Best Matches of IPL History – Greatest IPL Matches of all time
The Best Matches of IPL History are not defined by one statistic. Some IPL matches are remembered for a last-ball finish, others for extraordinary comebacks, record-breaking batting, Super Overs or the pressure of a final.
Since the Indian Premier League began in 2008, it has produced an enormous number of memorable contests. The opening IPL match introduced the league with Brendon McCullum’s 158*, while later seasons delivered last-ball playoff finishes, dramatic finals, improbable chases and matches that required more than one Super Over.
This list focuses on matches that combined drama, quality, historical importance and memorable moments. It is not simply a list of the highest scoring IPL matches.
Best IPL Matches of All Time
| Rank | Match | Season | Result | Why it is memorable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings | 2019 Final | MI won by 1 run | Closest IPL final finish |
| 2 | Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab | 2020 | KXIP won after two Super Overs | Extraordinary double Super Over |
| 3 | Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders | h2023 | KKR won by 3 wickets | Rinku Singh hit five sixes in the final over |
| 4 | Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings | 2008 Final | RR won by 3 wickets | First IPL final decided on the last ball |
| 5 | Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals | 2014 | MI won by 5 wickets | Playoff qualification decided by an extraordinary chase |
| 6 | Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans | 2023 Final | CSK won by 5 wickets | Jadeja finished a rain-shortened final off the last two balls |
| 7 | Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders | 2024 | PBKS won by 8 wickets | Record 262-run successful chase |
| 8 | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings | 2018 | CSK won by 5 wickets | Rayudu and Dhoni completed a huge chase |
| 9 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore | 2008 | KKR won by 140 runs | McCullum’s 158* in the first IPL match |
| 10 | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Pune Warriors India | 2013 | RCB won by 130 runs | Chris Gayle smashed 175* |
| 11 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings | 2012 Final | KKR won by 5 wickets | KKR chased 191 to win its first IPL title |
1. Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2019 Final
Result: Mumbai Indians won by 1 run
Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad
Date: 12 May 2019
For pure final-match tension, the 2019 IPL final between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings remains one of the strongest choices.
Mumbai Indians were restricted to 149 for 8 after being sent in to bat. It looked like a below-par score, but Chennai’s chase repeatedly lost momentum as wickets fell. Shane Watson kept CSK alive with a superb 80, taking the contest to the final delivery.
CSK needed two runs from the last ball to win the title. Lasith Malinga delivered a slower ball to Shardul Thakur and trapped him lbw, giving Mumbai Indians a one-run victory and their fourth IPL title at that stage.
Why this match stands out
There was almost no separation between the teams. Mumbai’s 149 looked insufficient for much of the chase, but its bowlers kept finding breakthroughs. The final over became a test of execution under maximum pressure.
A one-run margin in an IPL final is difficult to top, particularly when the championship is decided by the final delivery.
2. Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab, IPL 2020
Result: Kings XI Punjab won after two Super Overs
Venue: Dubai International Cricket Stadium
Date: 18 October 2020
The 2020 match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab is unique even by IPL standards.
Mumbai scored 176 for 6, with Kieron Pollard making 34* from 12 balls. Punjab matched the score at 176 for 6, with KL Rahul scoring 77. The match therefore went into a Super Over.
The first Super Over also ended in a tie, with both teams scoring 5. That forced the game into a second Super Over, where Mumbai made 11 for 1 and Punjab chased the target to win the match.
Why it is one of the best IPL matches
A normal Super Over is already rare enough. Having the match remain tied after the first Super Over created an extraordinary sequence of pressure cricket.
The IPL’s official report described the contest as a match that went through two Super Overs before Punjab finally prevailed.
3. Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2023
Result: Kolkata Knight Riders won by 3 wickets
Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Date: 9 April 2023
Rinku Singh’s five consecutive sixes made this one of the most recognizable finishes in modern IPL history.
Gujarat Titans scored 204 for 4, with Venkatesh Iyer making 83 from 40 balls. KKR appeared to be in serious trouble late in the chase, needing 29 runs from the final over.
After Umesh Yadav took a single from the first ball, Rinku Singh hit five successive sixes against Yash Dayal to finish the chase with a ball to spare. He ended unbeaten on 48 from 21 balls, including six sixes.
