Highest Run Chases in IPL
Cricket is a game of uncertainty and when it comes to the shortest format of the game, one single delivery or a single run can change the whole climax of the game. There are times when the target looks impossible to chase and when the required run-rate gets higher, chance decreases even more and tension rises. But the cricket world has already seen some breathtaking matches where the teams have clinched a victory from the jaws of defeat.
List of Highest Run Chase in IPL History
Let’s have a look at the top 5 highest successful run chases in IPL:
#1. 217/7 by Rajasthan Royals vs Deccan Chargers (IPL 2008)
Highest Run Chases in IPL: It has been more than 10 years since the Indian Premier League (IPL) is played and still, the highest run chase in IPL came in the inaugural edition when Rajasthan Royals chased down a mammoth total of 215, set by Deccan Chargers. The 2008 edition was just a start of something new where there was a proper mixture of inexperienced players in the shortest format of the game and seemed absolutely unreachable to chase down 215 by Deccan Chargers.
The game was all about Rajasthan Royals at the beginning as the batting department took Deccan Chargers’ bowlers to the cleaners right from the word go. But the middle-order batsman Andrew Symonds took away the spotlight from everyone after he played a brutal inning of 117 from just 53 balls and guided Deccan Chargers to the massive total of 215 in the end.
With a mountain to climb. Rajasthan Royals had to attack right from the beginning. Despite losing opener Kamran Akmal early, the men in blue didn’t give up and it was the beginning of a 98 run partnership between Graeme Smith and Yusuf Pathan that turned around the game.
Yusuf hammered 61 off just 28 balls while the former South African captain scored 71 from 45 deliveries. After the dismissal of Smith in the 8th over, Mohammad Kaif played a superb came of 34 from 16 and then it was Shane Warne, who took things in his own hands in the final over when Rajasthan needed 17 runs to win the game. He hit four and two sixes off three consecutive deliveries to stun the cricket world and take his side over the line. Rajasthan royals run chase is the highest run chase in IPL.
Read More: Fastest century in IPL
#2. 214/3 by Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Lions (IPL 2017)
Highest Successful Run Chases: The second-highest run chase in IPL history came when Delhi Capitals chased down the mammoth target of 209 against Gujarat Lions. Gujarat had a nightmare of a tournament and Delhi Daredevils added more insult to the injury after this game.
After being sent to bat first, Gujarat Lions lost their openers within the first two overs. But Suresh Raina (77 off 43) and Dinesh Karthik (65 off 34) repaired the early damage and played an outstanding inning to take Gujarat to a huge total of 208 with the loss of 7 wickets.
Delhi Capitals lost their captain Karun Nair early in the chase and looked in big trouble. But then came Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant, who is regarded as one of the consistent players in IPL to change the whole complexion of the game. Pant played yet another match-winning innings and it was a special knock considering the huge target to chase and Samson supported brilliantly from the other end. Pant scored 97 off just 43 balls and Samson scored 61 off 31 and made the target look like absolutely a cup of tea. Delhi won the game by 7 wickets and with 15 balls to spare in the end.
Read More: Lowest score defended in IPL
#3. 211/4 by Kings XI Punjab vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (IPL 2014)
In the 2014 edition, Sunrisers Hyderbad’s batting unit looked absolutely explosive and the top-order was in great form to produce big knocks. It was just another day when David Warner and his men posted a huge total in the first innings.
Sunrisers Hyderabad started the innings with a bang as Aaron Finch and Shikhar Dhawan put 88 runs in the opening stand. The duo got dismissed after 10 overs and then the home crowd witnessed the Warner show, supported by Naman Ojha. But just after Warner started the party, Ojha outscored him with a thrilling knock of 79* from just 36 balls. On the other hand, Warner scored 44 off just 23 balls and it took Sunrisers to 205/5 in their 20 overs.
Despite losing Virender Sehwag early in the chase, Kings XI Punjab looked well in the game as Wriddhiman Saha and Manan Vohra formed a formidable duo and scored 54 (26) and 47 (20) respectively to take Punjab to 125/3 in just 9.1 overs. It was all too easy for Punjab from there and Maxwell, Miller, and Bailey finished things off with 10 balls to spare. This is the third-highest run chase in IPL.
Read More: Most ducks in IPL
#4. 208/5 by Chennai Supers Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (IPL 2012)
Highest Run Chases in IPL: The battle between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore is always an intense one and in the 2012 edition, the two teams faced locked horns in one of the most nail-biting games in IPL history.
Royal Challengers Bangalore scored 205/8 in the first innings after openers Chris Gayle and Mayank Agarwal scored 68 (35) and 45 (26) and gave a firing start. Skipper Virat Kohli took it from there and scored 57 runs which helped them reach the 200 marks in the end.
It was a steady start for Chennai Super Kings in the chase. But Suresh Raina and skipper MS Dhoni accelerated the innings and helped CSK come close to the target. However, it was still not working and with 43 runs needed in the last 2 overs, the game seemed completely over for CSK. But cricket is the game of uncertainty and it was Albie Morkel who turned the match around for Chennai. RCB lost the plot after the skipper took the risk of bringing himself to bowl the 19th over. Morkel hammered 28 runs off Kohli’s over and then it was Ravindra Jadeja who won the game for CSK in the last over after hitting a last-ball boundary. A great match between Rcb and Csk is the fourth-highest run chase in IPL.
Read More: Most 50 in IPL
#5 207/5 by Chennai Supers Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (IPL 2018)
After six years, history repeated itself as Chennai Super Kings yet again chased down a mammoth total against Royal Challengers Bangalore, which is the fifth-highest run chase in IPL.
After the early dismissal of skipper Virat Kohli, wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock played an amazing inning of 53 from 37 after getting the support of his South Africa team-mate AB de Villiers. De Villiers also joined the party and with 2 fours and 9 massive sixes, he scored 68 from 30 balls to take RCB to a huge total of 205/8 in 20 overs.
In reply, despite getting the early wicket of Shane Watson, it was no relief for RCB as Ambati Rayudu produced a firing knock to stun the men in yellow. He scored 82 off just 53 balls before being run-out unfortunately. Skipper MS Dhoni triggered the last party and unleashed a brutal knock of 70* from 34 balls to break the hearts of RCB again. Dhoni and his men won the thrilling game in the end by 5 wickets and with 2 balls to spare.
Read More: Most Maidens in IPL
