Every IPL season has its own batting hero. In some seasons that hero plays one innings that no one in that season can match. This article lists the highest individual score in every IPL season from 2008 to 2025, season by season, with the player, the team, the score, the balls faced and the opponent.
The overall record still belongs to Chris Gayle. His 175 not out for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Pune Warriors India in 2013 remains the highest individual score in IPL history. Brendon McCullum set the early mark with 158 not out in the very first IPL match in 2008, and Abhishek Sharma raised the bar for Indian batters with 141 for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2025.
Readers who want the same record split by opponent can also check the highest individual scores against each team. The playoff version of this record is covered in IPL Playoffs highest individual scores.
IPL Stats Season Wise Highest Individual Scores Overview
| Record | Detail |
|---|---|
| Highest individual score in IPL history | Chris Gayle, 175 not out, 2013 |
| Second highest score | Brendon McCullum, 158 not out, 2008 |
| Highest score by an Indian batter | Abhishek Sharma, 141, 2025 |
| Seasons covered | 2008 to 2025, all 18 seasons |
| Most season leading scores by one batter | Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers, 2 seasons each as season leader in this list |
Note on the star mark: a star after a score means the batter was not out at the end of the innings.
Top 10 Highest Individual Scores in IPL History
These are the ten biggest individual innings in IPL history. Eight of them also led their own season, which shows how rare a truly huge innings is.
| Rank | Player | Team | Score | Balls | Against | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 175* | 66 | Pune Warriors India | 2013 |
| 2 | Brendon McCullum | Kolkata Knight Riders | 158* | 73 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 2008 |
| 3 | Abhishek Sharma | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 141 | 55 | Punjab Kings | 2025 |
| 4 | Quinton de Kock | Lucknow Super Giants | 140* | 70 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 2022 |
| 5 | AB de Villiers | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 133* | 59 | Mumbai Indians | 2015 |
| 6 | KL Rahul | Kings XI Punjab | 132* | 69 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 2020 |
| 7 | AB de Villiers | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 129* | 52 | Gujarat Lions | 2016 |
| 8 | Shubman Gill | Gujarat Titans | 129 | 60 | Mumbai Indians | 2023 |
| 9 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 128* | 62 | Delhi Daredevils | 2012 |
| 10 | Rishabh Pant | Delhi Daredevils | 128* | 63 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2018 |
Season Wise Highest Individual Scores From 2008 to 2025
This is the full season by season list. Each row gives the best single innings of that season.
| Season | Player | Team | Score | Balls | Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Brendon McCullum | Kolkata Knight Riders | 158* | 73 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| 2009 | Manish Pandey | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 114* | 73 | Deccan Chargers |
| 2010 | Murali Vijay | Chennai Super Kings | 127 | 56 | Rajasthan Royals |
| 2011 | Virender Sehwag | Delhi Daredevils | 119 | 56 | Deccan Chargers |
| 2012 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 128* | 62 | Delhi Daredevils |
| 2013 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 175* | 66 | Pune Warriors India |
| 2014 | Virender Sehwag | Kings XI Punjab | 122 | 58 | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2015 | AB de Villiers | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 133* | 59 | Mumbai Indians |
| 2016 | AB de Villiers | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 129* | 52 | Gujarat Lions |
| 2017 | David Warner | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 126 | 59 | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| 2018 | Rishabh Pant | Delhi Daredevils | 128* | 63 | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| 2019 | Jonny Bairstow | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 114 | 56 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| 2020 | KL Rahul | Kings XI Punjab | 132* | 69 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| 2021 | Jos Buttler | Rajasthan Royals | 124 | 64 | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| 2022 | Quinton de Kock | Lucknow Super Giants | 140* | 70 | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| 2023 | Shubman Gill | Gujarat Titans | 129 | 60 | Mumbai Indians |
| 2024 | Marcus Stoinis | Lucknow Super Giants | 124* | 63 | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2025 | Abhishek Sharma | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 141 | 55 | Punjab Kings |
Record History
The story starts on the first night of the IPL. On 18 April 2008, Brendon McCullum scored 158 not out for Kolkata Knight Riders against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Bengaluru. That innings set a mark that stood for five seasons.