Why this finish is historic
The situation demanded 28 runs from the final five balls. Rinku needed to clear the boundary repeatedly, and he did so five times in succession.
It was not simply a big-hitting display. The required equation made the sequence one of the most improbable successful finishes in IPL history.
4. Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2008 Final
Result: Rajasthan Royals won by 3 wickets
Venue: DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
Date: 1 June 2008
The first IPL final had the perfect ending for a brand-new tournament.
Chennai Super Kings scored 163 for 5 in their 20 overs. Rajasthan Royals then chased the target, reaching 164 for 7 from the final ball to win by three wickets. Yusuf Pathan played a major role, scoring 56 and taking three wickets.
With one run required from the final delivery, Sohail Tanvir completed the chase and Rajasthan Royals became the inaugural IPL champions.
Why it belongs on the list
The game combined the importance of a final with a genuinely close finish. Rajasthan had been the most consistent side during the competition, and its ability to hold its nerve in the final over completed an unforgettable first IPL season.
5. Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2014
Result: Mumbai Indians won by 5 wickets
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Date: 25 May 2014
This match was much more than a high-scoring chase. It was effectively a playoff qualification equation played out in real time.
Rajasthan Royals posted 189 for 4. Mumbai Indians needed to reach the target quickly enough to overtake Rajasthan on net run rate and qualify for the playoffs. They had to complete the chase in 14.3 overs.
Corey Anderson produced an extraordinary 95 from 44 balls, and Mumbai reached the required score with the match tied at 189 after 14.3 overs. Aditya Tare then hit the next delivery for six, taking Mumbai to 195 for 5 in 14.4 overs and securing qualification.
Why it is special
Most IPL matches are decided simply by runs or wickets. This one was influenced by net run rate, meaning the exact timing of the chase was as important as the final score.
The official IPL statistics noted that Mumbai’s 195 was its highest successful chase at the time and that Tare became only the fourth batsman to hit a six from the only ball he faced in an IPL innings.
6. Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans, IPL 2023 Final
Result: Chennai Super Kings won by 5 wickets
Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Date: 29 May 2023
The 2023 final is one of the strongest examples of an IPL championship being decided at the very end.
Gujarat Titans posted 214 for 4, led by Sai Sudharsan’s outstanding 96 from 47 balls. Rain then reduced Chennai Super Kings’ chase to 171 from 15 overs.
CSK required 10 runs from the last two balls. Ravindra Jadeja hit a six and then a four to complete the chase, giving Chennai its fifth IPL title.
Why this final is remembered
The match contained two distinct forms of drama: the pressure created by rain and the last-ball finish.
Chennai required 13.68 runs per over after the revised target, yet a series of cameos kept the chase alive before Jadeja finished the job with two boundary shots.
7. Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, IPL 2024
Result: Punjab Kings won by 8 wickets
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Date: 26 April 2024
At first glance, a match won by eight wickets may not seem like an obvious choice for a list of the best IPL matches. The reason this one belongs is the extraordinary scoring.
Kolkata Knight Riders made 261 for 6, setting Punjab a target of 262. Punjab Kings chased it down in just 18.4 overs, finishing on 262 for 2. Jonny Bairstow smashed 108 from 48 balls.
The IPL officially recorded the result as the highest successful run chase in the tournament at the time, as well as a record-breaking game for total sixes, with 42 sixes.
Why it deserves inclusion
The match broke the normal logic of a 260-plus target being extremely difficult. Punjab not only reached 262, but did so with eight wickets remaining and eight balls still unused.
It is one of the clearest examples of how dramatically IPL batting has evolved.
8. Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2018
Result: Chennai Super Kings won by 5 wickets
Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Date: 25 April 2018
This match became memorable because Chennai Super Kings appeared to be in serious trouble while chasing 206.
Royal Challengers Bangalore scored 205 for 8, with AB de Villiers making 68 from 30 balls and Quinton de Kock scoring 53. CSK slipped to 74 for 4, leaving the visitors with a major recovery job.
Ambati Rayudu then scored 82, while MS Dhoni remained unbeaten on 70 from 34 balls. The pair built a crucial partnership, and Chennai reached 207 for 5 in 19.4 overs.
