The Indian Premier League is known for explosive batting innings, and players strive to register big totals on the scoreboard. But the recklessness often results in low scores that the bowling side has to defend. It’s uncommon for a team to score below 125 and win the match, but the IPL is famous for its unpredictability. Anything can happen in the tournament. There is no certainty in IPL at all. Consecutive sixes in one over, entire teams bowled out for less than 50 runs, and run totals on par with an average ODI game, are phenomena commonly witnessed in the IPL.
However, it’s a highly rare scenario that a team successfully defends a low score. Yet, it’s happened several times. Watching a bowling-heavy match where the batters are slowly suffocated and crumble under pressure may not sound exciting on paper, but is incredibly fun to watch. Today, we bring you the list of the lowest scores successfully defended in IPL history.
Related: Lowest Team Score in IPL (2008 - 2023)
IPL Lowest Defended Score
The T20 cricket format is hard for all players but more so for bowlers. There is immense pressure on them, and a couple of boundaries in every over are considered normal. However, this can take a toll on the bowler’s mindset in the long run. From bowling maiden overs in test cricket to conceding 40+ runs in four overs, IPL is unforgiving. Yet, there are times when bowlers absolutely own the match.
It has happened many times that a team has been restricted to two-digit scores by the opposition’s bowling lineup. But some games turn into a bowling battle. Whether it’s the pitch, or both sides batsmen are in poor form, but it’s not every day that a low run total is successfully defended. A score in the lower hundreds is considered an easy win for the chasing side, but not in the following IPL games. Check the list of the lowest run totals ever defended in IPL history below. We have taken into account only the games that were played for 20 overs, not the ones stopped by rain or any other case.
| S.No | Team | Score | Opposition | Result | Date |
| 1 | Chennai Super Kings | 116/9 | Kings XI Punjab | CSK Won by 24 Runs | 20 May 2009 |
| 2 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 118 | Mumbai Indians | SRH Won by 31 Runs | 24 April 2018 |
| 3 | Kings XI Punjab | 119/8 | Mumbai Indians | KXIP Won by 24 Runs | 20 April 2009 |
| 4 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 119/8 | Pune Warriors | SRH Won by 11 Runs | 17 April 2013 |
| 5 | Mumbai Indians | 120/9 | Pune Warriors | MI Won by 1 Run | 3 May 2012 |
| 6 | Punjab Kings | 125/7 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | PBKS Won by 5 Runs | 25 September 2021 |
| 7 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 126/8 | Chennai Super Kings | RCB Won by 14 Runs | 21 May 2008 |
| 8 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 126/6 | Pune Warriors | SRH Won by 22 Runs | 5 April 2013 |
| 9 | Kings XI Punjab | 126/7 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | KXIP Won by 12 Runs | 24 October 2020 |
| 10 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 126/9 | Lucknow Super Giants | RCB Won by 18 Runs | 1 May 2023 |
| 11 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 129/7 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | KKR Won by 5 Runs | 8 May 2008 |
| 12 | Deccan Chargers | 129/7 | Kochi Tuskers Kerela | DEC Won by 55 Runs | 27 April 2011 |
| 13 | Pune Warriors | 129/9 | Mumbai Indians | PWI Won by 28 Runs | 6 April 2012 |
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