10 most embarrassing IPL records

With the Indian Premier League (IPL) having completed its tenth edition, there have already been plenty of records created. While some, like Chris Gayle's majestic 175* can be held aloft proudly, others like Rohit Sharma's record is best buried in a deep, dark place, never to be found by anyone again.Over the course of this article, you will uncover those records that many players wish they didn't have to their name. The only crumb of comfort for the players on this list is the hope that one day their record might be broken. So, are you ready for the 10 most embarrassing IPL records?

#1 Lowest team score

The second edition of the IPL, which was held in South Africa, was the one that the bowlers enjoyed the most. It was also the tournament in which the lowest IPL score was registered. In their opening game of the tournament, Rajasthan Royals looked to be on top after restricting the Royal Challengers Bangalore to 133/8. But instead of cruising to victory, the defending champions were bundled out for 58 in just 15.1 overs.

Only three batsmen managed to reach double digits and only one had a strike rate of over 100 in the innings. Not only was it the lowest score, but it also the lowest team run rate in a completed innings in the IPL.

#2 Most runs conceded by a bowler in a single innings

Some players certainly hate playing against certain teams. And in that regard, Ishant Sharma must be sick of the sight of CSK, especially Suresh Raina. Thanks to his spell of 4-0-66-0 against CSK for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2013 edition, Ishant finds a place for himself not only in this list, but also in the top ten most expensive bowling spells in T20 history.

Despite conceding just one run off his first three balls, India's pace spearhead proceeded to concede 65 off his next 21 balls. He bowled just three more dot balls in a spell that saw him leak six fours and five sixes and undo all the good work done by bowling partner Dale Steyn.

#3 Worst economy rate in a single innings

When you think of Aaron Finch, many things come to mind. An explosive opening batsman? Yes. But, the bowler with the worst economy rate in an innings in the IPL? Certainly not. But that is true. While the game between RCB and Pune Warriors in the 2013 edition is best remembered for Chris Gayle's 175*, it was also the day Finch wrote his name into the record books.

After Tillakaratne Dilshan took a single off the first ball of the eighth over, Gayle hit four sixes and a four to make it 29 runs off Finch's first and only over of the innings. Not only was it the most expensive over of the innings, but it also gave the Australian an economy rate of 29, which is the worst in IPL history.

#4 Most expensive over

Big things were expected of Prasanth Parameswaran when he was snapped up by the Kochi Tuskers Kerala for the fourth edition. But after a Man of the Match performance on debut against Delhi Daredevils, the left-arm pacer bowled the most expensive over in the history of T20 cricket, against RCB.

After his partner Tillakaratne Dilshan scored 20 off the second over, Chris Gayle plundered 37 runs from Parameswaran's first and Kochi's third over. Four sixes, three fours and a no ball made sure that the Kerala-born bowler's name was consigned to the record books for all the wrong reasons.

In terms of the most expensive over in the IPL, it is interesting to note that the top three all occurred at the Chinnaswamy Stadium and on each occasion it was Gayle who was on strike.

#5 Worst strike rate in a single innings

Graeme Smith’s record stood for seven years before Shreyas Gopal beat it in the opening game of the ninth edition of the Indian Premier League. Ever since Smith’s innings of 2 from 11 against RCB in 2009, where the former South African captain finished with a strike rate of 18.18, he held the record for the worst strike rate in a single innings.

But Shreyas Gopal’s innings of 2 from 16 balls meant he finished with a strike rate of 12.50 in the game against the Rising Pune Supergiants at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. He was finally put out of his misery by Murugan Ashwin but not before he claimed an unwanted record of the slowest IPL innings (min 10 balls).

#6 Most ducks and most consecutive ducks

The record for the most ducks in the history of the IPL is a two-way tie. Harbhajan Singh and Gautam Gambhir have both been dismissed for a duck 12 times. Of the duo, Harbhajan is the only one to have been dismissed playing for the same team (Mumbai Indians).

Gambhir (132) has played more matches than Harbhajan (125), but Harbhajan got his 12 ducks in fewer innings. While Gambhir got his in 131 innings, the off-spinner took just 77. Despite having scored the second-most fifties in IPL history, KKR's Gambhir is on this list also holds the record for most consecutive ducks.

In the 2014 IPL season, Gambhir got off to the worst possible start as he got out for a duck in the opening game against Mumbai Indians. And that run continued against Delhi and Bangalore as he made it three consecutive ducks in the tournament.

Although he got off the mark in the next game against Kings XI, he could score just one. Nonetheless, his first three innings of last year earn him a spot on this list as the batsman with the most consecutive ducks in the IPL.

#7 Involved in most run outs

Although T20s are largely about big hitting and showcasing your strength, the most successful batsmen are those who can combine force with finesse. And that is precisely why running between the wickets is such a crucial part of any T20 innings.

When there is confusion between the pair, mistakes arise and a run-out becomes inevitable. And the player with the most number of run-outs in the IPL is also one of the leading run-getters in the history of the tournament.

While he might have over 3,000 runs in the tournament, Rohit Sharma also holds the unwanted record of being involved in the most number of run-outs in the IPL, with 28. He has run himself out 8 times and he ran his partner out 20 times, which is another IPL record.

#8 Lowest score in the powerplay overs

The first six overs of a T20 innings can make or break a side's chances of winning the game. A fast start is crucial to a good total and is even more vital when chasing. When Rajasthan Royals went out to chase 134 against RCB in Cape Town on April 18, 2009, not many could have predicted what was to follow.

The Royals finished the powerplay with just 14 runs on the board and both their openers were back in the pavilion. That is still the record for the lowest score after six overs in IPL history. The same match also provided the lowest aggregate total of runs from both sides from their powerplay overs.

RCB's tally of 29 for 3 meant that just 43 runs were scored after the first six overs in the whole match, a tally that is regularly beaten by most sides in one innings alone.

#9 Most extras conceded in an innings

Although bowling extras is never a good thing, bowling plenty when you haven't scored too many runs is simply not acceptable. But that is precisely what the Deccan Chargers did against KKR in the first edition of the IPL. Having been all out for 110, any hope the Chargers had of a win quickly vanished thanks to their wayward bowling.

Despite having the hosts on the ropes, a flurry of wides gave back the advantage. In the end, the Chargers had 28 extras (4 byes, 8 leg byes, 15 wides and 1 no ball) which is just over one-fourth of the required target. That resulted in not only a win for KKR, but also the record for most extras in an IPL innings, one which is yet to be broken.

#10 Most consecutive losses

Momentum is key in any format of the game. Especially more so in the IPL, when you can quickly move up or down the table with a few straight wins or losses. Good players can suddenly turn into ordinary ones when you are on a losing run. And when you are on a 11-game losing streak, like the Pune Warriors and Delhi Daredevils were, that is what happens to even the best players.

At one stage, it looked as though Delhi, who have already suffered the most losses in IPL history, might have the record for most consecutive losses as well. But the win over Kings XI Punjab on April 15, 2015, ensured that they jointly hold the record with the now defunct Pune Warriors.