The professional Twenty20 cricket competition played in India is the Indian Premier League or IPL. IPL now has ten teams that participate annually for the trophy.
The IPL event establishes new benchmarks each year. With IPL played annually, new records are set while old ones are shattered. One of these records is the highest powerplay score in IPL history.
Are you wondering what powerplay is? The mandatory six-over span is referred to as the power play. The power play signifies the first six overs of each batting team’s innings. The opening six overs of the T20 version of cricket are limited to only two fielders outside the 30-yard circle.
Powerplay overs are introduced to help the batting teams score more runs. While some teams record the highest powerplay scores, others set records for the lowest powerplay scores.
Check out the seven top teams with the highest powerplay score in IPL history.
1. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR- 105/0) Vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), IPL 2017
The two-time IPL winner Kolkata Knight Riders took the top spot on the highest powerplay score in IPL history when they played against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Kolkata Knight Riders set a record by scoring the highest power play target during the 46th IPL match of 2017 between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Bengaluru.
The stadium has been lit on fire by top players like Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn. However, knight Riders sprung a surprise by starting Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn. They were chasing 59 runs against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Lynn scored 14 runs each in the first and the third over. Then Narine smashed 26 runs with a breathtaking strike rate in the fourth over. Despite being a fantastic batsman, Chris Gayle stumbled in this match.
This was the same match where Narine had achieved his 50 runs by the time the powerplay ended, while Lynn was 49. As a result, they reached the highest score of 105 runs in the first six overs of powerplay for KKR. This score was the highest powerplay score in the IPL and all T20 matches.
The score of 105 set a record for the highest powerplay in IPL history. This was the final game where Narine boasted the quickest IPL half-century from just 15 balls.
Also Read: Most Runs Scored in a Single Season of IPL
2. Chennai Super Kings (CSK- 100/2) Vs. Kings Xi Punjab, IPL 2014
The second highest powerplay score in IPL history was provided by Chennai Super Kings ace batsman Suresh Raina, virtually entirely by himself. This exciting matchup was the second IPL 2014 qualifying play-off versus Kings XI Punjab.
Chennai needed an aggregate score of 227 to win, but Raina entered the game and launched an incredible counter attack that stopped everyone.
During the opening 36 balls (the first six overs), Chennai Super Kings chased 227 runs in a knockout match. Raina blasted away to a spectacular 87 in only 25 balls with his usual batting style. This high score helped Chennai Super Kings reach a massive 100-2 after the Power Play. The runs scored by Suresh Raina included 18 big shots at a staggering strike rate of 348.
CSK played cleverly and scored runs in the middle overs, but regrettably, they collapsed and lost the game by 25 runs as soon as Raina left. To bet on cricket you can visit the page of sports betting.
3. Chennai Super Kings (CSK- 90/0) Vs. Mumbai Indians, IPL 2015
In the IPL season of 2015 at Wankhede Stadium, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had the highest powerplay score in IPL history when they played against the Mumbai Indians.
Furious openers Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith for Chennai Super Kings went crazy while hunting a daunting score of 184 against the Mumbai Indians (MI). After the first six overs, when only two fielders were allowed within 27 meters, Chennai Super Kings had reached 90 without any loss, thanks to their potent blasts, and smashed in the knock out game. This super kings chase was fantastic.
The first fifty runs were scored in just 16 balls, while the subsequent three overs saw a decline in the run pace. The pair scored 61 runs in the fourth and sixth overs, hammering Harbhajan Singh, Lasith Malinga, and J Suchith for three fours.
Finally, a chase of 184 was completed, with 20 balls remaining in the thrilling ambiance of the Wankhede stadium. Due to their great start, Chennai Super Kings chased the goal effortlessly and eventually reached the goal in only 16.4 overs, thus, defeating Mumbai Indians,
4. Kochi Tuskers Kerala (KTK- 87/2) Vs. Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2011
In 2011, Kochi Tuskers Kerala became a brand-new member of the IPL family. The Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Rajasthan Royals played their last league phase of the 2011 Indian Premier League at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.
