This is an archive article published on April 15, 2025

IPL: A list of unbeaten, and perhaps unbeatable, records in history of Indian Premier League

Here is a look at some of the ‘unbreakable’ records set over the years in the Indian Premier League.

Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli hold a few unbreakable records in the IPL. (BCCI)

3 min readApr 18, 2025 12:35 PM IST First published on: Apr 15, 2025 at 11:37 AM IST

Earlier this season, Sunrisers Hyderabad threatened to break the highest run total in the Indian Premier League, set by themselves in 2024, with a blistering 286 against Rajasthan Royals in their tournament opener. However, there are certain records in the competition that, once set, haven’t come close to being broken in recent years. Here is a look at some of the ‘unbreakable’ records set over the years in the IPL, which could well stand the test of time.

Batting

# Most runs in a single season:

Having played in all 18 seasons of the IPL, Virat Kohli holds a fair few milestones against his name. But his record-breaking 973 runs in the 2016 IPL season, which included 4 centuries, added another jewel to the king’s crown. It has remained unsurpassed for 8 years, even though Jos Buttler (863 in 2022 with 4 centuries) and Shubman Gill (890 in 2023 with 3 centuries) threatened it briefly.

# Most runs in an innings:

In 2013, the ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle created history by smashing an unbeaten 175* off 66 balls, launching 17 sixes against Pune Warriors in Bengaluru. He reached his century off just 30 balls, another milestone that has not been matched since, with the second-fastest century coming off 37 balls by Yusuf Pathan. His power-hitting display remains unmatched and showcases his sheer dominance and consistency.in T20 history.

# Most consecutive wins by a team

In IPL history, the record for most consecutive victories is held by the Kolkata Knight Riders across the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Gautam Gambhir’s KKR secured 9 consecutive victories to lift the trophy in 2014 and extended by that one more at the start of the 2015 season.

#Highest IPL partnership:

Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, the star batting duo for Royal Challengers Bengaluru over many seasons, scripted history in 2016 by posting a 229-run partnership against the Gujarat Lions. They had broken their own record of 215* that was set against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in May 2015 almost exactly one year previously. While the batting standards have gone up in the IPL in the last couple of years, it’s hard to see their mark being broken.

Bowling :

# Most IPL hat-tricks

The right-arm leg-break bowler Amit Mishra holds the record of most IPL hat tricks, he has achieved the feat – rather fittingly – three times across different teams. His first was for Delhi Daredevils against Deccan Chargers in 2008, the second for Deccan Chargers against Kings XI Punjab in 2011, and the third for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Pune Warriors in 2013. Yuvraj Singh is the only other bowler to have bagged multiple IPL hat-tricks, claiming two in the span of 16 days in the 2009 IPL season in South Africa.

# Most Wickets on Debut:

Alzarri Joseph had an unforgettable IPL debut on April 6, 2019, for the Mumbai Indians, creating history by delivering a magical spell against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2019. He recorded stunning figures of 6/12, setting the record for the most wickets on an IPL debut.

Fielding:

AB de Villiers holds the record for most catches in a single season, highlighting his excellence in the field as well. The RCB legend took 19 catches in the 2016 season at a rate 1.187 catches per innings. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Riyan Parag (17) have come close in the last couple of years but De Villiers stays at the top.