Amazing Moments in IPL History That Fans Will Never Forget

The Indian Premier League has been running for nineteen seasons, and in that time it has produced a collection of moments that have passed into cricket folklore. Last-ball finishes, impossible chases, teenage sensations and veteran masterclasses: the IPL’s greatest hits reel is the story of modern T20 cricket itself. Here are the amazing moments that define the tournament’s history.

Brendon McCullum’s 158: The Big Bang

Every history has a beginning, and the IPL’s could not have been more explosive. In the very first match of the tournament, on 18 April 2008, Brendon McCullum smashed an unbeaten 158 off 73 balls for Kolkata Knight Riders against Royal Challengers Bangalore. With 10 fours and 13 sixes, the innings announced the league to the world and set a standard that took five years to surpass. Without McCullum’s innings, the IPL might have taken years to capture the imagination; instead, it did it in a single evening.

Chris Gayle’s 175: The Innings of the Century

If McCullum’s hundred was the big bang, Chris Gayle’s 175 not out for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India in 2013 was the supernova. Gayle faced 66 balls and hit 13 fours and 17 sixes, reaching his hundred in just 30 balls, still the fastest in IPL history. The innings powered RCB to 263 for 5 and remains the highest individual score in all of T20 cricket. More than a decade later, nobody has come close to it, and it is widely regarded as the greatest T20 innings ever played.

Virat Kohli’s 2016: The Season of Seasons

The 2016 campaign saw Virat Kohli produce the greatest individual season in IPL history. He scored 973 runs with four centuries and seven fifties, carrying Royal Challengers Bangalore to the final almost single-handedly. The four hundreds in a single season remain a joint record, and the 973-run aggregate has survived a full decade of challengers. Kohli’s 2016 was not just dominance; it was artistry under pressure, week after week.

The 2019 Final: Won by a Single Run

The 2019 final between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings at Hyderabad is the closest IPL final ever played. Chasing 150, CSK needed 9 runs off the last over with Shane Watson set at the crease. Lasith Malinga, brought back for the final over, held his nerve: he conceded a single, then had Watson run out, and with 2 needed off the final ball, trapped Shardul Thakur lbw. Mumbai won by 1 run, claiming their fourth title in the most dramatic finish the tournament has ever seen.

MS Dhoni’s 84 Not Out Against RCB

In 2019, MS Dhoni produced one of the great losing innings in IPL history. Chasing 161 against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings collapsed, and Dhoni walked in with his team in deep trouble. He smashed an unbeaten 84 off 48 balls, taking the chase to the final ball, where CSK needed 2 runs and managed only 1. Dhoni walked off to a standing ovation having nearly pulled off the impossible, a reminder that even in defeat, he could bend a match to his will.

Rahul Tewatia’s Five Sixes

The 2020 season gave us one of the great redemption stories. Chasing 224 against Kings XI Punjab, Rajasthan Royals’ Rahul Tewatia was struggling badly, on 8 off 19 balls, when he faced Sheldon Cottrell in the 18th over. What followed was astonishing: Tewatia smashed five sixes in the over, turning the match on its head and powering RR to a record chase. It remains one of the most dramatic single-over turnarounds in cricket history.

Rinku Singh’s Five Sixes

Three years later, Rinku Singh produced his own five-six miracle. Kolkata Knight Riders needed 29 off the last over against Gujarat Titans in 2023, with Yash Dayal bowling. Rinku smashed five consecutive sixes to win the match, an innings that made him an overnight sensation and remains one of the most replayed finishes in IPL history. The 2023 season belonged to Rinku’s fairytale.

Kieron Pollard’s 87 Not Out Chase

In 2021, Mumbai Indians chased down 219 against Chennai Super Kings thanks to Kieron Pollard’s unbeaten 87 off 34 balls. Walking in with Mumbai needing 138 off 68 balls, Pollard produced a display of clean hitting that left even the CSK players applauding. It was the second-highest successful chase in IPL history at the time and a masterclass in finishing.

Alzarri Joseph’s Dream Debut

In 2019, West Indian quick Alzarri Joseph made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians against Sunrisers Hyderabad and produced figures of 6 for 12, the best bowling figures in IPL history. Drafted in as an injury replacement, the then-22-year-old dismantled SRH’s batting line-up with pace and bounce, announcing himself on the biggest stage in the most spectacular way possible.

Shane Watson’s 2018 Final Hundred

The 2018 final saw Shane Watson play through a bleeding knee to smash an unbeaten 117 off 57 balls for Chennai Super Kings against Sunrisers Hyderabad. CSK were chasing 179, and Watson, who had barely scored in the powerplay, exploded after the drinks break to win the title for his team. It was an innings of extraordinary courage and timing, sealing CSK’s fairytale comeback title after their two-year suspension.

RCB’s Maiden Title in 2025

After eighteen seasons of heartbreak, Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally won their first IPL title in 2025, beating Punjab Kings by 6 runs in the final at Ahmedabad. For Virat Kohli, who had been with the franchise since 2008, it was the culmination of nearly two decades of loyalty. The scenes of celebration in Bengaluru were among the most emotional the IPL has ever witnessed, as one of sport’s great nearly-men finally lifted the trophy.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s 2026 Season

The 2026 season produced the most astonishing individual story in IPL history. Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi of Rajasthan Royals won the Orange Cap with 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30, smashing 72 sixes and scoring the fastest century of the season off just 36 balls. A schoolboy dominating the world’s toughest T20 league was a moment that transcended cricket, while RCB’s successful title defence, beating Gujarat Titans in the final, confirmed a new dynasty.

IPL’s Greatest Moments at a Glance

What is the highest individual score in IPL history?

Chris Gayle’s 175 not out for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India in 2013 is the highest individual score in IPL history and in all of T20 cricket.

What is the closest IPL final ever?

The 2019 final between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings was decided by a single run, with Lasith Malinga defending 9 runs in the final over to win Mumbai the title.

Who hit five sixes in an over in the IPL?

Rahul Tewatia hit five sixes in an over against Kings XI Punjab in 2020, and Rinku Singh hit five consecutive sixes in the final over against Gujarat Titans in 2023.

What are the best bowling figures in IPL history?

Alzarri Joseph’s 6 for 12 for Mumbai Indians against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2019, on his IPL debut, are the best bowling figures in the tournament’s history.

Which IPL season had the most runs by one batter?

Virat Kohli scored 973 runs in the 2016 season, the most by any batter in a single IPL campaign, including four centuries.

When did RCB win their first IPL title?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their maiden IPL title in 2025, beating Punjab Kings by 6 runs in the final, and successfully defended it in 2026.