Lowest Powerplay Total Scores by Teams in IPL History

Delhi Capitals hold the record for the lowest powerplay score in IPL history. DC managed only 13/6 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026. Six Delhi batters were back in the pavilion before the first six overs were completed, making it the worst powerplay batting performance the IPL has seen.

Before Delhi's collapse, the record was 14 runs. Rajasthan Royals had scored 14/2 against RCB in 2009, while Sunrisers Hyderabad made 14/3 against Rajasthan Royals in 2022. Chennai Super Kings also appear several times among the lowest IPL powerplay totals.

The powerplay covers the first six overs of an IPL innings. Only two fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle, so teams normally try to score quickly. A total below 20 after six overs is therefore very unusual.

Lowest Powerplay Scores in IPL History

Delhi's 13/6 replaced the old record of 14 runs, which had stood since Rajasthan Royals' poor start against RCB in 2009.

1. Delhi Capitals – 13/6 vs RCB in IPL 2026

Delhi Capitals' 13/6 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru is the lowest powerplay total in IPL history. The collapse came at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 27, 2026.

Delhi were batting first, but their innings fell apart almost immediately. Bhuvneshwar Kumar started the damage with the new ball, while Josh Hazlewood attacked from the other end. The two experienced fast bowlers found movement, kept a tight line and did not give Delhi's batters any easy scoring options.

KL Rahul, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel and Nitish Rana were among the batters dismissed during the early collapse. At one stage, Delhi were 8/6 in 3.5 overs. They managed only five more runs before the end of the sixth over and finished the powerplay on 13/6.

Delhi eventually recovered enough to avoid being bowled out for the lowest team total in IPL history. Abishek Porel scored 30 and helped them reach 75 all out in 16.3 overs. Hazlewood finished with 4/12, while Bhuvneshwar took 3/5.

RCB then chased the small target comfortably.

Why Delhi's 13/6 Was Such a Bad Powerplay

The score itself was poor, but losing six wickets made it even worse. A team can recover from a slow powerplay if it still has wickets in hand. Delhi did not have that option.

By the time the fielding restrictions ended, more than half of their batting line-up had already been dismissed. The middle and lower order had to focus on survival instead of building a big score.

Delhi also equalled the record for the most wickets lost by a team during a full six-over IPL powerplay. Cricbuzz noted that only Kochi Tuskers Kerala had also lost six wickets in the first six overs of a non-shortened IPL match.

2. Rajasthan Royals – 14/2 vs RCB in IPL 2009

Before Delhi's 2026 collapse, Rajasthan Royals' 14/2 against Royal Challengers Bangalore was the lowest powerplay score in IPL history for many years.

The match was played in Cape Town during IPL 2009. RCB had made 133/8, so Rajasthan needed 134 to win. The target was not very large, but the conditions helped the fast bowlers and Rajasthan started very slowly.

RR lost two wickets and scored only 14 runs from the first six overs. Their problems continued after the powerplay, and the chase never recovered.

Rajasthan were eventually bowled out for 58, which was the lowest IPL team total at that time. RCB won the match comfortably.

The 14/2 powerplay remained the IPL record until Sunrisers Hyderabad matched the number in 2022 and Delhi Capitals finally went below it in 2026.

3. Sunrisers Hyderabad – 14/3 vs Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2022

Sunrisers Hyderabad scored only 14/3 in the powerplay while chasing Rajasthan Royals' big total in IPL 2022.

Rajasthan had set SRH a difficult target of 211. Hyderabad therefore needed a strong start, but the exact opposite happened.

Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna bowled very well with the new ball. They used movement and extra bounce to trouble the SRH top order. Hyderabad lost three wickets and could score only 14 runs in the first six overs.

The required run rate had already become very high by the end of the powerplay. SRH's middle order tried to recover, but the poor start had left too much work to do.

Their 14/3 equalled Rajasthan Royals' record from 2009 for the lowest powerplay score in IPL history at that time.

4. Chennai Super Kings – 15/2 vs KKR in IPL 2011

Chennai Super Kings scored only 15/2 in the powerplay against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2011.

CSK are normally known for building their innings carefully before attacking later, but this was slow even by their standards. The early wickets made it difficult for Chennai to use the fielding restrictions.

KKR's bowlers kept the ball in good areas and did not allow Chennai's batters to find regular boundaries. CSK therefore ended the first six overs with only 15 runs on the board.

