People all around India have been intrigued by the IPL. Batting performances in the IPL have left an indelible mark on the tournament's history, ranging from aggressive batting to brilliant stroke play. Fans have watched countless outstanding displays of technique, power, and sheer genius from the tournament's batsmen throughout the years. So, here we talk about the Top 10 Best Batting Performances in IPL History.
1. Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore) – 2013
Let’s start with the Universe Boss’s big innings of 175 runs in 66 balls. This display of absolute brute force and power hitting was shown when Royal Challengers Bangalore hosted the Pune Warriors India, in 2013. Gayle's innings were characterized by his sheer dominance and ability to hit the ball to all parts of the ground. During his innings, he hit 13 fours and 17 sixes. Gayle broke numerous records, including the fastest century in just 30 balls, and the highest score in the IPL to date. Gayle's 175* off 66 balls live on as an iconic moment in IPL history. It serves as a reminder of the league's sheer brilliance and entertainment.
2. Brendon McCullum (Kolkata Knight Riders) – 2008
Second best batting performance came in the first IPL when Kolkata Knight Riders took on Royal Challengers Bangalore. McCullum's aggressive stroke play and power set the stage for the tournament. Through his fantastic knock of 156 runs off 73 balls, he made a name for himself as one of the most aggressive batsmen in cricketing history. He combined unorthodox shots with innovation in cricket. Brendon McCullum became one of the most destructive batsmen in the modern era with this inning.
3. AB De Villiers (Royal Challengers Bangalore) – 2015
The third best batting performance on our list is AB de Villiers' 133-run innings off 59 balls. This incredible batting performance occurred in 2015, when de Villiers was playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore against the Mumbai Indians. His innings were a masterpiece in controlled aggressive batting with flawless stroke technique across the board. Coming in when his team was suffering at 17 for 2, he played a fearless and determined innings that single-handedly turned the course of the match for RCB, scoring a massive 235 runs.
4. KL Rahul (Kings XI Punjab) – 2020
KL Rahul's 132-run innings off 69 balls is the fourth batting performance on our list. KL Rahul batted aggressively to open the innings for Punjab against the Royal Challengers Bangalore on that day. Rahul displayed consistent aggression, exceptional timing, and outstanding placement from the start, consistently finding openings in the field. He used traditional strokes with some inventive shots, demonstrating his ability to react to all conditions in the game. During this inning, he hit 14 boundaries and 7 sixes.
5. Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans) - 2023
Our fifth-best batting performance came from Shubman Gill's record-breaking innings against Mumbai Indians in the Tata IPL 2023's 2nd Eliminator. Gill was aggressive from the start, smashing the likes of Chris Jordan, Akash Madhwal, and Cameron Green, among others.
He hit his first fifty in 30 balls and his hundred in the following 17 balls. He dominated Mumbai Bowling and blasted sixes everywhere. This batting performance earned Gill his third hundred of the IPL Season, as well as the Orange Cap, passing RCB's Faf Du Plessis for the top run-getter in an IPL Season.
6. Yashasvi Jaiswal (Rajasthan Royals) – 2023
Yashasvi Jaiswal struck 124 runs off 62 deliveries against Mumbai Indians, helping Rajasthan Royals reach a massive total of 214 runs. He shattered a 15-year-old record for the most runs scored by an uncapped player and established himself on the world scene with his maiden hundred in class. He had a fantastic batting effort, scoring a whopping 16 fours and eight sixes.
7. Shane Watson (Chennai Super Kings)- 2018
Shane Watson batted brilliantly in the IPL 2018 Final against Sunrisers Hyderabad, hitting 117 off 57 balls. Sunrisers Hyderabad batted first and set a challenging total of 179 for Chennai to chase. Watson led off the game with a bang, displaying his class and power hitting ability right away. He hit 11 fours and eight sixes. Every Chennai Super Kings fan remembers his innings as one of the best batting efforts, which helped CSK win its third IPL title.
8. Murali Vijay (Chennai Super Kings) – 2010
Murali Vijay's 127-run knock off 56 balls against the Rajasthan Royals remains one of the top batting efforts in IPL history. Opening the innings, he immediately began batting aggressively and smashing the RR bowlers, including Shaun Tait, Sumit Narwal, and Yusuf Pathan. He hit eight fours and eleven sixes to help CSK post a massive total of 246 runs.
9. David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad) – 2017
David Warner’s brilliant innings against the Kolkata Knight Riders still stay fresh in every SRH fan’s mind. The Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper, scored a blistering 126 off 59 balls, helping SRH post a big total of 209. He hit 10 fours and 8 sixes, smashing the ball all over the ground. Warner’s batting performance stands out as one of the most dominating batting performances in IPL history.
10. Virender Sehwag (Kings XI Punjab) – 2014
Virender Sehwag's outstanding performance of 122 runs off 58 deliveries against Chennai Super Kings in the 2nd Qualifier of the IPL 2014 will be one that every KXIP fan will cherish. Opening the innings, Sehwag displayed his class and batting skills with his power-hitting and knack to locate boundaries at will. He hammered 12 fours and 8 sixes, humiliating the CSK bowlers. Despite being out of form for the whole tournament, Sehwag put on a batting masterpiece that day, helping Punjab overcome Chennai and go to the finals.
