Will the Record Be Broken? A Look at the Highest Run Chase in IPL History

The Indian Premier League is back with another action-packed season. Heading into its seventeenth season, the league has produced some exhilarating matches of T20 cricket. The league is comprised of ten teams with the best T20 talent from all over the world participating to showcase their skills. The league is mostly played during the Indian summer with some high scoring encounters being witnessed across the seasons. Here we will focus on the highest run chases in IPL history and also the highest successful run chase in IPL so far.

246/5 - Mumbai Indians

Image credit: X (IPL)

The Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians almost achieved the unthinkable in the 2024 IPL season as they nearly chased down the highest-ever total in IPL history. Playing at their home venue, the Sunrisers Hyderabad side were asked to bat first by Mumbai. Heinrich Klaasen, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head scored healthy half-centuries to help the side score 277/3, the highest team total in IPL history and the third-highest total in overall T20 cricket. Chasing the unthinkable score, all MI batters got to a good start but only Tilak Varma (64) and Tim David (42* off 22) could get to a big score. MI finished at 246/5 falling short by 31 runs but achieved the highest second innings total in IPL.

226/6 - Rajasthan Royals

A magical performance from middle order batter Rahul Tewatia made Rajasthan Royals victors while chasing a mammoth score. It is the highest successful run chase in IPL history. Played at the iconic batting friendly stadium at Sharjah, Kings XI Punjab batted first scoring 223/2 with Mayank Agarwal (106) and KL Rahul (69) adding 183 runs for the first wicket. In response, Rajasthan’s opener Steven Smith scored 50 in 27 but Sanju Samson stole the limelight with his stroke filled 85 in 42 balls. He was dismissed with 63 more to win from 19 balls. Tewatia who was struggling at 5 off 13 deliveries then smashed 7 sixes scoring 43 in 31 deliveries leaving only 2 runs to get from six balls. Jofra Archer and Tom Curran ensured the side got the highest run chase in IPL history.

223/5 - Rajasthan Royals

Another fighting contest involving the Royals. In the 3rd season at Chennai, the hosts pummeled 246/5 while batting first. Murali Vijay (127) and Albie Morkel (62) being the chief perpetrators. Opening the innings for Royals, wicketkeeper Naman Ojha smashed 94 off 55 balls adding 97 runs for the 3rd wicket with Shane Watson (60) and 69 with opener Michael Lumb (37). Besides these 3 batters, no other player stood up with the blade with Royals managing 223/5 at the end of the innings. Australian seam bowler Doug Bollinger starred for CSK conceding just 15 runs and picking 2 wickets in his 4-over spell.

223/6 - Mumbai Indians

One of the most successful teams in the history of IPL, Mumbai Indians equalled the highest 2nd innings total in IPL of that time by scoring 223/6 against Kings XI Punjab in a losing cause during IPL 2017 playing at the Wankhede Stadium. Batting first, KXIP scored 230/3 with opener Wriddhiman Saha scoring a brisk and unbeaten 93 off 55 balls. For MI, opener Lendl Simmons scored 59 and got good support from Kieron Pollard who hit 50 off 24 balls remaining unbeaten. There wasn’t much support from the middle order besides Hardik Pandya’s 30 off 13 balls and Karn Sharma’s 19 off 6. MI lost wickets at important stages and lost the match by 7 runs.

219/6 - Mumbai Indians

During the 2021 season, arch-rivals Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings battled it out in a high-scoring league fixture in Delhi. Batting first CSK scored 218/4 with Ambati Rayudu, Moeen Ali and Faf du Plessis all scoring important half centuries. Kieron Pollard bowled 2 economic overs picking up du Plessis and Suresh Raina’s wickets. Openers Quinton de Kock and Rohit Sharma added 71 runs for the first wicket which followed a mini collapse. Pollard then saved the day by adding 89 runs with Krunal Pandya for the 4th wicket and then kept his nerve as wickets fell at the fag end of the innings. Finishing unbeaten at 87 in 34 balls, he helped the side to a 4-wicket win on the very last ball. This run chase was one run ahead of the highest run chase by RCB in IPL.

226/6 - Rajasthan Royals

Image credit: X (IPL)

The fourteenth season of the Indian Premier League witnessed the highest successful run chase in IPL. In the early stages of the season, Rajasthan Royals achieved the feat at Sharjah against Kings XI Punjab. There were 3 half centuries in the chase with Sanju Samson, Rahul Tewatia and skipper Steven Smith playing the important roles. Tewatia’s seven sixes helped the side finish the game with 4 wickets and 3 balls to spare.

219/6 - Mumbai Indians

It was the Kieron Pollard show at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Playing against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings, MI were chasing 219 in a league fixture and were down at 81/3 when Pollard entered and smashed 6 fours and 8 sixes scoring 87 in 34 balls and remaining unbeaten to seal a last ball win. In the first innings, he conceded 12 runs in 2 overs picking the important wickets of Faf du Plessis and Suresh Raina. 

217/7 - Rajasthan Royals

In one of the most thrilling encounters in the opening season, Rajasthan Royals completed the highest run chase in IPL opening season against Deccan Chargers. Batting first at home, the Chargers scored 214/5 on the back of Andrew Symonds’ unbeaten 117. The Royals lost Kamran Akmal early in the chase but Graeme Smith (71) and Yusuf Pathan (61) added 98 runs for the 2nd wicket to steady the ship. Mohammad Kaif scored 34 in 16 but it was skipper Shane Warne who sealed the game with an unbeaten 22 off just 9 balls with the Royals winning by 3 wickets and 1 ball to spare.

217/6 - Sunrisers Hyderabad

A thrilling last-ball finish in the 2023 season. The Sawai Mansingh Stadium saw hosts Rajasthan Royals bat first and score 214/2 with Jos Buttler (95) and Sanju Samson (66*) helping the side with classic knocks. In response, Abhishek Sharma scored 55 off 34 opening the innings and was helped by Rahul Tripathi who added 47 in 29 balls. After big partnerships for the first 3 wickets, the chase got trickier as SRH lost a host of wickets in the death overs. Glenn Phillips faced 7 deliveries and hit 3 of them out of the park scoring 25 in 7 balls leaving 19 to get off 6 deliveries. Abdul Samad displayed his finishing skills scoring 17 off 7 deliveries helping the side to a famous 4-wicket win.