5 Highest Individual Scores In IPL History

Chris Gayle (L) and AB de Villiers (R) in IPL (Source: X)

Scoring a century or a 150+ knock is one of the rarest milestones in IPL, achieved by only a few batters in the tournament’s history since its inaugural season in 2008. This notion is also underscored by the fact that there are only two 150+ individual knocks in the entire IPL history. 

There have been some excellent batting performances that remain the highlights of the tournament. That said, here’s a look at the highest individual scores in IPL history. 

5 Highest individual scores in IPL history 

Chris Gayle - 175* vs Pune Warriors India, IPL 2013

The former RCB legend, Chris Gayle, was known for his explosive approach from the first ball of the game. He had a knack for converting the quick starts into the big knocks, which he showcased in a lot of matches in his IPL career. 

In the same vein, it was the 31st match of IPL 2013 when the Pune Warriors India’s bowlers felt the wrath of Gayle’s blistering batting. The then-RCB southpaw went on to smash an unbeaten knock of 175 runs off just 66 balls, with 13 fours and 17 sixes. It was the highest individual score in IPL history. During this knock, Gayle also set the record for the fastest IPL century, hitting it off just 30 balls. 

Brendon McCullum - 158* vs RCB, IPL 2008 

The first-ever game of the first-ever IPL, played in 2008, was between RCB and KKR at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on April 18, 2008. Besides being a memorable day in IPL history, it was also the day when the former KKR opener Brendon McCullum announced his IPL arrival in a swashbuckling style. 

The then-RCB skipper won the toss and asked KKR to bat first. McCullum looked completely on a different planet from the first over innings. The Kiwi batting maestro smashed 158 runs off just 73 balls, with 10 fours and 13 sixes. 

On the back of his knock, KKR posted the first-ever 200+ total in IPL history in the very first game, scoring 222 runs for the loss of three wickets in the allotted 20 overs. McCullum’s 158-run knock is still the second-highest individual score in the tournament’s history. 

Abhishek Sharma -141 runs 

The swashbuckling SRH opener, Abhishek Sharma, has left everyone awestruck with his sensational run of form in IPL for the last two seasons. Meanwhile, he also smashed the third-highest individual score in IPL history, while chasing the 246-run target against the Punjab Kings in IPL 2025’s 27th match. 

Abhishek amassed 141 runs off just 55 balls, with 14 fours and 10 sixes, with an astonishing strike rate of 256.36. He also stitched a game-changing opening partnership of 171 runs with Travis Head (66 runs off just 37 balls) to help SRH win the game by eight wickets. 

Quinton de Kock - 140* runs 

The veteran South Africa batter, Quinton de Kock enjoyed a brilliant run of form during his stint with LSG in IPL 2021. In the 68th game of the tournament, he also amazed everyone with his batting masterclass. In this game, LSG were taking on KKR at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. 

The then-LSG skipper, KL Rahul, won the toss and decided to bat first, and came to open the innings with Quinton de Kock. Meanwhile, the latter had some different plans on the day as he ended up smashing 140 runs off just 70 balls, with 10 fours and 10 sixes, with an outstanding strike rate of 200. 

The Rahul-De Kock duo also stitched an unbeaten opening partnership of 210 runs. De Kock’s knock ranks fourth in the list of the highest individual scores in IPL history. 

AB de Villiers - 133* vs MI, IPL 2015

RCB and Mumbai Indians took on each other in the 46th game of IPL 2015; the former RCB batter AB de Villiers brutally outmuscled the MI bowlers in this game. He played an unbeaten knock of 133 runs off just 59 balls, hitting 19 fours and four sixes. 

Besides that, De Villiers added a historic and unbeaten 215-run partnership for the second wicket with the then-skipper, Virat Kohli (82 runs off just 50 balls). These knocks propelled RCB to the total of 235 runs for the loss of just one wicket in the first innings, before defending it successfully to win the game by 39 runs. 

De Villiers’ unbeaten 133-run knock in this game against MI is the fifth-highest individual score in IPL history.