The highest individual score while chasing in IPL history is 141, scored by Abhishek Sharma for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Punjab Kings on 12 April 2025. Chasing a huge target of 246 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, Abhishek smashed 141 off just 55 balls and carried his team to an 8 wicket win with 9 balls to spare.
This knock broke Marcus Stoinis’s record of 124 not out, which had stood since April 2024. Before Stoinis, Paul Valthaty’s 120 not out from 2011 had stood untouched for 13 years. Chasing a big total brings huge pressure, and only a few batters in IPL history have turned that pressure into a century. This article lists the top 10 highest individual scores while chasing in IPL, with verified numbers, full match details, and the story of how this record has changed over the years.
Highest Individual Score while Chasing in IPL 2026 Overview
| Record | Details |
|---|---|
| Record holder | Abhishek Sharma |
| Score | 141 off 55 balls |
| Team | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| Against | Punjab Kings |
| Target chased | 246 |
| Venue | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad |
| Date | 12 April 2025 |
| Result | Sunrisers Hyderabad won by 8 wickets |
Abhishek reached his hundred in just 40 balls, which was the fifth fastest century in IPL history at the time. His innings had 14 fours and 10 sixes. He added 171 runs for the opening wicket with Travis Head. What makes the knock even more special is that Abhishek had been sick with a fever for four days before the match. After reaching his century he held up a note that read, this one is for the Orange Army, a message for the Sunrisers Hyderabad fans.
Top 10 Highest Individual Scores while Chasing in IPL
| Rank | Player | Score | Team | Against | Season | Match Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abhishek Sharma | 141 (55 balls) | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Punjab Kings | 2025 | Chased 246 in Hyderabad, won by 8 wickets |
| 2 | Marcus Stoinis | 124 not out (63 balls) | Lucknow Super Giants | Chennai Super Kings | 2024 | Chased 211 in Chennai, won by 6 wickets |
| 3 | Paul Valthaty | 120 not out (63 balls) | Kings XI Punjab | Chennai Super Kings | 2011 | Chased 189 in Mohali, won by 6 wickets |
| 4 | Virender Sehwag | 119 (56 balls) | Delhi Daredevils | Deccan Chargers | 2011 | Chased 176 in Hyderabad, won by 4 wickets |
| 5 | Sanju Samson | 119 (63 balls) | Rajasthan Royals | Punjab Kings | 2021 | Scored 119 chasing 222 in Mumbai, lost by 4 runs |
| 6 | Shane Watson | 117 not out (57 balls) | Chennai Super Kings | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2018 | Chased 179 in the final in Mumbai, won by 8 wickets |
| 7 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 114 not out (48 balls) | Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings | 2008 | Chased 159 in Mumbai, won by 8 wickets |
| 8 | Mahela Jayawardene | 110 not out (59 balls) | Kings XI Punjab | Kolkata Knight Riders | 2010 | Chased 201 at Eden Gardens, won by 8 wickets |
| 9 | Adam Gilchrist | 109 not out (47 balls) | Deccan Chargers | Mumbai Indians | 2008 | Chased 155 in Mumbai, won by 10 wickets |
| 10 | David Warner | 109 not out (54 balls) | Delhi Daredevils | Deccan Chargers | 2012 | Chased 188 in Hyderabad, won by 9 wickets |
Every score in the top 10 is a century. Only one of them, Sanju Samson’s 119 in 2021, came in a losing cause. You can read more about such knocks in our list of IPL centuries that ended in a losing cause.
Record History
| Season | Record Score | Player | What Changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 109 not out | Adam Gilchrist | First 100 plus score in a chase on this list, against Mumbai Indians |
| 2008 | 114 not out | Sanath Jayasuriya | New record, against Chennai Super Kings, only two weeks after Gilchrist |
| 2010 | 110 not out | Mahela Jayawardene | Fine knock but short of the record |
| 2011 | 120 not out | Paul Valthaty | New record, against Chennai Super Kings, stood for 13 years |
| 2018 | 117 not out | Shane Watson | Match winning knock in the final but short of the record |
| 2024 | 124 not out | Marcus Stoinis | New record, against Chennai Super Kings, first man past 120 in a chase |
| 2025 | 141 | Abhishek Sharma | Current record, against Punjab Kings, first 140 plus score in a chase |
| 2026 | 141 | Abhishek Sharma | Record still stands. KL Rahul’s 152 not out in 2026 came while batting first, not in a chase |
The record waited 13 long years between Paul Valthaty in 2011 and Marcus Stoinis in 2024. Then it was broken twice in 13 months. The 2026 season produced the biggest team chase ever, Punjab Kings hunting down 265 against Delhi Capitals, but no individual crossed 141 while chasing. For context on those team efforts, see our lists of the fastest 200 run chases in IPL history and the highest successful run chases in the IPL playoffs.
What This Record Tells Us
Big chases are almost always built on one giant innings. All ten scores on this list are centuries, and nine of them ended in victory. A lone hundred can carry a whole team across the line, as Virender Sehwag showed in 2011 when he scored 119 of Delhi’s 179 runs against Deccan Chargers.
Chennai Super Kings have suffered in this record more than any other team. Three of the top seven chase scores were made against them: Jayasuriya’s 114 not out in 2008, Valthaty’s 120 not out in 2011, and Stoinis’s 124 not out in 2024. No team has watched the chase record being broken against them so often.
The record also shows how batting standards have moved. Valthaty’s 120 not out felt untouchable for 13 years. Now, in the era of the Impact Player rule and flat pitches, teams regularly chase 240 plus, and Abhishek’s 141 reset the bar again. The next record chase century may not be far away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the highest individual score while chasing in IPL?
Abhishek Sharma. He scored 141 off 55 balls for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Punjab Kings in Hyderabad on 12 April 2025. Chasing 246, he guided his team to an 8 wicket win.
Who held the record before Abhishek Sharma?
Marcus Stoinis, with 124 not out for Lucknow Super Giants against Chennai Super Kings in April 2024. Before Stoinis, Paul Valthaty’s 120 not out from 2011 had stood for 13 years.
Has anyone ever scored 150 in an IPL chase?
No. The highest individual score in an IPL chase is still 141. KL Rahul scored 152 not out in April 2026, the highest IPL score by an Indian batter, but that knock came while batting first for Delhi Capitals against Punjab Kings, not in a chase. Full scorecard details and records are tracked on the official IPL website and ESPNcricinfo.
Which team has suffered the most in this record?
Chennai Super Kings. Three of the seven highest chase scores came against them: Sanath Jayasuriya’s 114 not out in 2008, Paul Valthaty’s 120 not out in 2011, and Marcus Stoinis’s 124 not out in 2024.
Did Sanju Samson’s 119 win the match for Rajasthan Royals?
No. Samson scored 119 off 63 balls while chasing 222 against Punjab Kings in Mumbai in April 2021, but Rajasthan Royals lost by 4 runs. It remains one of the finest centuries in IPL history to finish on the losing side.
What is special about Shane Watson’s 117 not out?
It came in the 2018 IPL final against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Mumbai. Watson carried Chennai Super Kings to the title with 117 not out off 57 balls. It is the only score in the top 10 that was made in an IPL final.
How fast was Abhishek Sharma’s century?
He reached his hundred in 40 balls, the fifth fastest century in IPL history at the time. His full innings of 141 came off 55 balls and included 14 fours and 10 sixes. You can read the official IPL report on the record breaking knock.
Statistics updated through: 22 October 2026
