Lowest Totals Defended in the History of IPL

Punjab Kings hold the record for the lowest total successfully defended in IPL history. PBKS defended only 111 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025 and won the match by 16 runs. Kolkata needed just 112 to win, but they were bowled out for 95 after a brilliant bowling comeback from Punjab.

Before this match, Chennai Super Kings had held the record for 16 years. CSK defended 116/9 against Kings XI Punjab in 2009. Sunrisers Hyderabad are also high on the list after defending 118 against Mumbai Indians in 2018.

Defending a small total is never easy in T20 cricket. The batting team knows the target is low, so the bowlers have very little room for mistakes. One expensive over can almost finish the match. That is why these low-scoring wins are some of the best bowling performances in IPL history.

Lowest Totals Successfully Defended in IPL History

The table below covers full-length IPL matches and does not include rain-shortened games.

Punjab's 111 in 2025 moved to the top of the list, beating CSK's old record of 116/9 from IPL 2009. Before Punjab's record-breaking win, only four full-length IPL totals below 120 had ever been successfully defended.

1. Punjab Kings Defended 111 vs KKR – IPL 2025

Punjab Kings' 111 against Kolkata Knight Riders is the lowest total ever defended in a full IPL match. The record was created at Mullanpur on April 15, 2025.

Punjab had chosen to bat first and actually started well. Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh took the score to 39 without loss, but the innings changed quickly after the opening partnership was broken. KKR's bowlers kept taking wickets and Punjab collapsed badly through the middle overs.

Harshit Rana was excellent for Kolkata and finished with 3/25. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy also made scoring difficult. PBKS were eventually bowled out for only 111 in 15.3 overs. At the innings break, the total looked far too small to defend.

KKR then started their chase badly by losing both openers, but captain Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi brought them back into control. The pair added 55 runs, and Kolkata reached 62/2. With only 50 more required and eight wickets in hand, KKR looked almost certain to win.

Then Yuzvendra Chahal changed the match.

Yuzvendra Chahal Turned the Game for Punjab

Chahal attacked Kolkata's middle order with his leg-spin and finished with 4/28. He removed important batters and forced KKR into a collapse that no one expected after they had reached 62/2.

Kolkata lost their final eight wickets for only 33 runs. Marco Jansen also played a major role with the ball and finished with 3/17, including the final wicket of Andre Russell. KKR were bowled out for 95 in 15.1 overs, giving Punjab a famous 16-run victory.

The win became even more remarkable because Punjab had been bowled out themselves. Both teams failed to complete 16 overs, yet the match remained competitive almost until the end.

Why Punjab's 111-Run Defence Was Special

Modern IPL cricket has become famous for scores above 200, especially after the introduction of the Impact Player rule. Batting orders are deeper, and teams have more power-hitters than in the early years of the league.

That makes Punjab's defence of 111 even more unusual. It happened in 2025, when high scores had become common, yet Punjab's bowlers won a match with a total that normally would not be enough even on a difficult pitch.

KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane later said the pitch was not impossible to bat on and admitted that Kolkata had lacked game awareness during the collapse.

2. Chennai Super Kings Defended 116/9 vs Kings XI Punjab – IPL 2009

Before Punjab broke the record in 2025, Chennai Super Kings' 116/9 against Kings XI Punjab had been the lowest total defended in IPL history for almost 16 years.

The match was played in Durban during the South African edition of IPL 2009. Chennai struggled badly with the bat and could manage only 116/9 from their 20 overs.

A target of 117 looked very small, but CSK's bowlers used the slow conditions very well. They did not allow Punjab to build a strong partnership and kept taking wickets whenever the chase started to settle.

Kings XI Punjab eventually finished on 92/8, and CSK won by 24 runs. The result showed the value of disciplined bowling when defending a low score. Instead of searching for something special every ball, Chennai kept the pressure on with dot balls and regular wickets.

That record survived from May 2009 until Punjab defended 111 in April 2025.

3. Sunrisers Hyderabad Defended 118 vs Mumbai Indians – IPL 2018

Sunrisers Hyderabad's defence of 118 against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in 2018 is one of the best bowling performances in IPL history. SRH were bowled out for only 118 in 18.4 overs and appeared to be heading towards defeat.

Mumbai were playing at home and needed just 119. On paper, the chase looked simple.

SRH's bowlers had other ideas.

The Hyderabad attack bowled with excellent control and never allowed Mumbai's batting order to settle. Wickets came regularly, and the required rate became less important than simply keeping batters at the crease.

Mumbai eventually collapsed for 87 all out, giving SRH a 31-run victory. It remains the biggest winning margin among the five lowest totals ever defended in full IPL matches.

The match was another reminder that a small target can become difficult when early wickets fall. Once a chasing team loses three or four batters quickly, even a required rate below six runs per over can begin to feel uncomfortable.

