IPL Opening Match Winners List and Records
The opening match of every Indian Premier League season sets the tone for the tournament. Since Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore played the first-ever IPL match in 2008, season openers have produced centuries, five-wicket hauls, last-over finishes and several memorable clashes between the league’s biggest franchises. Brendon McCullum’s unbeaten 158 in the inaugural match remains the highest individual score in an IPL opener, while Harshal Patel’s 5/27 in 2021 is the best bowling performance. Through IPL 2026, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have all featured repeatedly on opening night, with several defending champions beginning their title defense in Match 1.
IPL Opening Match Winners List – 2008 to 2026
| Season | Opening Match | Winner | Result | Key Performer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | RCB vs KKR | KKR | Won by 140 runs | Brendon McCullum – 158* |
| 2009 | CSK vs MI | MI | Won by 19 runs | Sachin Tendulkar – 59* |
| 2010 | Deccan Chargers vs KKR | KKR | Won by 11 runs | Angelo Mathews – 65, 1/27 |
| 2011 | CSK vs KKR | CSK | Won by 2 runs | Srikkanth Anirudha – 64 |
| 2012 | CSK vs MI | MI | Won by 8 wickets | Richard Levi – 50 |
| 2013 | KKR vs Delhi Daredevils | KKR | Won by 6 wickets | Sunil Narine – 4/13 |
| 2014 | MI vs KKR | KKR | Won by 41 runs | Jacques Kallis – 72 |
| 2015 | KKR vs MI | KKR | Won by 7 wickets | Morne Morkel – 2/18 |
| 2016 | MI vs Rising Pune Supergiants | RPS | Won by 9 wickets | Ajinkya Rahane – 66* |
| 2017 | SRH vs RCB | SRH | Won by 35 runs | Yuvraj Singh – 62 |
| 2018 | MI vs CSK | CSK | Won by 1 wicket | Dwayne Bravo – 68 |
| 2019 | CSK vs RCB | CSK | Won by 7 wickets | Harbhajan Singh – 3/20 |
| 2020 | MI vs CSK | CSK | Won by 5 wickets | Ambati Rayudu – 71 |
| 2021 | MI vs RCB | RCB | Won by 2 wickets | Harshal Patel – 5/27 |
| 2022 | CSK vs KKR | KKR | Won by 6 wickets | Umesh Yadav – 2/20 |
| 2023 | GT vs CSK | GT | Won by 5 wickets | Rashid Khan – 2/26, 10* |
| 2024 | CSK vs RCB | CSK | Won by 6 wickets | Mustafizur Rahman – 4/29 |
| 2025 | KKR vs RCB | RCB | Won by 7 wickets | Krunal Pandya – 3/29 |
| 2026 | RCB vs SRH | RCB | Won by 6 wickets | Jacob Duffy – 3/22 |
The opening-match list shows how regularly defending champions have been involved. KKR opened several seasons after winning the previous title, while Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have also appeared repeatedly in Match 1. In 2026, defending champions RCB opened against Sunrisers Hyderabad and chased 202 in only 15.4 overs.
The First-Ever IPL Match – RCB vs KKR, 2008
The IPL could hardly have started in more dramatic fashion.
Royal Challengers Bangalore hosted Kolkata Knight Riders at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 18, 2008. Few people knew exactly how the new franchise tournament would look, but Brendon McCullum immediately created one of the most iconic innings in T20 history.
Opening for KKR, McCullum smashed an unbeaten 158 from only 73 deliveries. He struck 10 fours and 13 sixes as Kolkata reached 222/3.
RCB never came close in the chase.
They were dismissed for 82 in 15.1 overs, with Ajit Agarkar taking 3/25. KKR won by 140 runs.
McCullum’s innings did more than win a cricket match. It immediately demonstrated what the IPL could offer: star players, aggressive batting, packed stadiums and entertainment at a speed rarely seen in domestic cricket before.
His 158* remains the highest individual score ever made in an IPL season opener.
Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings Opening Clashes
Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have played several IPL opening matches against each other, giving the league one of its most familiar first-night fixtures.
Their first opening-day meeting came in 2009 in South Africa. Mumbai scored 165/7, with Sachin Tendulkar making an unbeaten 59. CSK finished on 146/7, giving Mumbai a 19-run victory.
The teams met again in the 2012 opener in Chennai. This time, CSK were bowled out for 112. Richard Levi scored 50 from 35 balls as Mumbai reached 115/2 and won by eight wickets.
Their most dramatic opening-night meeting came in 2018.
Mumbai posted 165/4 at Wankhede Stadium. Chennai then collapsed to 118/8 and appeared certain to lose.