In 2009, Manish Pandey became the first Indian batter to score an IPL century, with 114 not out for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Deccan Chargers in Centurion. Murali Vijay followed in 2010 with 127 for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals, and Virender Sehwag led 2011 with 119 for Delhi Daredevils against Deccan Chargers.
Chris Gayle then owned this record for two seasons in a row. He scored 128 not out against Delhi Daredevils in 2012, then 175 not out against Pune Warriors India in 2013. The 2013 innings, with 13 fours and 17 sixes, is still the highest individual score in IPL history and in all T20 cricket at the top level.
Sehwag returned to the top in 2014 with 122 for Kings XI Punjab against Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 2 in Mumbai, an innings that took Punjab to the final. AB de Villiers led the next two seasons, with 133 not out against Mumbai Indians in 2015 and 129 not out against Gujarat Lions in 2016.
From 2017 to 2021, a different batter led each season: David Warner with 126 for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2017, Rishabh Pant with 128 not out for Delhi Daredevils in 2018, Jonny Bairstow with 114 for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2019, KL Rahul with 132 not out for Kings XI Punjab in 2020, and Jos Buttler with 124 for Rajasthan Royals in 2021.
The recent seasons show the same pattern of one standout innings per year. Quinton de Kock scored 140 not out for Lucknow Super Giants against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022. Shubman Gill scored 129 for Gujarat Titans against Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 in 2023. Marcus Stoinis scored 124 not out for Lucknow Super Giants in a successful chase against Chennai Super Kings in 2024. Abhishek Sharma closed this list with 141 for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Punjab Kings in 2025, in a chase of 246 that Hyderabad won with balls to spare.
For the 2025 season in full, see IPL 2025 highest individual scores. For the best innings by openers across all seasons, see highest individual scores by openers. The official IPL site is a useful check for season records at iplt20.com, and ESPNcricinfo carries full scorecards at ESPNcricinfo.
What This Record Tells Us
First, a huge individual score does not always come from the season top run scorer. Many season leaders on this list were not the Orange Cap winner that year. One great night can beat a whole season of steady scoring.
Second, openers dominate this list. Most of these innings came from batters who opened the innings and had the full 20 overs to build a score. That is also why the highest scores by openers list overlaps so much with this one.
Third, the record has been stable for a long time. No batter has passed Gayle 175 not out since 2013, even though team totals have grown and 250 plus totals have become more common. Abhishek Sharma 141 in 2025 is the closest any Indian batter has come to the top two, and it still sits 34 runs below Gayle and 17 runs below McCullum.
Fourth, big innings often come in big matches. Sehwag 122 and Gill 129 both came in Qualifier 2 games, and Stoinis 124 not out came in a chase of 211 at Chennai. Pressure does not always stop a batter in top form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who holds the record for the highest individual score in IPL history?
Chris Gayle holds it with 175 not out for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Pune Warriors India in 2013.
What was the highest individual score in IPL 2025?
Abhishek Sharma scored 141 off 55 balls for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Punjab Kings in Hyderabad on 12 April 2025. It is the highest individual score by an Indian batter in IPL history.
What was the highest individual score in IPL 2024?
Marcus Stoinis scored 124 not out off 63 balls for Lucknow Super Giants against Chennai Super Kings in Chennai in 2024.
Who scored the first century by an Indian batter in the IPL?
Manish Pandey scored the first century by an Indian batter, with 114 not out for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Deccan Chargers in 2009.
Which batter has led the most seasons on this list?
Chris Gayle led 2012 and 2013, and AB de Villiers led 2015 and 2016. No batter has led three seasons on this list.
Has any batter scored 150 or more more than once in the IPL?
No. Only Gayle with 175 not out and McCullum with 158 not out have reached 150 in a single IPL innings, and each did it once.
What is the highest individual score in an IPL chase?
Marcus Stoinis 124 not out for Lucknow Super Giants against Chennai Super Kings in 2024 is the highest individual score in a successful IPL chase on this season list, passing the earlier chase mark.
Statistics updated through: 3 November 2026