4. Kings XI Punjab Defended 119/8 vs Mumbai Indians – IPL 2009

Kings XI Punjab defended 119/8 against Mumbai Indians in Durban during IPL 2009, winning by only three runs.

Punjab had struggled to find boundaries and finished with a total that looked below par. Mumbai still had a strong batting line-up, so the chase appeared to favour them.

JP Duminy kept MI in the match with a half-century, but Punjab continued taking wickets around him. The game went all the way to the closing overs, and Mumbai eventually finished on 116/7.

Punjab won by three runs, making 119 one of the lowest totals successfully defended in IPL history.

Unlike SRH's comfortable 31-run win in 2018, this match remained alive until the final stages. It showed another side of low-total defence: sometimes the bowlers do not dominate completely; they simply keep the opposition a few runs behind throughout the chase.

5. Sunrisers Hyderabad Defended 119/8 vs Pune Warriors – IPL 2013

Sunrisers Hyderabad produced another famous low-scoring win when they defended 119/8 against Pune Warriors India in 2013.

Pune needed 120 to win and were in a good position for much of the chase. They reached 101/4 and needed only 19 more runs. At that point, SRH looked close to defeat.

Amit Mishra then produced one of the great IPL finishes with the ball. His leg-spin ran through Pune's lower order, and he completed a hat-trick as the chase fell apart.

Pune went from 101/4 to 108 all out, losing their final six wickets for only seven runs. Mishra finished with 4/19, and SRH won by 11 runs.

This match is a good example of why a low chase is never completely safe until the winning runs are scored. Pune needed fewer than 20 runs with six wickets left, but one strong bowling spell changed everything.

6. Mumbai Indians Defended 120/9 vs Pune Warriors – IPL 2012

Mumbai Indians defended 120/9 against Pune Warriors India in 2012, winning by only one run.

Pune's bowlers had done almost everything right in the first innings. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ashish Nehra helped restrict Mumbai to a small total, leaving the home side with only 121 to chase.

Mumbai's bowling attack then fought back. Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh were among the bowlers who kept the match tight, while Pune struggled to find enough boundaries.

The chase went to the final delivery. Pune needed four runs from the last ball but could not get them, finishing on 119/6. Mumbai won by one run.

A one-run win while defending only 120 remains one of the closest low-scoring finishes the IPL has seen.

7. Punjab Kings Defended 125/7 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – IPL 2021

Punjab Kings defended 125/7 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Sharjah during IPL 2021.

The Sharjah surface was much slower than it had been in the previous season, and stroke-making was difficult. Punjab could never build a big total, but KL Rahul and Aiden Markram helped them reach 125.

SRH also struggled with the conditions. Punjab's bowlers understood that they did not need to search for wickets every delivery; they simply had to keep the required rate moving upwards.

Ravi Bishnoi bowled an important spell, while Arshdeep Singh also played a key role. Hyderabad finished on 120/7, and Punjab won by five runs.

The match was another example of how conditions can change the value of a total. On a flat IPL pitch, 125 would usually be chased easily. On that Sharjah surface, it became enough.

8. Royal Challengers Bangalore Defended 126/8 vs CSK – IPL 2008

Royal Challengers Bangalore defended 126/8 against Chennai Super Kings during the first IPL season in 2008.

The match was played in Chennai, where RCB's total looked well below what was normally required. However, Bangalore's bowlers kept Chennai's batting under pressure and stopped the home side from building a match-winning partnership.

CSK finished on 112/8, leaving RCB with a 14-run victory.

It remains one of the lowest totals successfully defended by Royal Challengers Bengaluru and one of the earliest examples of a low-scoring IPL match being decided by bowling rather than batting.

Which Team Has Defended the Lowest IPL Total?

Punjab Kings hold the record after successfully defending 111 against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025. KKR were bowled out for 95, and PBKS won by 16 runs.

The record was previously held by Chennai Super Kings, who defended 116/9 against Kings XI Punjab in 2009.

The top of the list now reads:

Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad both appear twice in the top five.

Lowest Total Defended by CSK in IPL

CSK's lowest successfully defended IPL total is 116/9 against Kings XI Punjab in 2009.

That score was the overall IPL record for almost 16 years. Chennai restricted Punjab to 92/8 and won by 24 runs.

CSK lost the overall record when Punjab Kings defended 111 against KKR in 2025, but 116/9 remains Chennai's lowest successful defence.

Lowest Total Defended by Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings now hold the overall record with 111 against KKR in 2025.

Interestingly, Punjab already had another very low defence in the IPL record book. They defended 119/8 against Mumbai Indians in 2009 and later defended 125/7 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2021.

This gives Punjab three places among the lowest successful defences in IPL history.

Lowest Total Defended by Sunrisers Hyderabad

SRH have also produced several excellent low-score defences. Their lowest is 118 against Mumbai Indians in 2018, when they bowled MI out for just 87.

