Celebrating 18 Years of IPL: A Look at the Highest Scoring Matches

IPL's 18th Anniversary: A Retrospective on High-Scoring Matches

New Delhi, April 18: As the Indian Premier League (IPL) marks its 18th anniversary today, it's an opportune moment to reflect on some of the most thrilling high-scoring matches in the league's history.

The IPL commenced in 2008, with Brendon McCullum of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) making a spectacular debut at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, scoring an unforgettable 158* off just 73 balls, which included ten fours and thirteen sixes against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). This innings set the stage for a cricketing extravaganza.

Discussions about the league's top performers are endless. Over the years, numerous players, both established and emerging, have left their mark on this tournament. The IPL has been a platform for many talented cricketers to demonstrate their skills and earn spots on national teams. Additionally, several international stars have enhanced their legacies through remarkable performances in the IPL, leading to team victories and individual accolades such as the Orange Cap for most runs, the Purple Cap for most wickets, and the Player of the Tournament award.

On this significant day in Indian cricket, let’s delve into the highest aggregate matches recorded in the IPL:

— Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (549 runs in IPL 2024)

According to ESPNcricinfo, in IPL 2024, Sunrisers Hyderabad set a record by scoring 287 runs for just three wickets after batting first. Key contributions came from Travis Head (102 runs off 41 balls), Heinrich Klaasen (67 runs off 31 balls), Abdul Samad (37* runs off 10 balls), Abhishek Sharma (34 runs off 22 balls), and Aiden Markram (32* runs off 17 balls).

In response, RCB managed to score 262/7 in their 20 overs, falling short by 25 runs. Dinesh Karthik (83 runs off 35 balls), Faf Du Plessis (62 runs off 28 balls), and Virat Kohli (42 runs off 20 balls) were the standout performers for RCB.

— Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals (528 runs in IPL 2025)

In IPL 2025, Rajasthan Royals opted to field first against Sunrisers Hyderabad. SRH started strong with a 45-run partnership between Abhishek (24 runs off 11 balls) and Head (67 runs off 31 balls). Ishan Kishan's explosive 106* off 47 balls, supported by contributions from Nitish Kumar Reddy (30 runs) and Heinrich Klaasen (34 runs), propelled SRH to a total of 273 runs.

Despite a valiant effort from Rajasthan Royals, including a 111-run partnership between Sanju Samson (66 runs) and Dhruv Jurel (70 runs), they fell short, finishing at 242/6 and losing by 44 runs.

— Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians (523 runs in IPL 2024)

In another thrilling match in IPL 2024, Sunrisers Hyderabad batted first against Mumbai Indians, scoring 277/3. Travis Head (62 runs) and Abhishek Sharma (63 runs) set the tone, while Heinrich Klaasen's explosive 80* off 34 balls helped SRH reach a formidable total.

Chasing 278, MI's openers Rohit Sharma (26 runs) and Ishan Kishan (34 runs) provided a quick start, but despite efforts from Naman Dhir (30 runs) and Tilak Varma (64 runs), MI ended their innings at 250 runs.

— Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings (523 runs in IPL 2024)

Punjab Kings chose to bowl first against Kolkata Knight Riders, who scored 261/6, thanks to Sunil Narine (71 runs) and Philip Salt (75 runs). In response, Jonny Bairstow's 108 runs led Punjab to chase down the target with eight balls remaining.

— Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians (504 runs in IPL 2024)

In a match where Mumbai Indians put Delhi Capitals to bat first, DC scored 257/4, with Jake Fraser McGurk (84 runs) and Shai Hope (41 runs) contributing significantly. MI fell short by just 10 runs, finishing at 247 runs.