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