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Top 5 Greatest Innings in IPL History: Eighteen seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL) have concluded, and cricket enthusiasts are now eagerly awaiting its 19th season. Since its inception in 2008, the IPL has evolved into the world's largest and most thrilling cricket league. Throughout this 18-year journey, batsmen have played numerous magical innings on the field that have been etched forever into the annals of cricket history.
The 2026 IPL season is set to commence on March 28th. Before this exhilarating season gets underway, let us take a trip down memory lane to revisit the five greatest innings in IPL history that left fans absolutely spellbound.
Top 5 Best Innings in IPL History
5. Suresh Raina - 87 (2014)
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Famously known as "Mr. IPL," Suresh Raina has consistently been one of the most reliable batsmen in the history of the IPL. On May 30, 2014, in Qualifier 2 against Kings XI Punjab, Chennai was set a daunting target of 227 runs. Although wickets fell early in the innings, Raina, coming in at number 3, produced a sensational performance. He scored 87 runs off just 25 balls, striking at an astonishing rate of 348. CSK had already scored 100 runs within the first six overs. Raina smashed a half-century off just 16 balls and even hammered 33 runs in a single over. Although Raina was run out and CSK ended up losing, this innings ranks among the most memorable aggressive innings in the history of the IPL playoffs.
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4. AB de Villiers - 79* (2016)
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AB de Villiers is known as "Mr. 360" because of his ability to play shots to every part of the ground. In Qualifier 1 of the 2016 season, RCB was set a target of 159 runs against the Gujarat Lions. The top order collapsed quickly, and by the 10th over, RCB was reeling at 68/6. However, de Villiers single-handedly took charge of the innings. He forged a crucial 91-run partnership with Iqbal Abdulla. He started cautiously but then unleashed a barrage of shots, including lap and scoop shots against Praveen Kumar and Dwayne Smith in the final overs, smashing 5 fours and 5 sixes. He played an unbeaten innings of 79 runs off 47 balls, guiding RCB into the final.
3. Virat Kohli - 113* (2016)
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Virat Kohli's 2016 IPL season was his most magnificent, during which he amassed 973 runs. On May 18, 2016, in a rain-affected match against Kings XI Punjab at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Kohli scored an unbeaten 113 runs off just 50 balls in a match reduced to 15 overs. Despite having 7-8 stitches on his hand—sustained from an injury in the previous game, he displayed sheer class. He reached his half-century in 28 balls and completed his century in 47 balls. Kohli played this innings despite being injured, a feat that made it all the more special.
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2. Brendon McCullum – 158* (2008)
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The very first match of the IPL went down in history. On April 18, 2008, Brendon McCullum of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) scored an unbeaten 158 runs against RCB. This remarkable score was achieved in just 73 balls, comprising 10 fours and 13 sixes. Although McCullum had been out of form prior to the match, he opened the innings and launched such a ferocious assault on the RCB bowlers that it sent shockwaves through the entire world of the IPL. This innings played a pivotal role in catapulting the IPL to global popularity. To this day, this innings by McCullum continues to reign supreme in the hearts of fans.
1. Chris Gayle – 175* (2013)
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On April 23, 2013, a storm unleashed from Chris Gayle's bat at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. To this day, this innings remains the highest individual score in the history of the IPL. Playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Gayle smashed an unbeaten 175 runs off just 66 deliveries. His innings featured 13 fours and 17 sixes. He reached his century in a mere 30 balls, a record that stands as the fastest century in IPL history. Thanks to this monumental innings, RCB posted a total of 263 runs, which stood as the world record for the highest T20 team total at the time.
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