In the IPL, teams rarely make or defend low scores. However, every few seasons, a match occurs in which either the pitch slows or the pressure rises, and wickets fall in a heap. These are the games that remember out because a tiny sum suddenly seemed like a lot. Here are the five lowest totals that have been successfully defended in the IPL.
111 PBKS vs. KKR.
, Mullanpur, 2025
PBKS won by sixteen runs.
The Punjab Kings (PBKS) went from failing to defend 245 one game to defending 111 the next. Chasing 112, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) went 7 for 2, 72 for 3, and 95 all out. Chahal was smashed for 16 in his final over by Russell, who kept KKR in the game for a bit longer, but the legspinner finished with 4 for 28, which proved crucial. Marco Jansen and Arshdeep Singh came in at the end to complete the task. The ball twisted and gripped, but not enough to explain how a team chasing 112 lost six wickets in 5.2 overs after being in complete control.
116/9
CSK versus KXIP
, Durban, 2009.
CSK won by 24 runs.
This was back when 116 was still a competitive score in T20 cricket, especially with Muthiah Muralidaran on your side. The Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) batting struggled on a slow wicket, but Kings XI Punjab’s (KXIP) pursuit was more of a slow surrender. R Ashwin and Suresh Raina combined to bowl eight overs for 30 runs, taking four wickets. Muralidaran scored eight runs in four overs and claimed two wickets. KXIP never seemed in a hurry.
118
SRH versus MI
, Mumbai, 2018.
SRH won by 31 runs.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) entered this match without Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Billy Stanlake, were knocked out in 18.4 overs, and then put up one of the best defensive bowling performances witnessed in the IPL. Rashid Khan bowled 16 dots in four overs, collecting two for eleven. Siddarth Kaul hammered hard lengths during his three-for, dismissing Mumbai Indians’ (MI) final hope, Hardik Pandya, whose 3 off 19 was a torturous crawl. Basil Thampi finished the game after dismissing Suryakumar Yadav in the 16th over. MI lasted a ball longer than SRH but scored just 87.
119/8
KXIP against MI
, Durban, 2009.
KXIP won by three runs.
KXIP’s three-pronged pace attack bowled canny spells to disrupt MI’s chase, and despite a clinical half-century from JP Duminy, KXIP held on for a nerve-racking three-run victory. MI didn’t get off to a bad start after losing the toss, attacking early with spin and keeping their hands on the jugular with Lasith Malinga’s late punches, but they couldn’t reach 120. Earlier, Sangakkara kept the KXIP innings alive with an unbeaten 45, which proved to be crucial.
119/8
SRH versus PW
, Pune, 2013
SRH won by eleven runs.
Pune Warriors (PW) required 19 from 19 balls. They held six wickets in hand. Then Amit Mishra happened. He took a hat-trick and finished 4 for 19, after scoring a vital 30 off 24 when SRH were 44 for 6. PW batted only 13 off the last 19 balls, losing their remaining six wickets. Mishra went away with a shrug. He scored his third IPL hat-trick.