluru	23 Apr 2013
RCB	248/3	20	12.4	v Guj Lions	Bengaluru	14 May 2016
Super Kings	246/5	20	12.3	v Royals	Chennai	3 Apr 2010
KKR	245/6	20	12.25	v Kings XI	Indore	12 May 2018
Super Kings	240/5	20	12	v Kings XI	Mohali	19 Apr 2008

9. Lowest Total Defended: IPL records

Chennai Super Kings, the two-time IPL Champions holds the record of lowest total defended and it doesn’t come as a surprise because it was MS Dhoni, who was leading the side against Kings XI Punjab on that day. During a group game in the IPL 2009 edition, CSK was put to bat and they managed a reeling 116/9 by the end of first innings. However, MS Dhoni put his cricketing acumen to play and led his team to a 24-run victory.

Lowest scores defended in IPL
First Innings	Second Innings	Win Margin	Year
CSK – 116/9	PBKS – 92/8	24 runs	2009
SRH – 118	MI – 87	21 runs	2018
PBKS – 119/8	MI – 116/7	3 runs	2009
SRH – 119/8	PWI – 108	11 runs	2013
MI – 120/9	PWI – 119/6	1 run	2012

10. Largest Winning Margin

Mumbai Indians, the three-time champions as well as winners of IPL 2017, hold the record of the biggest victory by a margin of runs in the history of this tournament. During their Championship-run in the 10th edition of Indian Premier League, they defeated Delhi Daredevils by a margin of 146 runs after bowling out the hosts for 66 runs in the second innings.

The previous IPL record for the largest winning margin was held by RCB which was recorded on the same day of Virat-De Villiers 229-runs record partnership.

Largest Winning Margin
Winner	Margin	Target		Opposition	Ground	Match Date
Mumbai	146 runs	213		v Daredevils	Delhi	6 May 2017
RCB	144 runs	249		v Guj Lions	Bengaluru	14 May 2016
KKR	140 runs	223		v RCB	Bengaluru	18 Apr 2008
RCB	138 runs	227		v Kings XI	Bengaluru	6 May 2015
RCB	130 runs	264		v Warriors	Bengaluru	23 Apr 2013

These were some of the biggest IPL records from the last decade as the League enters a new era with its 11th edition, we expect a whole new tally of records being made in the coming years.

*Updated on April 20th, 2023