The game of T20 cricket and IPL, in particular, is full of unexpected surprises. We have seen several matches in all formats of the game that were won from the jaws of defeat. We have also seen several matches where paltry totals were surprisingly defended. But the big question arises – what is the lowest score defended in IPL history?
Lowest Score Defended In IPL
| First Innings | Second Innings | Margin of Victory | Year in IPL |
| CSK – 116/9 | KXIP – 92/8 | 24 runs | 2009 |
| SRH – 118 | MI – 87 | 21 runs | 2018 |
| KXIP – 119/8 | MI – 116/7 | 3 runs | 2009 |
| SRH – 119/8 | PWI – 108 | 11 runs | 2013 |
| MI – 120/9 | PWI – 119/6 | 1 run | 2012 |
The lowest score defended in the IPL is 116 by the Chennai Super Kings against Kings XI Punjab. Similarly, we have seen a lot more small scores defended in the IPL as well. Let us take a look at the top five lowest score defended in IPL.
1) Lowest Score Defended in IPL – 116 by CSK vs KXIP, IPL 2009
It was the 54th match of the second edition of the IPL. Chennai Super Kings took on the Punjab Kings (known as Kings XI Punjab back then) in Durban. After winning the toss, captain Dhoni chose to bat first but CSK put up a disastrous batting performance. The highest individual score from their batsmen was 32 – which came from Parthiv Patel. Seven of their batsmen returned to the dugout having scored in single digits, including MS Dhoni. At the end of 20 overs, they managed only 116 runs for the loss of nine wickets.
Sreesanth and Irfan Pathan picked up two wickets each, while Ramesh Powar, Piyush Chawla and Wilkin Mota chipped in with one each.
The Punjab Kings boasted of players like Yuvraj Singh and Kumar Sangakkara in their ranks, and a chase of 93 seemed like a cakewalk. But much to everyone’s surprise, they were bundled out for 92 runs in 20 overs. Eight of the Punjab batsmen scored in single digits, and the only significant contribution came from Luke Pomersbach, who scored slow paced 26 runs. Thilan Thushara, Muthiah Muralidaran, Ravichandran Ashwin and Suresh Raina picked up two wickets each. 116 still remains the lowest total defended in an IPL game.
2) 118 by MI vs SRH, IPL 2018
The second lowest score defended in IPL was seen in the 2018 edition. Mumbai Indians hosted the Sunrisers Hyderabad for match 23 at the Wankhede Stadium. Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to field first. His bowlers put up a combined effort to bundle out the Kane Williamson-led side for 118 runs. Only Williamson and Yusuf Pathan managed to score in 20s, while six others scored in single digits. Mitchell McClenaghan, Hardik Pandya and Mayank Markande picked up two wickets each.
Mumbai have had one of the most explosive batting line-ups over the years, and to not be able to chase 119 at their home ground – where the small boundary makes it easier to score runs – was least expected. However, the Sunrisers bowlers were too good on the day to ensure that Mumbai did not manage more than 87 runs in the second innings. Apart from Suryakumar Yadav’s 34, the entire line-up failed to perform. This includes the likes of Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard and Kunal Pandya. This also remains one of the most shoddy batting performances by the five-time champions.
Siddharth Kaul picked up three wickets, but Rashid Khan was named Player of the Match for his two wickets at an economy of only 2.75. The bowler was exceptional for the Sunrisers that season, and played an important role in the team reaching the final before losing it to the Chennai Super Kings.
3) 119 by KXIP vs MI, IPL 2009
The third lowest score defended in IPL is 119 by Punjab in a match that went down to the wire. The Kings faced off against the Mumbai Indians in match 20 of IPL 2009 in Durban. After winning the toss, the Yuvraj Singh-led Kings posted 119 in 20 overs. Kumar Sangakkara scored 45* runs, while the rest of the line-up scored 74 runs combined. Lasith Malinga was the pick of the bowlers – he took two wickets in his four overs while conceding only 12 runs.
Mumbai, who were captained by Sachin Tendulkar at that time, were expected to gun down the target in fewer than 20 overs, but took the game to the last over and eventually lost by 3 runs. JP Duminy scored 59, while Abhishek Nayar and Dwayne Bravo scored 15 runs each. Irfan Pathan took two wickets for 20 runs, while Yusuf Abdullah picked as many wickets for 19 runs. Sangakkara was awarded the Player of the Match for his unbeaten 45.
4) 119 by SRH vs PWI, IPL 2013
Now defunct Pune Warriors hosted the Sunrisers Hyderabad for match 22 of IPL 2013 in Pune. Cameron White was at the helm of Sunrisers back then, and he was asked to bat first after losing the toss. Biplad Samantray and Amit Mishra scored in 30s, while the rest of the line-up fell like a pack of cards – this includes openers Parthiv Patel and Quinton de Kock. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the standout bowler for the Sunrisers – he picked up three wickets for 18 runs in his four overs.
In reply, the Angelo Matthews-led Pune side managed only 108 runs. Robin Uthappa’s insignificant knock of 22 runs was the highest individual score from Pune’s batting line-up. Thisara Perera and Amit Mishra wreaked havoc, sharing seven wickets between them. Mishra was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance.
5) 120 by MI vs PWI, IPL 2012
The fifth lowest score defended in IPL was once against the Pune franchise. The Maharashtra derby was played in Pune and is among IPL’s greatest thrillers. Batting first, Mumbai put up a meagre 120 runs on the board. Openers James Franklin and Sachin Tendulkar shared a 50-run partnership for the first wicket, but after the former fell in the seventh over, the game changed in Pune’s favour. Five batsmen scored in single digits, which includes two ducks, as Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ashish Nehra picked up two wickets each.
Pune were led by Sourav Ganguly that season, and boasted of players like Steve Smith and Michael Clarke. But Mumbai’s spin duo Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh bowled wonderful spells to restrict Pune to 119 in 20 overs. Mithun Manhas remained unbeaten on 42, which was the only standout performance from the hosts. Malinga was named the Player of the Match for picking two wickets for 25 runs. The Sri Lankan was Mumbai’s highest wicket-taker that season – he picked 22 wickets in 14 games at an economy of 6.30.
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