The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most popular Twenty20 cricket leagues in the world. The tournament, which features some of the best cricket players from around the world, has seen some incredible performances over the years. However, there have also been some forgettable moments, particularly when it comes to low scores like one where RCB scored mere 49 runs against KKR. In this article, we take a look at the top seven lowest scores in the history of the IPL.
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1. Royal Challengers Bangalore – 49 vs Kolkata Knight Riders (2017)
In the 2017 Indian Premier League, Royal Challengers Bangalore set a new record for the lowest total in IPL history when they were bowled out for just 49 runs in a match against Kolkata Knight Riders. Batting first, Kolkata Knight Riders scored 131 runs in their 20 overs, thanks to Sunil Narine’s quickfire 34 off 17 balls and Chris Woakes’ 18 off 21 balls. Yuzvendra Chahal and Pawan Negi were the picks of the bowlers for Bangalore, taking three and two wickets respectively.
In reply, Bangalore lost their top three batsmen, including captain Virat Kohli, for just three runs. None of their batsmen managed to reach double digits, with Kedar Jadhav’s 9 being the highest score. Colin de Grandhomme and Nathan Coulter-Nile took three wickets each for Kolkata Knight Riders, while Woakes took two. Bangalore was bowled out for just 49 runs in 9.4 overs, setting a new record for the lowest total in IPL history.
The match was played on 23 April 2017 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. In the end, Kolkata Knight Riders won the match by a massive 82 runs, with RCB getting bowled out for just 49 runs in 9.4 overs, which is the lowest total ever recorded in the IPL. The win was a remarkable team effort by KKR, with all their bowlers contributing to the victory. Coulter-Nile was the standout performer with figures of 3/21 in 3 overs, while Woakes and de Grandhomme chipped in with two wickets apiece.
The win was a morale booster for KKR, who went on to finish the season as runners-up, losing to Mumbai Indians in the final. For RCB, it was a forgettable season, as they finished in last place with just three wins from their 14 matches. The loss against KKR was a low point of the season for them, and it was a stark reminder of the challenges they faced in their quest for an IPL title.
2. Rajasthan Royals 58 vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (2009)
The match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2009 Indian Premier League (IPL) held at Cape Town, South Africa, was a historic one for all the wrong reasons. It remains the second lowest-scoring match in the history of the IPL, with Rajasthan Royals being bowled out for a paltry total of just 58 runs.
Royal Challengers Bangalore faced off against Rajasthan Royals in an IPL match, where they were asked to bat first. However, their batting performance was not quite up to the mark as they could only manage 133 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Jesse Ryder, Robin Uthappa and Ross Taylor were dismissed cheaply by Mascarenhas, who claimed three wickets in his spell. Skipper Kevin Pietersen scored 32 runs, while Rahul Dravid scored a valuable 66 off 48 balls to take the team to a competitive total.
In reply, Rajasthan Royals could not get off to a good start as they lost two wickets for just 7 runs. Praveen Kumar bowled brilliantly to pick up two wickets in his first two overs. None of the Rajasthan batsmen could make a significant contribution, with Tyron Henderson top-scoring with 11 runs. The RCB spinners, led by Anil Kumble, bowled exceptionally well and picked up five wickets among them to restrict Rajasthan to a paltry 58 runs in just 15.1 overs.
This was a remarkable win for RCB, who defended their total with ease and claimed a comprehensive victory. They showed great character and resilience with both bat and ball, and this would have boosted their confidence going forward in the tournament. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals will be disappointed with their batting collapse and will have to improve in their next match.
The match is remembered as a low-scoring thriller, with many fans and cricket experts surprised by the dismal performance of the Rajasthan Royals. It was a night to forget for the team, but it remains a memorable match in the history of the IPL.
3. Delhi Capitals 66 vs Mumbai Indians (2017)
In the Indian Premier League (IPL) history, there have been a few matches where teams have put up a dismal show with the bat, and one such match was played between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians in Delhi in 2017. The match saw Mumbai Indians put up a mammoth total of 212/3 in their 20 overs, thanks to the heroics of Lendl Simmons and Kieron Pollard who scored 66(43 balls) and 63(35 balls) respectively. Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, had a nightmare of a day as they were bundled out for just 66 runs in 13.4 overs, which is the third-lowest score in the IPL history.
Mumbai Indians’ spinners Karn Sharma and Harbhajan Singh wreaked havoc on Delhi Capitals’ batting lineup, picking up three wickets each for just 11 and 22 runs respectively. Delhi’s Karun Nair was the only batsman to offer some resistance, scoring 21 runs off 15 balls, but the rest of the batsmen failed to make an impact.
This match is remembered as a one-sided affair with Mumbai Indians dominating the game right from the start. Mumbai’s victory by a margin of 146 runs is still one of the biggest wins in IPL history. On the other hand, it was a nightmare for Delhi Capitals.
4. Delhi Capitals 67 vs Kings XI Punjab (2017)
The Delhi Capitals have had their fair share of low-scoring matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and one of the most notable ones was against Kings XI Punjab in 2017. The match, held at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi, saw Delhi being bowled out for just 67 runs in 17.1 overs, making it the fourth-lowest total in IPL history.
The Delhi Daredevils, as they were known then, never seemed to recover from the early blow of losing their captain, Karun Nair, for just 11 runs. The rest of the batting order crumbled under the attack of Sandeep Sharma, who took four wickets for just 20 runs in his four overs. Varun Aaron also played his part by taking two wickets for just three runs in his two overs. The only notable contribution came from Corey Anderson, who scored 18 runs off 25 balls.
Kings XI Punjab chased down the target in just 7.5 overs without losing a wicket. The opening pair of Martin Guptill and Hashim Amla put on a display of clean hitting, with Guptill scoring an unbeaten 50 off just 27 balls. The Delhi bowlers were completely ineffective, with Kagiso Rabada being the most expensive, conceding 18 runs in just two overs.
This match was a huge disappointment for Delhi fans, but it was a memorable one for Kings XI Punjab, who had an easy victory and an impressive net run rate boost. It was a stark reminder of how things can quickly go wrong in the T20 format of the game, and how crucial it is to have a solid team performance in every match.
5. Kolkata Knight Riders 67 vs Mumbai Indians (2008)
In the 2008 Indian Premier League, the Kolkata Knight Riders faced off against the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. It turned out to be a disastrous match for Kolkata as they ended up with a paltry score of 67 runs in 15.2 overs, which is the fifth-lowest total by a team in IPL history at that time.
Kolkata’s top-order batsmen, Sourav Ganguly and Salman Butt , failed to deliver, and they lost wickets regularly. The only saving grace for the team was the partnership between Ajit Agarkar and David Hussey, who added 24 runs for the eighth wicket. Shaun Pollock and Dominic Thornely were the pick of the bowlers for Mumbai, taking three and two wickets, respectively.
Chasing a meagre target of 68 runs, Mumbai got off to a blazing start thanks to Sanath Jayasuriya’s incredible knock of 48 off just 17 balls. He hit eleven boundaries, including six sixes. Mumbai raced to victory in just 5.3 overs with eight wickets in hand. Shoaib Akhtar and Ishant Sharma were the only bowlers to take a wicket for Kolkata.
This match is remembered as one of the most one-sided affairs in IPL history. Kolkata’s abysmal performance with the bat and Mumbai’s ruthless chase make it a game to forget for the Knight Riders.
6. Royal Challengers Bangalore 68 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (2022)
The Royal Challengers Bangalore’s humiliating defeat at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League 2022 was a one-sided affair. RCB’s innings never got going, with wickets tumbling at regular intervals. None of the RCB batsmen could score more than 15 runs, with Suyash Prabhudessai and Glenn Maxwell top-scoring with 15 and 12 runs, respectively. T Natarajan and Marco Jansen were the pick of the bowlers, picking up three wickets each.
In reply, Sunrisers Hyderabad chased down the target of 69 runs with ease, losing just one wicket in the process. Abhishek Sharma was the star of the show, scoring a blistering 47 off just 28 balls, while skipper Kane Williamson played a calm knock of 16 off 17 balls to guide his team to a comfortable victory. Harshal Patel was the only RCB bowler to pick up a wicket.
This match goes down in the IPL history books as one of the most one-sided affairs, with RCB’s score of 68 being the sixth-lowest total in IPL history.
7. Royal Challengers Bangalore 70 vs Chennai Super Kings (2019)
The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had a forgettable outing against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) as they were bowled out for a paltry 68 runs in just 16.1 overs. None of the RCB batsmen could get going as they lost wickets at regular intervals. Suyash Prabhudessai top-scored with just 15 runs off 20 balls, while Glenn Maxwell contributed 12 runs off 11 balls. T Natarajan was the pick of the bowlers for CSK, as he finished with figures of 3/10 in 3 overs, while Marco Jansen also chipped in with 3 wickets for 25 runs in 4 overs.
Chasing a modest target, the CSK batsmen made light work of the RCB bowling attack and chased down the target in just 8 overs with 9 wickets in hand. Abhishek Sharma was the star of the show for CSK, as he remained unbeaten on 47 runs off 28 balls, while Kane Williamson contributed 16 runs off 17 balls. Harshal Patel was the only RCB bowler to pick up a wicket, as he finished with figures of 1/18 in 2 overs. The win helped CSK move up to the top of the points table, while RCB slipped to the bottom.
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In conclusion, the Indian Premier League has witnessed some unforgettable low-scoring matches over the years, with some teams failing miserably with the bat. The list of the top 7 lowest scores in the tournament includes some of the biggest names in IPL history, such as Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Rajasthan Royals. These matches have shown that even the strongest of teams can have an off day, and the game of cricket can be full of surprises.
It will be interesting to see in IPL 2023 whether we will witness the lowest score ever or not.