Why it remains an IPL classic
The match had almost everything associated with a modern IPL thriller: a 200-plus total, a dramatic middle-order collapse, a major partnership and a successful final-over chase.
Dhoni’s finishing shot, a six over long-on off Corey Anderson, completed the victory with two balls remaining.
9. Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, IPL 2008
Result: Kolkata Knight Riders won by 140 runs
Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Date: 18 April 2008
The very first IPL match deserves a place on any historical list.
Kolkata Knight Riders scored 222 for 3, powered by Brendon McCullum’s extraordinary 158 not out from 73 balls. He hit 10 fours and 13 sixes.
Royal Challengers Bangalore were dismissed for 82 in 15.1 overs, giving KKR a 140-run victory.
Why it remains iconic
The game effectively introduced the world to the IPL’s possibilities. McCullum’s innings was an explosive statement on the opening night, and the tournament immediately had a performance that would be remembered long after the scorecard was closed.
The match also set the tone for the early IPL era, when aggressive batting and enormous six-hitting quickly became central to the league’s identity.
10. Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Pune Warriors India, IPL 2013
Result: Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 130 runs
Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Date: 23 April 2013
Few individual performances have changed the IPL record books as dramatically as Chris Gayle’s 175 not out.
Gayle’s innings came from only 66 balls and included 13 fours and 17 sixes. RCB finished on 263 for 5, and Pune Warriors India were restricted to 133, giving RCB a 130-run win.
Why this match is different
Unlike several matches on this list, the contest was not close at the end. Its place comes from the sheer scale of Gayle’s performance.
The official IPL archive described his innings as a record-breaking display that took him to the highest individual score in T20 cricket at the time.
The innings remains one of the defining batting performances in IPL history.
11. Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2012 Final
Result: Kolkata Knight Riders won by 5 wickets
Venue: M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Date: 27 May 2012
The 2012 final is important because it delivered Kolkata Knight Riders’ first IPL title through a major successful chase.
Chennai Super Kings posted 190, and KKR chased down the target with a score of 192 for 5. Manvinder Bisla scored 89, while Jacques Kallis made a major contribution to the chase.
The IPL’s historical statistics record KKR’s 192 as the highest successful chase in an IPL final at that point, while Bisla’s 89 was the highest score by a chasing batsman in an IPL final at the time.
Why it belongs here
Unlike a one-ball finish, this final was memorable because KKR had to chase a substantial total under enormous pressure. Bisla and Kallis transformed the chase before KKR completed the highest successful final chase in the competition at that point.
Other Great IPL Matches Worth Remembering
The IPL has produced far more than 11 memorable matches, so several famous contests narrowly miss this list.
Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2024
Gujarat Titans completed a last-ball win over Rajasthan Royals after chasing 197. Shubman Gill made 72, while Rashid Khan and Rahul Tewatia completed a dramatic late recovery. Rashid hit the winning four from the final ball.
Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2025
Lucknow Super Giants edged Rajasthan Royals by two runs in a last-ball thriller. Rajasthan needed only 25 from 19 balls before Avesh Khan produced a late three-wicket burst and defended nine runs from the final over.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Punjab Kings, IPL 2025 Final
The 2025 final added another close championship match to IPL history. RCB beat Punjab Kings by six runs to win their first IPL title after an 18-year wait. RCB made 190 for 9 and then defended the total as Punjab finished on 184 for 7.
What Makes an IPL Match One of the Best?
There is no official formula for ranking the best matches in IPL history. However, the most memorable contests usually combine several factors.
1. A close finish
Matches decided by the final over or final ball naturally create more tension. The 2019 final and 2008 final are strong examples.
2. An extraordinary comeback
A match becomes especially memorable when one team appears to be out of the contest and then turns it around. The 2018 RCB vs CSK match and 2014 MI vs RR game both fit this description.
3. Record-breaking performances
Some matches become classics because of one extraordinary individual effort. Gayle’s 175 and McCullum’s 158 are two of the clearest examples.
4. High stakes
Playoff and final matches carry additional pressure. The 2019 and 2023 finals were not merely close matches, they decided championships.
5. Something that had rarely happened before
The 2020 MI vs KXIP match is a perfect example. Two Super Overs turned an already tight game into a historic contest.
