10 lowest powerplay scores in IPL history
Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad have the unwanted record for the lowest powerplay score in IPL history.
There has been a common perception that the IPL has become quite the batsman’s game. On countless occasions, the batters have taken the bowling attack to the cleaners like a hot knife through butter, providing little to none challenges between batsmen and bowlers.
Usually, in the powerplay overs (first six overs), the fielding restrictions are imposed on the bowling team. As a result, it gives the batters a great opportunity to flex their muscles. In this scenario, the team will benefit from the chunk of runs scored by the batsmen.
Despite the fact that the bowlers are at a certain disadvantage, they still came out on top in the battles against the batters on some occasions. The bowlers with a barrage of tricks under their sleeve certainly gave the batters a run for their money.
The bowlers’ top-notch spells have triggered a batting collapse, thus preventing the batters from scoring more runs in the powerplay.
Lowest powerplay scores accumulated by teams in IPL:
| Team | Lowest powerplay scores | Opposition | Year |
| Rajasthan Royals | 14/2 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 2009 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 14/3 | Rajasthan Royals | 2022 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 15/2 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 2011 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 16/1 | Delhi Capitals | 2015 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 16/1 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 2019 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 17/4 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 2020 |
| Mumbai Indians | 17/3 | Kings XI Punjab | 2015 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 17/1 | Chennai Super Kings | 2014 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 17/4 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 2021 |
| Rajasthan Royals | 18/1 | Mumbai Indians | 2011 |
1. Rajasthan Royals – 14/2 vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2009
The second edition of the tournament had to be shifted to South Africa. The conditions were quite different from the ones in India and the batters just started to get the hang of things. Little did the Rajasthan Royals know that they would find themselves in a spot of bother.
After winning the title in the inaugural season, the defending champions struggled to provide a spark in the powerplay overs against RCB in the run-chase as they were able to muster just 14/2. The Royals were bowled out for 58 and lost the game by 75 runs.
Batting first, RCB posted 133/8 with the help of Rahul Dravid‘s 66 off 48. Praveen Kumar was the pick of the bowlers for RCB as he contained runs in the powerplay overs. Having bowled three overs, he took two wickets and gave away just 7 runs.
Read more: 10 lowest totals defended by teams in IPL history
2. Sunrisers Hyderabad – 14/3 vs Rajasthan Royals in 2022
When the Rajasthan Royals recorded the lowest-ever score in powerplay in 2009, thirteen years later, Sunrisers Hyderabad equalled the lowest score in powerplay against Rajasthan Royals but with the loss of three wickets in the first six overs.
RR bowlers namely Trent Boult and Prasidh Krishna used the conditions to better effect to not just contain runs but take wickets. Batting first, the Royals posted a colossal total of 210/6 in their designated quota of 20 overs.
On the other side of the coin, SRH didn’t recover from the top-order batting collapse. Eventually, they could muster 149/7 as the Royals won the game by 61 runs. Sanju Samson who top-scored for the Royals with 55 off 27 was adjudged the Man of the Match.
3. Chennai Super Kings – 15/2 vs Kolkata Knight Riders in 2011
The five-time IPL champions have a dismal record that they want to forget as they have registered the third-lowest score in the powerplay overs in the history of the competition. The Yellow Army registered just 15/2 against KKR in the IPL 2011 season.
Despite a gloomy record, MS Dhoni and Co. would go on to brave the challenges and win the title by beating RCB in the final. Talking about their performance against KKR, CSK were able to garner 114 runs after initial jitters.
On the other side of the coin, KKR approached the game with caution and aggression. The managed to chase down the target without any fuss as they won the game by 10 runs (D/L method).
4. Chennai Super Kings – 16/1 vs Delhi Capitals in 2015
In the IPL 2015 season, Chennai Super Kings failed to operate in top gear against Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). MS Dhoni and Co. were able to muster 16 runs for the loss of 1 wicket in the first six overs, which is a dismal score.
DC bowlers chipped in with disciplinary bowling variations as they bowled two maiden overs to keep the CSK batters silent. In the end, the Whistle Podu army compiled 119/6 in their quota of 20 overs in the first innings.
In response, the Delhi-based franchise aced the run-chase in 16.4 overs and won the game by six wickets. Zaheer Khan was the wrecker-in-chief as he recorded an impressive bowling spell of 2/9 in his quota of 4 overs, including a maiden over.
5. Chennai Super Kings – 16/1 vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2019
The fifth on the list is yet again the Chennai-based franchise and these are unwanted records that they would want to erase from their team’s legacy. CSK equaled their own record of registering the fifth-lowest powerplay score in IPL history in 2019 against RCB.
The drama unfolded in the tournament opener on a slow Chepauk track. Batting first, RCB were bowled out for just 70 runs. After bowling superbly well, CSK had the game in their hands. In fact, they were hoping to finish off the task without any hic-cups.
Nevertheless, they were in a spot of bother on a tricky pitch after scoring just 16 runs in the powerplay. Shane Watson failed to start well as he registered a 10-ball duck. However, CSK managed to win the game by seven wickets.
Read more: 10 highest powerplay scores in IPL history
