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The Indian Premier League (IPL) is renowned for its high-octane drama, power-packed batting, and nail-biting finishes. Over the years, the league has witnessed some of the most audacious run chases in T20 cricket, where teams have defied towering targets and pressure-cooker scenarios. The 2025 season added a new chapter to this legacy, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) scripting a memorable chase to secure their playoff berth. As the IPL 2025 playoffs approach, let’s revisit the top five highest successful run chases in the tournament’s history, with a special spotlight on RCB’s latest heroics.
RCB qualifies in top 2 for the IPL 2025 playoffs
This year’s playoff race has been fiercely contested, with RCB entering the final league match needing a win to clinch a top-two finish and a coveted spot in Qualifier 1. Their challenge was formidable: facing Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) away, with LSG setting a daunting 228-run target, courtesy of a Rishabh Pant century.
RCB’s chase was anything but straightforward—early momentum from Virat Kohli and Phil Salt was checked by quick wickets, but a breathtaking partnership between Mayank Agarwal and Jitesh Sharma turned the tide. Jitesh’s unbeaten 85 off 33 balls, including a dramatic reprieve via a no-ball, sealed the win with 8 balls to spare, propelling RCB into the playoffs and etching their chase among the IPL’s greatest.
Top 5 highest successful run chases in IPL history
Here’s a look at the five highest successful run chases in IPL history, each a testament to fearless batting and relentless belief:
1. Punjab Kings – 262/2 vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Eden Gardens, 2024
The highest chase ever in IPL—and T20—history. KKR’s 261 was powered by a 138-run opening stand, but Punjab Kings answered with a record 42 sixes in the match. Jonny Bairstow’s 108* and Shashank Singh’s 68* ensured the target was overhauled in just 18.4 overs, setting a new benchmark for run chases.
2. Sunrisers Hyderabad – 247/2 vs Punjab Kings, Hyderabad, 2025
Chasing 246, SRH’s Abhishek Sharma delivered a masterclass, smashing 141 off 55 balls—the highest IPL score by an Indian. Supported by Travis Head’s 66, SRH reached the target in 18.3 overs, making it the second-highest successful chase in IPL history.
Also READ: EXPLAINED: Why was Jitesh Sharma given not out despite leaving the crease in LSG vs RCB clash?
3. Royal Challengers Bengaluru – 230/4 vs Lucknow Super Giants, Lucknow, 2025
RCB’s playoff-defining chase saw them overhaul 228, the highest ever at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium. Kohli’s half-century set the tone, but it was Jitesh’s explosive 85* and Agarwal’s 41 that sealed the win, marking RCB’s entry into the top three IPL chases of all time.
4. Rajasthan Royals – 226/6 vs Kings XI Punjab, Sharjah, 2020
Chasing 224, RR needed 51 off the last three overs. Rahul Tewatia’s five sixes in one over transformed the game, with cameos from Sanju Samson and Jofra Archer clinching victory in a thriller that was the highest chase at the time.
5. Rajasthan Royals – 224/8 vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Eden Gardens, 2024
Chasing 224, Jos Buttler single-handedly orchestrated a rescue act, scoring 70 of the last 103 runs needed with a hamstring injury. His calculated assault in the death overs saw RR home with three balls remaining.