They also defended 119/8 against Pune Warriors India in 2013, helped by Amit Mishra's 4/19 and hat-trick.

SRH's history has often been linked with strong bowling attacks, and these two results are good examples of that identity.

What About Rain-Shortened IPL Matches?

There is an important difference between the lowest total defended in a full IPL match and low totals defended in rain-shortened games.

Royal Challengers Bangalore defended 106/2 in an eight-over match against CSK in 2013, while Punjab Kings defended 106/6 in a ten-over match against RCB in 2015. Because those innings were shortened by rain, they are normally kept separate from the main full-match record.

That is why Punjab Kings' 111 against KKR in 2025 is officially discussed as the lowest total successfully defended in a full IPL match.

Why Is Defending a Low Total So Difficult?

When a team is defending 200, bowlers can afford to concede a boundary because the required rate is already high. A score of 110 or 120 gives them almost no such protection.

If a team is chasing 112, for example, it needs fewer than six runs per over across 20 overs. The batting side does not need to hit many sixes. It can win simply by keeping wickets in hand and collecting singles and boundaries.

The only realistic way for the defending side to create pressure is to take wickets. Once two or three wickets fall quickly, new batters become more careful and the easy-looking chase can become difficult.

That is exactly what happened when Punjab defended 111 against KKR.

Wickets Matter More Than Economy in Small Defences

Dot balls are useful in every T20 match, but wickets become even more important when defending a low total.

Punjab's 2025 win is a good example. KKR had reached 62/2 and were moving comfortably towards the target. Punjab did not win by simply slowing the run rate; they won by removing eight more batters for only 33 runs.

Chahal's four wickets and Jansen's three completely changed the match.

The same pattern appeared when SRH defended 119 against Pune Warriors. Amit Mishra's wickets turned a simple chase into a collapse.

Does IPL 2026 Change the Lowest Total Defended Record?

No. Punjab Kings' 111 against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2025 remained the lowest full-match total successfully defended through the end of IPL 2026.

IPL 2026 produced many high-scoring matches and successful chases. No team managed to defend a total below Punjab's 111, so the record survived another season. The 2026 competition actually continued the modern trend towards larger totals, making Punjab's 2025 achievement look even more unusual.

Lowest Totals Defended in IPL – Quick Record

The main record is simple: PBKS 111 vs KKR in 2025.

Punjab scored only 111, KKR were dismissed for 95, and Punjab won by 16 runs. The result broke CSK's record of 116/9, which had stood since 2009.

Sunrisers Hyderabad's 118 against Mumbai Indians is third, while Punjab and SRH share the next positions with 119/8.

These matches show that even a very low IPL score can be defended when the bowling side takes early wickets and keeps pressure on the chase.

FAQs

What is the lowest total defended in IPL history?

Punjab Kings defended 111 against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025, the lowest total successfully defended in a full IPL match. KKR were bowled out for 95.

Who defended 111 runs in IPL?

Punjab Kings defended 111 against Kolkata Knight Riders at Mullanpur on April 15, 2025. PBKS won by 16 runs.

What was the lowest IPL total defended before Punjab's 111?

Chennai Super Kings held the previous record after defending 116/9 against Kings XI Punjab in 2009.

What is the lowest total defended by CSK in IPL?

CSK's lowest successful defence is 116/9 against Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2009. They won by 24 runs.

What is the lowest total defended by SRH?

Sunrisers Hyderabad defended 118 against Mumbai Indians in 2018, bowling MI out for only 87 and winning by 31 runs.

Has a team defended less than 100 runs in IPL?

No team has successfully defended a total below 100 in a full 20-over IPL match. Punjab Kings' 111 remains the lowest full-match total successfully defended.

Did Punjab Kings defend 106 in IPL?

Punjab defended 106/6 against RCB in 2015, but that was a rain-shortened 10-over match. Their 111 against KKR in 2025 is the recognised record for a full IPL match.

What is the lowest total defended in IPL 2026?

No 2026 match broke the all-time record. Punjab Kings' 111 from IPL 2025 remained the lowest successfully defended full-match IPL total through the end of 2026.

Sources

• IPLT20 – Punjab Kings Defend the Lowest Total in IPL History Against KKR
  View official IPL 2025 match report
• Cricbuzz – PBKS Defend the Lowest Ever IPL Total
  View Cricbuzz statistical report
• Cricbuzz – Chahal Leads Punjab's Historic Defence of 111
  View Cricbuzz match analysis
• Indian Express – Lowest Scores Successfully Defended in IPL History
  View complete IPL record list
• Business Standard – Full List of Lowest IPL First-Innings Totals Defended
  View IPL lowest-defence records
• India Today – Punjab Kings Break CSK's Long-Standing Lowest Defence Record
  View IPL lowest totals defended