The Indian Premier League (IPL) sits atop when it comes to delivering high-quality, competitive matches between teams. Over the years, the league has seen many edge-of-the-seat thrillers unfold in high-scoring games.
Chasing down huge totals isn’t a cakewalk for the teams. However, a few teams have crushed the odds by registering some of the best run chases.
On that note, let’s delve into the 5 greatest run chases recorded by teams in the IPL.
Punjab Kings | 262/2 vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 2024
It was a batting paradise at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, as the home side shelled out 261 runs on the board, batting first. No team had chased down 230+ targets in the IPL, and a few expected Punjab to go past the victory line.
But they pulled off a stunning run chase. Punjab’s openers gave them a flying start, and they were on 93/1 by the time Prabhsimran Singh was run out (54 off 20).
Rilee Rossouw joined Jonny Bairstow in the middle. Despite losing the wicket, Bairstow didn’t slow down and kept hammering the KKR bowlers across the park.
Rossouw also played a small yet crucial cameo with the bat, scoring 26 off 16 before getting caught out. Then Shashank Singh came to the crease and went berserk without wasting any time.
Shashank (68*) and Bairstow (108*) didn’t spare any bowlers, reaching 262 runs in 18.4 overs. Both batters remained not out and helped PBKS pull off one of the greatest run chases in IPL history.
Rajasthan Royals | 224/8 vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 2024
Another match from the 2024 season at the Eden Gardens involving the Kolkata Knight Riders. KKR muscled 223 runs riding on the back of a brilliant hundred from Sunil Narine (109).
This wasn’t an easy chase for the Rajasthan Royals, as they had a rough start, losing 2 wickets inside the powerplay. The experienced Jos Buttler had a huge responsibility on his shoulders to take his side home.
The opener kept the Royals in the game, as he was running out of partners on the other end. It seemed RR was out of the race, but Riyan Parag (34 off 14) and Rovman Powell (26 off 13) played crucial knocks to get closer to the target.
In the end, Buttler (107*) prevailed under pressure, helping RR tick off the 8 runs required in the last over to reach 224 with 2 wickets in hand.
Rajasthan Royals | 226/6 vs Kings XI Punjab, 2020
The clashes between the Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) have always been entertaining. One such game unfolded in Sharjah during the 2020 season.
KXIP posted 223 runs on the scoreboard, thanks to Mayank Agarwal’s 106 and captain KL Rahul’s 69. In reply, Jos Buttler and Steve Smith opened for the Royals.
RR lost Buttler on 19, and then Sanju Samson forged a brilliant partnership with captain Smith. The skipper fell after bringing up his fifty, leaving RR on 100 for 2.
Rahul Tewatia, the miracle man, was promoted to No. 4. However, his bat was quiet for a long time. But he turned the tide of the match by smashing 5 sixes in the 17th over.
Jofra Archer joined him, smashing 2 sixes before Tewatia perished with 4 to win. With 3 balls to spare, Tom Curran’s boundary took RR to 226 to pull off a miraculous run chase.
Mumbai Indians | 219/6 vs Chennai Super Kings, 2021
The matches between the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, touted as the El-Clasico of the IPL, have witnessed thriller contests. One of their matches in the 2021 season saw Mumbai sail over the winning line on the last ball.
Batting first, CSK scored 218 runs with valuable fifties from Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, and Ambati Rayudu. In response, MI were off to a flyer, scoring 71 runs for the first wicket. They lost 2 more wickets in the space of 10 runs, pushing them back in the chase.
But Kieron Pollard, who strode out on the pitch, had other plans. He got off to work by tonking massive sixes into the stands, dragging down the required run rate.
Pollard kept MI in the hunt, with a couple of crucial contributions coming from the other end. The equation came down to 16 needed off the last over.
The Caribbean batter faced all the balls and delivered a stellar win for Mumbai on the last delivery!
Sunrisers Hyderabad | 217/6 vs Rajasthan Royals, 2023
Batting first, the Rajasthan Royals put up 214 runs on the board. While defending the target, RR had control over the match, but SRH batters tilted the momentum in the last couple of overs.
With the target of 215 runs to chase down, SRH openers provided a decent start, ending the powerplay on 52 for 1. Then Abhishek Sharma took control of the proceedings, scoring a gutsy fifty before falling on 55.
Out came Heinrich Klaasen, who scored a quick-fire 26 off 12, followed by Glenn Philips’ 25 off 7. These 2 outrageous knocks turned the match on its head.
Going into the last over, SRH needed 17 off 6 balls. Cut to the last ball, and Hyderabad required 5 to win.
RR’s Sandeep Sharma got Abdul Samad caught on the final delivery, but it turned out to be a no-ball, providing a lifeline to SRH. Samad made the most of it, smacking a six to take SRH home.
