Highest Run Chase in IPL History – Reliving the Greatest Comebacks

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has produced several high-scoring thrillers since its inception in 2008. With flat pitches, small boundaries and power-packed batting lineups, run chases in excess of 200 runs have become common in IPL cricket.

Let’s revisit some enthralling matches where teams successfully pulled off incredible heists by registering the highest run chase in IPL history.

Evolution of IPL as a High Scoring Tournament

The IPL has evolved into one of the most popular T20 leagues in the world. With icons like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and AB de Villiers featuring regularly, the tournament witnesses high strike rates and mammoth team scores every season.

Some key stats:

• There have been over 850 matches played in IPL history so far.
• The average innings total in IPL is around 160 runs with average run rate of 8.5 per over.
• Triple centuries have been scored thrice – Chris Gayle (175), Brendon McCullum (158) and AB de Villiers (133*).
• There have been over 850 sixes hit by batsmen in IPL history.
• Many stadiums like Wankhede, Chinnaswamy, Eden Gardens are batting paradises.

With flat decks favouring batsmen, let’s look at the highest chases recorded in IPL.

Top 5 Highest Successful Run Chases in IPL

Here are the top 5 mammoth run chases pulled off by teams in IPL matches over the years:

1. 206/5 – RR vs CSK in 2008

Score: Rajasthan Royals – 217/7 in 19.3 overs

Chased: Chennai Super Kings – 214/5 in 20 overs

In the inaugural IPL season in 2008, CSK posted an imposing total of 214/5 built on Parthiv Patel’s quickfire 29-ball 57.

In response, RR got off to a sensational start courtesy English opener Yusuf Pathan who blasted an unbeaten 56-ball 100 studded with 8 fours and 9 massive sixes. A late blitz from Shane Watson (29* off 21 balls) sealed the highest chase in IPL history with 3 balls to spare.

2. 208/7 – KXIP vs RR in 2020

Score: KXIP – 208/7 in 19.4 overs

Chased: RR – 216/7 in 20 overs

During a high-octane clash in IPL 2020, RR powered to 216/7 on the back of Sanju Samson’s 42-ball 85.

Chasing a mammoth 217, KXIP were propelled by skipper KL Rahul’s 69 and Nicholas Pooran’s 25-ball 53. A blinder of an innings by Glenn Maxwell (32 off 13 balls) took KXIP over the line in a last-ball thriller.

3. 208/6 – DC vs KXIP in 2019

Score: DC – 208/6 in 19.4 overs

Chased: KXIP – 207/5 in 20 overs

In another IPL classic, KXIP posted 207/5 in 2019 riding on KL Rahul’s stellar 71 off 57 balls.

Chasing 208, DC were powered by Prithvi Shaw’s 41-ball 78. Rishabh Pant struck an unbeaten 20-ball 39 but it took Sherfane Rutherford’s huge six off the last ball to complete DC’s tense chase on the last ball.

4. 207/7 – KKR vs KXIP in 2019

Score: KKR – 208/7 in 20 overs

Chased: KXIP – 206/5 in 20 overs

KXIP batted first in the 2019 clash and scored 206/5 thanks to KL Rahul’s 60 off 50 balls.

Chasing 207, KKR were powered by Chris Lynn’s 46-ball 94. Shubman Gill struck an unbeaten 29-ball 65 but it was Sunil Narine’s 7-ball 24 cameo that clinched a thrilling chase off the last ball for KKR.

5. 207/5 – CSK vs RCB in 2013

Score: CSK – 208/5 in 20 overs

Chased: RCB – 205/8 in 20 overs

In this high-scoring IPL 2013 match, CSK notched 208/5 after being put into bat first.

Chasing 209, RCB were propelled by fine half-centuries from Virat Kohli (65 off 50) and AB de Villiers (64 off 32). Chris Morris provided late sparks with a 7-ball 34 cameo as RCB got over the line on the last ball in a cliffhanger.

Notable Batting Performances in IPL’s Biggest Chases

Here are some of the batting highlights that made IPL’s highest successful chases possible:

• Yusuf Pathan – 100* off 56 balls for RR against CSK in 2008
• KL Rahul – 69 off 54 balls for KXIP against RR in 2020
• AB de Villiers – 59* off 38 balls for RCB against Gujarat Lions in 2016
• Rishabh Pant – 39* off 20 balls for DC against KXIP in 2019
• MS Dhoni – 51* off 22 balls for CSK against MI in 2015
• Chris Morris – 34 off 7 balls for DC against KXIP in 2020

Such brilliant match-winning efforts under immense pressure is what makes IPL cricket enthralling and unpredictable.

Highest Individual Scores in IPL history while chasing 200+ targets

Let’s look at the leading individual batting performances in successful run chases of targets over 200 runs:

Batsman	Score	Balls	4s	6s	For	Against	Venue	Year
Yusuf Pathan	100*	56	8	9	RR	CSK	Mumbai	2008
AB de Villiers	59*	38	5	2	RCB	GL	Bengaluru	2016
Sanju Samson	85	42	12	4	RR	KXIP	Sharjah	2020
KL Rahul	69	54	5	2	KXIP	RR	Abu Dhabi	2020
Chris Morris	34	7	1	4	DC	KXIP	Dubai	2020

Yusuf Pathan’s blistering 100* off 56 balls against CSK in 2008 remains the highest individual score ever in a successful 200+ run chase in IPL history.

Key Takeaways from IPL’s Highest Successful Chases

Analyzing all the record-breaking run chases in IPL history, we can conclude:

• Flat pitches and small boundaries result in high scoring games.
• Powerplay overs batting approach sets the tone for mammoth chases.
• Presence of anchors like Rahul, Kohli or Dhoni who can absorb pressure is crucial.
• Importance of power hitters like Hardik Pandya or Morris to provide final sparks.
• Game changing innings under pressure from the likes of Pant, Samson, Pathan.
• Self-belief within squad to regularly achieve the impossible.
• blending fearless aggression with tactical game awareness.
• Strong bench strength allows maintaining momentum despite loss of wickets.

Conclusion

The IPL has seen great evolution of T20 batting where chasing down 200+ targets has become more common. Despite the immense pressure scenarios, teams have overcome stiff run chases through collective efforts.

The tons by Pathan, half-centuries from Kohli-de Villiers, cameos by Pandya and last over sixes from Dhoni and Morris exemplify the range of skills on display during massive IPL run chases every season.

As batsmen continue to dominate the bowlers in T20 leagues like the IPL, we can expect quite a few more epic chases and comebacks in the upcoming seasons as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some key questions on highest successful run chases in IPL: