Normally, the Indian Premier League (IPL) is famous for huge sixes and masive scores. Now even fans see the ball going over the bar as hitters score 200 or more. In fact, some of the best games to watch are those that when batsmen fail and bowlers shine. Out when a side has scored very few runs and the match is assumed to be over. In cricket, quite often you shall not walk away until the last ball is bowled though and this match was no exception. That occasion is where the lowest score defended in IPL history comes into play.
These are the matches where mostly bowlers emerge out as hero. They demonstrate whilst one doesn’t require a massive aggregate to win video games. Bowling with a big heart and having plan, you can get best batsman out in world. In this article, we will tell you about the lowest scores that teams have been able to defend. Lets the matches that had fans chomping nails right up to and odd hour in October 2023 It really is crazy how scoring once literally wins you the game.
The Record Holder: Lowest Score Defended in IPL History
Punjab Kings (PBKS) are the team with IPL lowest score successfully defended in an entire 20-over match. One will never forget their match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during the 2025 season. Punjab Kings won the toss and opted to bat first but everything went wrong for them. They kept losing wickets really fast and get all out for just 111 runs. The overwhelming belief among fans, nearly every one of them at that moment in time was that KKR would find a way to easy success. The match seemed like it would last no more than 10 (or the odd over) or even a dozen overs.
But the Punjab bowlers had made a different plan. They began the bowling and exhibited a hyper performance, not allowing KKR any easy runs. We had superb bowling performance from Yuzvendra Chahal and Marco Jansen. They looted wickets at appropriate times and applied much pressure on the KKR batters who eventually buckled under it. Punjab won the match by 16 runs after bowling out KKR for only 95. The ninth match showed that even a paltry 111 is enough if the bowlers were ready to trench battle and earn every single run.
List of Top 5 Lowest Scores Defended in IPL
We also made a list to give you an idea of how unique and special these types of matches are. Here are the five instances of teams defending a lowest total (in an ODI match). From these statistics one can conclude that even a score as low as 120 is very difficult to defend when running from behind. Batters often make mistakes under the pressure of a marginal target. Below is provided the complete list of records for lowest score defended in IPL matches:
| Team | Score | Opponent | Year |
| Punjab Kings | 111 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 2025 |
| Chennai Super Kings | 116 | Kings XI Punjab | 2009 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 118 | Mumbai Indians | 2018 |
| Kings XI Punjab | 119 | Mumbai Indians | 2009 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 119 | Pune Warriors | 2013 |
All of these games were nail-biters. Kings Eleven Punjab then also managed to defend 119 versus Mumba Indians in a game that went all the way down to the very last over back in 2009. In the same way, in 2013, SRH had defended a total of 120 against Pune Warriors. These games show us one thing: that you should never turn off your TV in the IPL just because what a team got in their first innings is low. If you thought the first half was somewhat OP, wait til the second!
Chennai Super Kings and the 116-Run Magic
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) used to hold the record for lowest score defended in IPL long before that 2025 mark. In 2009, CSK took on Kings XI Punjab at Durban in South Africa during the tournament hosted by India. CSK scored just 116 runs for the loss of 9 wickets as pitch turned out to be very difficult one from batting perspective. Parthiv Patel was also the top-scorer, making just 32 runs while everyone else failed to make a decent contribution. It felt like MS Dhoni’s team is standing on the path of absolute defeat.
But as we know, once MS Dhoni is there in the game, you can never write off his team. Like a chess master, he used his bowlers. Spinners like Muttiah Muralitharan and Ravichandran Ashwin, are known for their tight bowling. That meant Punjab batters had no boundary to be hit. Small target that made the batters nervy and resulted in them playing way too many dot balls. At the end, Punjab got a meager 92. The match was CSK’s to lose and they did not let it get away as the collective brains of this team showed why many rate them one of the smartest ever sides in IPL history, before winning by 24 runs.
Sunrisers Hyderabad: The Kings of Low-Score Defense
SRH is one side that relishes defending low totals. They have made a name for themselves as the side that finds ways to win matches despite their batters failing. The their win status for lowest score defended in IPL happened there way from June 2018. Sunrisers were up against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. Batting first, SRH were all out for a paltry 118. Mumbai Indians indeed has a lit batting order and we all expected them to go off in a jiffy.
Then came, in the words of Mike Tyson, a masterclass in bowling. SRH Bowlers were lions defending their territory – Rashid Khan and Siddarth Kaul pounced on the ball. They were on them from both ends and never allowed the Mumbai batters to settle. Rashid Khan was phenomenal, conceding practically zero runs in his four overs. The Mumbai Indians’ innings crumbled like a house of cards as they were bundled out for just 87. SRH’s 31-run triumph is still one of the most memorable names in league history.
Why is it Hard to Chase the Lowest Score Defended in IPL?
Some of you may be left wondering how professional players struggle to achieve 112 runs or even chase down targets set at just 117. The reason is mostly mental. Batters feel they can cruise home when the target is small. And that all contributes to poor attention. They panic as soon they lose two-three early wickets. They lose their natural game and start worrying about each ball. That is precisely what the team on bowling wanted. They want to ensnare the batters with a net.
Another reason is the pitch. The slow or turning pitch, on which the score was defended may often turn out to be one of the lowest scores ever achieved in IPL. It is difficult to play big shots on such pitches. Slower balls and cutters are the variations used by bowlers to unsettle batters. When the runs don matter, it builds pressure which is like a pot boiling In the end batsmen try for a big shot out of desperation and lose their wicket. The secret, then, of how teams defend these low totals.
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Conclusion
To conclude the list of lowest score defended in IPL matches to represent cricket at its best. We all love a good 300 or big score like anything else in our sport, but sometimes the best low-scoring games show us that bowling is an art. There are plenty of teams such as Punjab Kings, CSK and SRH have proven many times that with discipline aplenty no target is small enough to defend. These games are a reminder that always count and though they don’t show up on the scoreboard, saving runs is almost as good as scoring them. Next time you see any team crumble to a target, just wait; the bowlers have something better in store for you!
FAQ
What is the lowest score ever defended in IPL history?
The lowest score defended in a full 20-over match is 111 by Punjab Kings against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2025.
Has any team defended a score lower than 111?
Yes, but only in rain-shortened matches. For example, RCB defended 106 in an 8-over match against CSK in 2013. However, for a full match, 111 is the record.
Which team has defended the most low scores in IPL?
Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings are known as the best teams for defending low totals. They have both successfully defended scores under 125 multiple times.
Why do teams struggle to chase low scores?
It is usually because of the pressure and the slow nature of the pitch. When early wickets fall, the chasing team starts to panic, which leads to more mistakes.
What was the lowest score defended by CSK?
CSK defended 116 runs against Kings XI Punjab in 2009. It is still one of the most famous wins in the history of the Chennai franchise.
