T20 has changed how batters think. There’s less hesitation now. Like batters don’t really fear losing their wickets.
So we see most innings begin with intent and stay that way. And once a batter settles, the ceiling keeps moving.
This has resulted in batters bringing up centuries in style. Some of them went beyond the 100-run mark to rack up some unimaginable scores.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen some. And here we’ll look at the top five highest individual scores registered in the IPL.
5. Abhishek Sharma (SRH) | 135* vs DC, 2026
Abhishek Sharma doesn’t settle for small scores. When he gets going, he goes big.
On a flat Hyderabad surface, he found his range against Delhi Capitals. And then he stayed there.
Boundaries came in clusters. 10 fours. 10 sixes. That’s 100 runs alone from the boundaries!
Abhishek eventually remained unbeaten on 135 to log the fifth-highest individual score in the IPL.
4. Quinton de Kock (LSG) | 140* vs KKR, 2022
Quinton de Kock has built a career on giving teams quick starts. This one against Kolkata Knight Riders went further.
He took on Kolkata’s attack and never really let up. The partnership with KL Rahul grew quietly in the background, while de Kock did most of the scoring.
140 not out off 70. A big score, built without too much noise.
3. Abhishek Sharma (SRH) | 141 vs PBKS, 2025
Chasing 246 usually brings pressure. But this knock didn’t feel like that.
Abhishek set the tone early and kept it there. The target stayed large, but the approach didn’t change. He kept finding gaps, then clearing them.
141 in a chase like that stands out. Not just for the number, but for how it came.
2. Brendon McCullum (KKR) | 158* vs RCB, 2008
The IPL needed a grand start. And Brendon McCullum gave it one. The kind of start no one will forget.
Opening night. New tournament. A lot of unknowns. But he cleared most of them on his own.
158 not out off 73. Shots all around the ground. It wasn’t just a big score. It set the tone for what the league could become.
1. Chris Gayle (RCB) | 175* vs PWI, 2013
Some innings don’t need much explanation. And this is one of them.
That day, Chris Gayle toyed with Pune Warriors bowlers. The bowlers tried different things. None of it stayed for long.
The result? He reached 100 off just 30 balls! Gayle eventually hit an unbeaten 175, along with 13 fours and 17 sixes. The kind of numbers that don’t quite register at first.
This still remains the highest individual score by any batter in IPL history.
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