IPL 2021: 5 highest team totals in the history of the tournament
Over the 13-year history of the IPL, there have been numerous high-scoring games. With the arrival of attacking batsmen and the advent of new and innovative strokes, one can expect a lot of tall team scores in the upcoming edition of the IPL too.
There have been numerous occurrences of bowling attacks being ruthlessly taken apart in the IPL. 200+ scores are not uncommon in the competition.
To date, there have been 17 team scores of over 225 runs. The list is dominated by RCB, who have breached the 225-run mark on as many as five occasions. As we inch closer to IPL 2021, let's take a look at the highest team totals in IPL history.
#1 Royal Challengers Bangalore - 263/5 against Pune Warriors India (IPL 2013)
Back in the 2013 edition of the IPL, Royal Challengers Bangalore put up the highest team total in the history of the IPL.
Chris Gayle, opening the batting for the Bangalore team, scored a blistering 50 off just 17 deliveries and his next 50 in just 13 deliveries. In the process, he smashed the fastest T20 hundred of all time.
The left-hander's carnage didn't end there. Chris Gayle went on to smash the Pune Warriors India bowlers to all corners of the Chinnaswamy Stadium, ending with the highest ever T20 score of 175 off just 66 deliveries.
AB de Villiers also chipped in with a cameo - scoring 31 off just eight deliveries - to help RCB post a humongous total of 263/5. Pune managed a meagre 133 in response.
#2 Royal Challengers Bangalore - 248/3 against Gujarat Lions (IPL 2016)
It was the Virat Kohli-AB de Villiers show at the Chinnaswamy stadium in IPL 2016, as the duo stitched one of the best T20 partnerships ever seen.
The Bangalore franchise lost their opener, Chris Gayle, during the powerplay. However, after AB de Villiers walked into the middle, RCB tore into the Gujarat Lions bowling attack.
Both AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli scored centuries. While Kohli ended with 109 off 55 deliveries, De Villiers scored a massive 129 off just 52 balls. Their partnership of 229 runs helped RCB post a tall total of 248/3 on the scoreboard.
The now-defunct IPL franchise, Gujarat Lions, fell short by a whopping 144 runs.
#3 Chennai Super Kings - 246/5 against Rajasthan Royals (IPL 2010)
In the 2010 edition of the IPL, Murali Vijay played a magnificent knock of 127 for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the top of the order.
CSK started well against the Rajasthan Royals and looked set for a tall score.
When Albie Morkel joined Murali Vijay in the middle, the duo displayed some fine big-hitting to help CSK post a huge 246/5 on the scoreboard. thanks to a 152-run partnership. While Albie Morkel scored 62 off 34 deliveries, Murali Vijay produced 127 off just 56 balls.
Rajasthan Royals put up a great chase - scoring 223 runs - thanks to Nama Ojha's 94 and Shane Watson's quickfire 60, but they fell short by 24 runs.
#4 Kolkata Knight Riders - 245/6 against Kings XI Punjab (IPL 2018)
Featuring batting powerhouses like Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Dinesh Karthik among others in their ranks, KKR had a massively destructive unit in IPL 2018.
During their game against Kings XI Punjab (now called Punjab Kings), Sunil Narine scored a quickfire 75 to set his team on the path to a tall total. The duo of Andre Russell and Dinesh Karthik then took centre stage. Russell (31 off 23 balls) and Karthik (50 off 23 deliveries) helped KKR post a total of 245/6.
Kings XI Punjab gave a valiant chase but fell short by 31 runs.
#5 Chennai Super Kings 240/5 against KXIP (IPL 2008)
It was the first edition of the IPL, where Brendon McCullum's majestic 158 in the first game lit up the tournament. The action then moved to Mohali for the second game between CSK and Kings XI Punjab.
Electing to bat first, the Chennai-based franchise lost their first wicket in just the third over. However, walking in at no. 3, Michael Hussey turned the match around for the Chennai Super Kings.
Mr Cricket, as he is often referred to, smashed 116 off just 54 deliveries against a strong Punjab attack consisting of Brett Lee, Irfan Pathan and S Sreesanth. Cameos towards the end by Suresh Raina and S Badrinath propelled CSK to a mammoth 240/5.
The Punjab team gave a great fight, with helpful contributions from Kumar Sangakkara (54) and James Hopes (71), but fell short by 33 runs.