For many years, this remained one of the three lowest powerplay totals in IPL history.

After Delhi's 13/6 in 2026, it now sits behind Delhi, Rajasthan and Hyderabad on the all-time list.

5. Chennai Super Kings – 16/1 vs Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2015

CSK appear again with 16/1 against Delhi Daredevils in Raipur during IPL 2015.

This innings was not a complete batting collapse because Chennai had lost only one wicket. The main problem was the scoring rate.

Delhi's bowlers kept things tight and made it difficult for CSK to use the powerplay. Chennai scored fewer than three runs per over during the first six overs.

A slow start does not always end a team's chances in T20 cricket, especially if wickets remain in hand, but it puts extra pressure on the middle and death overs.

The 16/1 remains one of the lowest IPL powerplay scores ever recorded.

5. Chennai Super Kings – 16/1 vs RCB in IPL 2019

CSK also made 16/1 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Chennai during IPL 2019.

The Chepauk pitch was slow, and both teams found scoring difficult. RCB had posted only 70 all out, so Chennai did not need to take big risks in the chase.

Because the target was so small, CSK could afford to start very slowly. They scored only 16 runs in the powerplay but still had nine wickets remaining.

This is a good example of why a low powerplay score does not always mean a team is in serious trouble. Match situation matters. Chennai were chasing only 71, so there was no need to attack every ball.

CSK eventually won by seven wickets.

Their 16/1 still appears in the list of the lowest powerplay totals because only the number of runs scored in the first six overs is counted.

Lowest Powerplay Score in IPL 2026

Delhi Capitals recorded the lowest powerplay score of IPL 2026 with 13/6 against RCB. It was also the lowest powerplay score in the entire history of the tournament.

Delhi's collapse was much worse than other low powerplays because they did not simply score slowly. They also lost six wickets.

Cricbuzz reported that DC had struggled in the powerplay throughout the 2026 season, but the RCB match was the clear low point.

Lowest Powerplay Score by Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals' lowest IPL powerplay score is now 13/6 against RCB in 2026.

Before that match, Delhi had experienced several poor starts in IPL history, but none went as low as 13 runs.

The innings also created other unwanted records. Delhi were 7/5 at one stage, which Cricbuzz listed as one of the lowest scores at the fall of the fifth wicket in IPL history.

Lowest Powerplay Score by Rajasthan Royals

Rajasthan Royals' lowest IPL powerplay total is 14/2 against RCB in Cape Town in 2009.

For 17 years, no IPL team scored fewer runs in the first six overs of a full match.

RR were eventually bowled out for 58, so the bad powerplay was only the beginning of a much larger batting collapse.

Lowest Powerplay Score by Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad's lowest powerplay score is 14/3 against Rajasthan Royals in 2022.

SRH were chasing 211 and therefore needed a fast start, but Rajasthan's fast bowlers gave them no room to attack.

The score of 14/3 equalled the old IPL record before Delhi Capitals went one run lower in 2026.

Lowest Powerplay Score by CSK

Chennai Super Kings' lowest IPL powerplay score is 15/2 against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2011.

CSK also scored 16/1 twice, first against Delhi Daredevils in 2015 and then against RCB in 2019.

This gives Chennai three entries among the six lowest powerplay totals in IPL history.

That does not mean CSK have always been poor in the first six overs. The franchise has also had many strong opening combinations over the years. These innings simply show that some of their slowest starts happened on difficult pitches or in matches where early wickets reduced their scoring rate.

Teams With the Most Entries Among the Lowest IPL Powerplay Scores

Chennai Super Kings appear more often than any other team in the very lowest group.

CSK's three entries came in 2011, 2015 and 2019.

Delhi's 2026 total is still the lowest of all.

Lowest Powerplay Score vs Lowest IPL Total

The lowest powerplay score and the lowest full-innings total are different records.

Delhi Capitals hold the lowest powerplay record with 13/6, but RCB still hold the lowest complete IPL total at 49 all out against KKR in 2017.

Delhi finished on 75 after their 13/6 powerplay in 2026. That was a very low team total, but it was still 26 runs above RCB's record 49.

This shows that even after a terrible powerplay, a lower-order partnership can help a team recover.

What Is a Powerplay in IPL?

The powerplay is the first six overs of an IPL innings.

