Highest Target Chased in IPL History

The IPL is known for explosive batting innings, and a high run total is quite common in the tournament. But chasing down a big score is rare in IPL, yet many teams have managed to accomplish it. Earlier, a 200-plus run total was considered a safe bet in most cases. But surprisingly, the last few years have been tough on the bowlers on the defending side. As the sport is evolving and players are getting better, chasing 200-plus runs is becoming easier. Teams try to score as many runs as possible with the new ball and hope to defend it with their full might. In this article we will discuss about the highest target chased in IPL history.

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The IPL 2024 season has been fantastic so far in which many new records have been made. Talking about the highest target chased in IPL history, Punjab Kings set a new record with 262/2 after they overcame Kolkata Knight Riders' 261/6 at the Eden Gardens in IPL 2024. In a span of 10 days, the highest run chase record was matched and then broken at Eden Gardens with the home team on the receiving end on both occasions. You can check out the full list of the highest successful run chases in IPL history below. 

Highest Target Chased in IPL History

1# PBKS vs KKR | 261 Runs

Punjab Kings set a new record for the highest target chased in IPL history with 262/2 after they overcame Kolkata Knight Riders' 261/6 at the Eden Gardens in IPL 2024. For KKR, it was openers Phil Salt and Sunil Narine's fifties and a few cameos that helped them set a massive total. 

In the second innings, PBKS Prabhsimran Singh smashed a 20-ball 50 (4x4, 5x6) while Jonny Bairstow crafted an unbeaten 108 in just 48 balls, helped by eight fours and nine sixes. The duo put on 93 runs in the powerplay before Prabhsimran was sent back. Shashank Singh too got into the action, blasting 68 runs in just 28 balls, with two fours and eight sixes, at a strike rate of 242.85. After that, PBKS won the match with eight balls and as many wickets to spare. 

2# RR vs KKR (2024) | 224 Runs

Rajasthan Royals equalled it's own record for the highest target chased in IPL history when they chased down Kolkata Knight Riders’ 223/6 at the Eden Gardens during the 2024 season. Asked to bat first, KKR’s innings was pillared by Sunil Narine’s maiden T20 century. In response, RR went on the attack but kept losing wickets while Jos Buttler had anchored the innings at the other end. With 46 needed in the last three overs and the tail exposed, Buttler ensured that he not only kept the strike but also hit timely sixes. Ultimately, the Englishman ensured that RR took the win off the last ball with a single.

3# RR vs PBKS (2020) | 224 Runs

In IPL 2020, Rajasthan Royals set the record for the highest target chased in IPL history when they successfully tracked down 224 for the win against Punjab Kings. Batting first at Sharjah, PBKS scored 223/2 on the back of Mayank Agarwal’s century and KL Rahul’s 69. In the chase, the RR lost Jos Buttler early but captain Steve Smith (50 runs in 27 balls), Sanju Samson (85 in 42) and Rahul Tewatia (53 in 31) scored fifties to help their team over the line in 19.3 overs. RR ended up with 226/6 to win the match by four wickets.

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4# MI vs CSK (2021) | 219 Runs

Mumbai Indians chased down Chennai Super Kings’ 218/4 in Delhi during the IPL 2021. MI needed two off the last ball and Kieron Pollard delivered that. The West Indian scored an unbeaten 87 off just 34 balls, which included eight sixes, to get MI past the CSK total. Quinton de Kock, Rohit Sharma and Krunal Pandya all scored in the thirties. While in the first innings, CSK displayed the high scoring total with the help of Ambati Rayudu's 72 not out off just 27 balls. Apart from that, Faf du Plessis and Moeen Ali both scored half centuries.

5# RR vs DEC (2008) | 215 Runs

Rajasthan Royals was the first team to chase down a total of more than 200 runs during IPL 2008 against the Deccan Chargers. They held on to the record for 12 long years before surpassing it again in IPL 2020. RR needed 17 runs off the last over to win against Deccan Chargers, who had scored 214/5 in Hyderabad during IPL 2008. Andrew Symonds was bowling the final over to Pankaj Singh, who scored three runs off the first two balls and handed the strike to captain Shane Warne. With 14 needed off four, Warne wasted no time and hit a four and back-to-back sixes to end the match with one ball and three wickets to spare. Earlier, Yusuf Pathan scored 61 runs off just 28 balls while Mohammed Kaif hit 34 in 16. In the first innings, Symonds had scored 117* in just 53 balls to help Deccan Chargers to the total.

6# SRH vs RR (2023) | 215 Runs

Sunrisers Hyderabad beat the Rajasthan Royals by 4 wickets at their home after chasing down 215 off the last ball. After that, SRH registered the joint fourth highest target chased in IPL history. With 17 needed off the final over Abdul Samad hit a six off the second ball to leave the equation to five runs from the last delivery. Everybody thought Samad was out with Jos Buttler taking a catch near the boundary but the umpire called for a no-ball. After that, SRH needed four runs for a win, but Samad (17*) then smashed a six to reach 217 for 6 and notch up one of the most memorable wins in the IPL. Earlier SRH top-order batters Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi scored 55 and 47 respectively but it was the Glenn Phillips who scored 25 runs in just 7 balls that turned the game on its head and reignited the chase.

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7# MI vs PBKS (2023) | 215 Runs

Mumbai Indians once again displayed their batting dominance by chasing down a high-scoring target of 215 against Punjab Kings at the PCA Stadium in Mohali in IPL 2023. A collective effort from Ishan Kishan (75 off 41) and Suryakumar Yadav (66 off 31) ensured a memorable victory in a match’s run-fest. The duo added 116 runs from just 55 balls. After their dismissal, MI needed 37 runs off 22 balls but Tim David (19 not out) and Tilak Verma (26 not out) sealed the chase.