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Top 5 Highest Individual Scores in IPL Finals
The IPL final is the most stressful stage of the tournament. One mistake can haunt a player forever. Yet some batsmen have faced the pressure, attacked fearlessly and produced batting that has become part of IPL folklore. Here are the 5 highest individual scores recorded on cricket’s biggest T20 night.
1. Shane Watson (CSK) – 117 Runs
On the night of May 27, 2018, Shane Watson scored the highest individual score ever in an IPL final. His score was 117 runs off 57 balls for Chennai Super Kings against Sunrisers Hyderabad. He completely dismissed the Sunrisers bowlers, helped himself to that individual score and led his team to victory. Watson hit 11 fours and 8 sixes in his 57-ball innings. Chennai Super Kings crossed the finish line with nine balls to spare.
The individual score started in chaos. Chasing 179 runs, Watson failed to score a single run in the first ten balls, but faced a maiden outing by Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the opening over. And then the individual score exploded. Watson completed his century in 51 balls. From 0 in ten balls, he scored 74 runs in just 27 balls off Kaul and Sharma.
2. Wriddhiman Saha (KXIP) – 115 Runs
On 1 June 2014, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Wriddhiman Saha created history by scoring his maiden century in an IPL final. An unbeaten 115 for Kings XI Punjab against Kolkata Knight Riders. Saha remained unbeaten in just 55 balls, hitting 10 fours and eight sixes. He shared a brilliant partnership of 129 runs for the third wicket with Vohra at a run-rate of 10.75.
This individual score came at a time when KXIP were in trouble. Kings XI were 30 for two in the sixth over and Saha rebuilt the innings, taking the total to 199 for four in 20 overs. An individual score of 115 runs was not enough to win the match. Manish Pandey’s innings destroyed Wriddhiman Saha’s unbeaten 115 runs and Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Kings XI Punjab by three wickets.
3. Sai Sudharsan (GT) – 96 Runs
Sai Sudarshan played one of the best innings in the IPL final ever. His individual score of 96 runs against CSK is the third highest individual score in an IPL final after Shane Watson’s unbeaten 117 and Wriddhiman Saha’s unbeaten 115. This individual score came for Gujarat Titans on May 29, 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Sudarshan made his individual score in just 46 balls, hitting eight fours and six sixes, putting up vital partnerships along the way and helping GT find their feet in the final. The individual score was four runs short of a century. GT lost that match but the individual score, however, was the best score ever in an IPL final.
4. Murali Vijay (CSK) – 95 Runs
On 28 May 2011, Chennai witnessed a batting performance that will remain in the IPL final record books for years to come. Murali Vijay’s 95 off 52 balls was the highest individual score in an IPL final at that time. That individual score came for Chennai Super Kings against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
This individual score was part of the partnership that broke the final opening. Mike Hussey and Murali Vijay put on a strong opening partnership of 159 runs and Hussey was dismissed for 63 off 45 balls. Eventually, CSK set a target of 206 runs to win the title. RCB’s innings ended at 147 for eight. Murali Vijay was declared the Man of the Match for his brilliant innings. CSK won the IPL title for the second consecutive time.
5. Manish Pandey (KKR) – 94 Runs
Hours after Wriddhiman Saha scored his maiden IPL final century on 1 June 2014, Manish Pandey played an innings that changed the fate of the trophy. He scored 94 runs off 50 balls, the most successful chase in any T20 final at that time. That individual score came for Kolkata Knight Riders against Kings XI Punjab in the 2014 IPL final in Bengaluru.
Pandey’s individual score was fueled by an urgency that did not subside. Knight Riders needed to chase 200 runs and at no point during the chase did they fall short of the required rate of 10 runs per over. The individual score included key moments of the match.
His 94 runs off 50 balls included seven fours and six sixes. He missed out on a well-deserved century but it did not change the outcome of the match. KKR won the IPL title by three wickets. The individual score of 94 runs is the fifth highest individual score in IPL final history. And it was that individual score that gave KKR their second IPL championship.