Dwayne Bravo changed the match with a remarkable 68 from only 30 balls. His innings included seven sixes and brought CSK back into contention before Kedar Jadhav completed the chase with one ball remaining.
Chennai won by one wicket in one of the greatest IPL openers.
MI and CSK faced each other again in the delayed 2020 tournament in the UAE. Mumbai made 162/9, but Ambati Rayudu’s 71 and Faf du Plessis’ unbeaten 58 guided Chennai to a five-wicket victory.
Highest Team Scores in IPL Opening Matches
| Rank | Team | Score | Opponent | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KKR | 222/3 | RCB | 2008 |
| 2 | SRH | 207/4 | RCB | 2017 |
| 3 | SRH | 201/9 | RCB | 2026 |
| 4 | RCB | 202/4 | SRH | 2026 |
| 5 | CSK | 169/9 | MI | 2018 |
| 6 | KKR | 174/8 | RCB | 2025 |
KKR’s 222/3 in the first match of 2008 remains the highest total in an IPL season opener.
Sunrisers Hyderabad came closest in 2017 when they made 207/4 against RCB. Yuvraj Singh was the main aggressor, scoring 62 from 27 balls. SRH then dismissed RCB for 172 and won by 35 runs.
The 2026 opener became the first season-opening match in which both teams reached 200.
SRH scored 201/9, powered by Ishan Kishan’s 80 and Aniket Verma’s 43 from 18 balls. RCB responded with 202/4 in only 15.4 overs as Devdutt Padikkal scored 61 and Virat Kohli finished unbeaten on 69.
Lowest Scores in IPL Opening Matches
| Team | Score | Opponent | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| RCB | 70 | CSK | 2019 |
| RCB | 82 | KKR | 2008 |
| CSK | 112 | MI | 2012 |
| MI | 121/8 | RPS | 2016 |
| Delhi Daredevils | 128 | KKR | 2013 |
| CSK | 131/5 | KKR | 2022 |
RCB hold the unwanted record for the lowest total in an IPL opening match.
They were bowled out for only 70 against Chennai Super Kings in 2019. Harbhajan Singh took 3/20, Imran Tahir claimed 3/9 and Ravindra Jadeja added 2/15 as CSK’s spinners dominated at Chepauk.
Chennai chased the target slowly but safely, reaching 71/3 in 17.4 overs to win by seven wickets.
The previous low had also belonged to RCB, who scored only 82 while chasing KKR’s 222/3 in the inaugural 2008 match.
Best Individual Batting Performances in IPL Openers
| Rank | Batter | Team | Score | Opponent | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brendon McCullum | KKR | 158* | RCB | 2008 |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | MI | 98* | KKR | 2015 |
| 3 | Ishan Kishan | SRH | 80 | RCB | 2026 |
| 4 | Jacques Kallis | KKR | 72 | MI | 2014 |
| 5 | Ambati Rayudu | CSK | 71 | MI | 2020 |
| 6 | Virat Kohli | RCB | 69* | SRH | 2026 |
| 7 | Dwayne Bravo | CSK | 68 | MI | 2018 |
| 8 | Ajinkya Rahane | RPS | 66* | MI | 2016 |
| 9 | Angelo Mathews | KKR | 65 | Deccan | 2010 |
| 10 | Srikkanth Anirudha | CSK | 64 | KKR | 2011 |
McCullum is far ahead of every other batter on the list.
Rohit Sharma came closest in 2015 when he scored an unbeaten 98 against KKR. Mumbai reached 168/3, but KKR successfully chased the total with seven wickets remaining. Gautam Gambhir made 57 and Manish Pandey scored 40, while Morne Morkel was named Player of the Match for his 2/18.
Best Bowling Performances in IPL Opening Matches
| Rank | Bowler | Team | Figures | Opponent | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harshal Patel | RCB | 5/27 | MI | 2021 |
| 2 | Sunil Narine | KKR | 4/13 | Delhi | 2013 |
| 3 | Sunil Narine | KKR | 4/20 | MI | 2014 |
| 4 | Mustafizur Rahman | CSK | 4/29 | RCB | 2024 |
| 5 | Harbhajan Singh | CSK | 3/20 | RCB | 2019 |
| 6 | Jacob Duffy | RCB | 3/22 | SRH | 2026 |
| 7 | Krunal Pandya | RCB | 3/29 | KKR | 2025 |
| 8 | Lungi Ngidi | CSK | 3/38 | MI | 2020 |
Harshal Patel owns the best bowling figures in IPL opening-match history.
In 2021, he took 5/27 against Mumbai Indians in Chennai. His wickets included Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard and Marco Jansen.
Mumbai were restricted to 159/9. RCB then survived a tense chase to win by two wickets off the final delivery.