KTK destroyed the Rajasthan Royals, making it unforgettable with their highest powerplay score in IPL history. They began by slamming the Royals for a pitiful score of 97. Then Kochi reached an astounding 87 at the end of the first six overs (power play) with two wickets, thanks to the best batsmen, Brendon McCullum and Parthiv Patel.
Brad Hodge had previously taken career-best bowling figures before coming out and hitting 25 in 12 balls alongside Brendon McCullum during the powerplay. In just 7.2 overs, they could win the match because of their spirited performance.
Finally, Kochi Tuskers Kerala triumphed by eight-wicket. Kochi dominated the Royals in this league encounter in a thoroughly one-sided affair.
5. Kings XI Punjab (KXIP- 86/1) Vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL 2014
Kings XI Punjab needed a strong performance in their IPL 2014 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad to chase a 206 goal. Manan Vohra and Wriddhiman Saha contributed to the raid. They quickly smashed Dale Steyn and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s bowling in a powerplay sprint.
The two batsmen scored 86 runs, the highest powerplay score in IPL history, while hitting the bowlers of Sunrisers Hyderabad to every part of the stadium in a lively Hyderabad stadium. Punjab ultimately completed the goal chase in 18.4 overs owing to their explosive start.
Manan Vohra’s powerful hits let him score 47 runs in 20 balls. Then, in just 26 balls, Wriddhiman Saha scored 54 runs. Both of them launched an aggressive pursuit of the target for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
David Warner came in at number four and ensured the openers’ groundwork was capitalized. He added 44 runs, which helped to create a total that would be difficult for most teams to beat.
Despite the weak performance put by Virender Sehwag, Punjab Kings grabbed the match by six wickets.
6. Deccan Chargers (DC- 84/1) Vs. Delhi Daredevils, Semi-Final, IPL 2009
The highest powerplay score in IPL history belongs to Deccan Chargers, who once beat Delhi Daredevils (now called Delhi Capitals) in 2009 with 84 runs after dropping one wicket.
DC choose to bowl first after winning the toss in the IPL 2009 semifinal match. After losing eight wickets in 20 overs, the Delhi Daredevils set a target of 153 runs.
Despite losing their first wicket at 22 runs, the Deccan Chargers set a record for the highest aggregate in an IPL powerplay score because of Adam Gilchrist’s explosive performance. Within just 35 balls, he scored 85 runs.
7. Kings XI Punjab Vs. Mumbai Indians (MI- 82/1), IPL 2017
In the semifinal of IPL 2017, Mumbai Indians chose to field first after winning the toss. However, after a century by Hashim Amla, Kings XI gave Mumbai a chase of 199 runs.
From the KXIP side, Hashim Amla and Shaun Marsh came to attack. Shaun Marsh returned to the pavilion, scoring 26 runs in 21 balls after KXIP lost their first wicket for 46 runs.
However, Hashim Amla consistently hit the boundaries from one side, got a century, and continued the game undefeated. His outstanding innings enabled the KXIP team to score 198 runs overall and 82 runs in the power play following losing one wicket.
Jos Buttler and Parthiv of the Mumbai Indians led the opening attack, smashing Sandeep Sharma for two massive sixes before Parthiv attacked Ishant Sharma. After that, MI was in complete form and won in just 16 overs.
KXIP fell short of winning, losing by an eight-wicket margin. Nitish Rana’s 62 runs in 34 balls and Jos Buttler’s explosive innings of 77 runs in 37 balls each contributed to Mumbai Indians’ victory in the game.
Conclusion
Powerplay innings assist the batting and fielding teams in putting their competitors on the back foot. The team’s performance in the first six overs can make or break them. It will be difficult for the team to win the game if the openers don’t score in the first few overs.
The batsmen of various teams in the IPL have performed outstanding batting during powerplays. The forthcoming IPL season will undoubtedly be more exciting and enjoyable.