During this period, only two fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle. This makes it easier for batters to find boundaries because fewer fielders are protecting the boundary.

Most teams therefore try to score quickly during the powerplay.

A normal modern IPL powerplay can often produce 45 to 60 runs. Strong batting teams can score much more.

That is why totals such as 13, 14 or 15 are so unusual.

Why Do Teams Score So Slowly in Some Powerplays?

There are several reasons a team can have a poor powerplay. The most common is losing early wickets.

When two or three batters are dismissed quickly, the next batter often becomes more careful. The batting side then focuses on stopping the collapse instead of scoring boundaries.

Pitch conditions also matter. A new ball can swing more on some surfaces, especially during evening games. Fast bowlers can use that movement to trouble opening batters.

A slow pitch can create another problem. The ball may not come onto the bat properly, which makes timing difficult.

The match situation also matters. CSK's 16/1 against RCB in 2019 came while chasing only 71, so Chennai had no reason to take big risks.

Why Wickets Are Important in the Powerplay

A team can recover from a score of 25/0 much more easily than 25/4.

Even though both teams have scored the same number of runs, the team with ten wickets in hand can attack much harder later.

Delhi's 13/6 in 2026 is the best example. Their problem was not only the 13 runs. They had already lost six batters.

That left very little batting for the remaining 14 overs.

In comparison, CSK's 16/1 against RCB in 2019 was not nearly as serious because Chennai still had nine wickets available.

Lowest Powerplay Score in a Successful Chase

A low powerplay does not always lead to defeat.

CSK's 16/1 against RCB in 2019 came in a successful chase. Chennai were chasing only 71, so they could take their time and avoid unnecessary risks.

They eventually reached the target and won by seven wickets.

This shows why score alone does not tell the full story. Target, pitch and wickets remaining also matter.

Lowest Powerplay Scores and Final Team Totals

The final result after a very poor powerplay can be very different from match to match.

Delhi and Rajasthan both went on to post very low full-innings totals after their poor starts.

CSK showed that a low powerplay can still be enough when the target is small.

How IPL 2026 Changed the Record

Before IPL 2026, 14 runs was the lowest powerplay score in IPL history. Rajasthan Royals had made 14/2 in 2009, and Sunrisers Hyderabad later matched the run total with 14/3 in 2022.

Delhi Capitals changed the record on April 27, 2026.

Their 13/6 against RCB became the first full IPL powerplay below 14 runs. It also became one of the worst top-order collapses in league history.

That single innings pushed Rajasthan and Hyderabad down to joint second place.

FAQs

What is the lowest powerplay score in IPL history?

Delhi Capitals hold the record with 13/6 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026.

Which team scored only 13 runs in the IPL powerplay?

Delhi Capitals scored 13/6 in six overs against RCB at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in 2026.

What was the lowest IPL powerplay score before 2026?

The previous lowest was 14 runs. Rajasthan Royals made 14/2 against RCB in 2009, while SRH made 14/3 against Rajasthan Royals in 2022.

What is CSK's lowest powerplay score in IPL?

CSK's lowest powerplay total is 15/2 against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2011.

What is Rajasthan Royals' lowest powerplay score?

Rajasthan Royals' lowest is 14/2 against RCB in Cape Town during IPL 2009.

What is SRH's lowest powerplay score?

Sunrisers Hyderabad's lowest IPL powerplay total is 14/3 against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2022.

Did Delhi Capitals lose six wickets in the powerplay?

Yes. Delhi Capitals lost six wickets and scored only 13 runs in the first six overs against RCB in IPL 2026.

Is 13/6 also the lowest IPL team total?

No. It is the lowest powerplay score. The lowest full IPL team total remains RCB's 49 all out against KKR in 2017.

Sources

• IPLT20 – Delhi Capitals Record 13/6, the Lowest Powerplay Score in IPL History
  View official IPL 2026 match report
• Cricbuzz – Lowest Powerplay Totals in IPL History
  View Cricbuzz statistical analysis
• India Today – DC's 13/6 Becomes the Worst IPL Powerplay
  View India Today report
• Times of India – Lowest Powerplay Scores in IPL After Delhi's 2026 Collapse
  View IPL powerplay record list
• Times of India – Rajasthan Royals and SRH's Previous Lowest IPL Powerplay Records
  View historical powerplay records