Best IPL Match for Last-Ball Drama
If the main criterion is last-ball tension, several games compete for the top spot.
The 2019 Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings final has a particularly strong case because the IPL title was decided on the final delivery, with Mumbai winning by one run.
The 2008 Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings final is another classic because Rajasthan needed one run from the final ball and completed the chase to become the inaugural IPL champions.
The 2023 Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans final belongs in the same conversation because Jadeja hit a six and a four with 10 required from the final two balls.
Best IPL Match for a Super Over
The clear choice is Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab in 2020.
The teams finished level at 176 after 20 overs. The first Super Over was also tied at five runs apiece, forcing a second Super Over. Punjab then won the second one to complete one of the most unusual finishes in IPL history.
Best IPL Match for a Record Chase
The Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders match in 2024 is the standout example.
KKR scored 261 for 6, but PBKS chased 262 with eight wickets in hand and eight balls remaining. The IPL recorded the result as the highest successful chase in the tournament at that point.
Best IPL Final
There is no single objective answer, but the 2019 Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings final is one of the strongest candidates.
Mumbai won by one run after defending 149, with the title decided from the final ball. The game combined a championship setting, a low total, a close chase and a last-delivery finish.
The 2023 final is another leading contender because Chennai’s revised target of 171 from 15 overs created a highly compressed chase before Jadeja finished the match with two balls remaining.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best match in IPL history?
The 2019 Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings final is one of the strongest choices. Mumbai defended 149 and defeated Chennai by one run after the match went to the final delivery.
Which is the closest IPL match ever?
Several IPL games have been decided by one run, including the 2017 final and 2019 final. The 2019 final is particularly notable because Mumbai Indians defeated Chennai Super Kings by one run to win the championship.
Which IPL match had two Super Overs?
The Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab match in IPL 2020 required two Super Overs. The regulation innings finished level at 176, the first Super Over was tied at five, and Punjab eventually won the second Super Over.
Which is the highest successful run chase in IPL history?
The Punjab Kings chase of 262 against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024 was recorded by the IPL as the highest successful run chase in the tournament at that time. PBKS finished on 262 for 2 in 18.4 overs.
Which IPL match had Rinku Singh’s five sixes?
Rinku Singh hit five consecutive sixes in the final over against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023, helping Kolkata Knight Riders chase 205 with three wickets in hand and one ball remaining.
What was the first IPL match?
The first IPL match was Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore on 18 April 2008. KKR scored 222 for 3, powered by Brendon McCullum’s 158 not out, and won by 140 runs.
Which IPL match had Chris Gayle score 175?
Chris Gayle scored 175 not out from 66 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India in IPL 2013. RCB scored 263 for 5 and won by 130 runs.
Which was the first IPL final?
The first IPL final was played between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings on 1 June 2008. Rajasthan won by three wickets after chasing 164 from the final ball.
Which IPL final was decided by one run?
The 2019 final between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings was decided by one run. Mumbai scored 149 for 8 and restricted Chennai to 148 for 7.
Which IPL final had Jadeja’s last-ball finish?
In the 2023 IPL final, Ravindra Jadeja hit a six followed by a four with 10 runs needed from the final two balls, giving Chennai Super Kings a five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans.
Final Verdict
The best matches of TATA IPL history come in many different forms. Some were decided by a single delivery, some by record-breaking batting and others by extraordinary comebacks.
The 2019 Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings final stands out for championship pressure and a one-run finish. The 2020 MI vs Punjab contest is unique because of its two Super Overs. Rinku Singh’s 2023 heroics against Gujarat Titans produced one of the most improbable final-over chases, while the 2024 Punjab Kings chase against Kolkata Knight Riders demonstrated just how far T20 batting has evolved.
The list will always be subjective. A fan who values finals may choose the 2008, 2019 or 2023 championship games, while someone who prefers explosive batting may put McCullum’s 158 or Gayle’s 175 at the top.
That variety is part of what makes IPL history so rich. Across its seasons, the league has produced last-ball finishes, huge chases, record innings, dramatic qualification scenarios, Super Overs and unforgettable finals.
Moonda Ale
Cricket Content Writer at Cricfacts.com. A seasoned sports journalist who is working in the industry for more than two decades. He is now on facebook also.