Sunil Narine has produced two of the best opening-night spells. He took 4/13 against Delhi in 2013 and followed it with 4/20 against Mumbai in the 2014 opener. KKR won both matches.
Memorable IPL Opening Matches
Several openers stand apart because of the way they were decided.
CSK’s two-run win over KKR in 2011 was one of the closest early opening matches. Chennai scored 153/4 before restricting Kolkata to 151/7. Srikkanth Anirudha was Player of the Match for his 64.
The 2018 opener produced perhaps the greatest comeback. CSK were eight wickets down before Bravo’s 68 rescued the chase against Mumbai.
The 2021 match between Mumbai and RCB was decided on the final ball, with Harshal Patel’s five wickets followed by AB de Villiers’ 48 in the chase.
The 2023 opener introduced the IPL’s Impact Player rule. Gujarat Titans beat Chennai by five wickets after Shubman Gill scored 63 and Rashid Khan contributed 2/26 and a vital unbeaten 10.
The 2025 opener began RCB’s championship season. Krunal Pandya’s 3/29 helped restrict defending champions KKR to 174/8 before Phil Salt and Virat Kohli powered RCB to a seven-wicket win in only 16.2 overs.
A year later, RCB opened as defending champions and again won comfortably, chasing SRH’s 201 in just 15.4 overs.
Teams With Multiple IPL Opening Match Wins
Kolkata Knight Riders have historically performed particularly well in season openers. They won the inaugural match in 2008 and added opening-night victories in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2022.
Chennai Super Kings have also enjoyed several opener victories, including 2011, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2024.
Mumbai Indians featured frequently but lost several opening fixtures despite later becoming one of the league’s most successful championship teams.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s fortunes changed more recently. After suffering heavy opening-match defeats in 2008 and 2019, RCB won season openers in 2021, 2025 and 2026.
Conclusion
IPL opening matches have produced some of the league’s most memorable performances since Brendon McCullum launched the tournament with 158 not out in 2008.
KKR’s 222/3 from that match remains the highest team score in an IPL opener, while RCB’s 70 against Chennai in 2019 is the lowest.
McCullum still holds the individual batting record, and Harshal Patel’s 5/27 against Mumbai Indians in 2021 is the best bowling analysis.
Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings have supplied several famous opening-night clashes, including Mumbai’s wins in 2009 and 2012 and Chennai’s dramatic victories in 2018 and 2020.
Recent seasons have continued the tradition. RCB defeated defending champions KKR in 2025 and then opened their own title defense in 2026 by chasing 202 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in only 15.4 overs.
From one-sided victories to final-ball finishes, the first match of the IPL has repeatedly provided an early indication of the entertainment to come.
FAQs
Who won the first-ever IPL opening match?
Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by 140 runs in the first IPL match in 2008.
Who scored the most runs in an IPL opening match?
Brendon McCullum holds the record with an unbeaten 158 for KKR against RCB in 2008.
What is the highest team score in an IPL opener?
KKR’s 222/3 against RCB in 2008 is the highest score in an IPL season-opening match.
What is the lowest score in an IPL opening match?
RCB were bowled out for 70 against Chennai Super Kings in the 2019 opener.
Who has the best bowling figures in an IPL opener?
Harshal Patel holds the record with 5/27 for RCB against Mumbai Indians in 2021.
Who won the IPL 2024 opening match?
Chennai Super Kings defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru by six wickets. Mustafizur Rahman took 4/29.
Who won the IPL 2025 opening match?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets.
Who won the IPL 2026 opening match?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets after chasing 202 in 15.4 overs.
Who was Player of the Match in the 2026 IPL opener?
Jacob Duffy was Player of the Match after taking 3/22 on his RCB debut.
How many runs did Dwayne Bravo score in the 2018 IPL opener?
Bravo scored 68 from 30 balls as Chennai defeated Mumbai by one wicket.
Who won the 2020 IPL opening match?
Chennai Super Kings defeated Mumbai Indians by five wickets, with Ambati Rayudu scoring 71.
Who won the 2022 IPL opening match?
Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Chennai Super Kings by six wickets.
Who won the 2023 IPL opening match?
Gujarat Titans defeated Chennai Super Kings by five wickets in Ahmedabad.
Has a batter scored a century in an IPL opening match?
Yes. Brendon McCullum scored 158 not out in the inaugural IPL match in 2008.
Which IPL opening match had the biggest winning margin?
KKR’s 140-run victory over RCB in 2008 remains the biggest opening-match win by runs.
Which opener was decided by the smallest run margin?
CSK defeated KKR by only two runs in the 2011 season opener.
Rivcky John
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