5 highest individual scores in IPL history

The Indian Premier League has been an ideal platform for entertainment for the cricket fans since its inception in 2008. With the balance of contemporary cricket, especially the shorter formats, being heavily in the favour of batsmen, IPL has often witnessed some insane performances by the batsman. Every year new records are scripted as well as broken and one can expect this year to be the same.

The next two months will be no less than a festive season in India. With the tenth edition of the cash-rich extravaganza being around the corner, let’s take a look at the five highest individual scores by batsmen in the history of IPL. Surprisingly, four out of five highest individual scores in the IPL have been scored at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore.

# Chris Gayle (128 vs Delhi Daredevils, 2012)

Gaylestorm struck Delhi Daredevils during the 67^th encounter of the 2012 edition of the IPL in Delhi. Opting to field first, Delhi Daredevils didn’t have much of a clue what hit them as Gayle belted 13 sixes and 7 boundaries for his 128 off 62 deliveries. Gayle was equally supported by Kohli from the other end as RCB plundered 215 runs in the first innings.

It was some serious power-hitting from the Caribbean giant as he took the DD bowlers for cleaners. Gayle started off quietly but stepped on the accelerator as soon as he got his eyes in. RCB thrashed DD by 21 runs, and at that point in time this was Gayle's best performance in T20 cricket, which he overhauled in the next season.

#4 AB de Villiers (129* vs Gujarat Lions, 2016)

Diwali came early at Bangalore as AB de Villiers set the fireworks

RCB were locking horns with Gujarat Lions in the previous edition at Chinnaswamy in the 44^th game of the season. De Villiers was in supreme form and with the game being played in Bangalore, the Lions were quickly made aware of what they were dealing with. As was the case that season, it was once again the De Villiers-Kohli show that set the stage on fire that night as both the batsmen scored tons and made GL bowlers life miserable.

They running out of options and didn’t have any idea whatsoever, such was the damaged inflicted by these two. The South African outscored Kohli despite coming to bat at number three and having faced three deliveries less.

De Villiers cruised his way to an unconquered 129 off 52 deliveries, which contained 10 fours and 12 maximums. Riding on the Kohli-De Villiers partnership, RCB posted 248 runs on the board and won the contest by 144 runs, which also the biggest margin of victory for any team in the history of IPL.

#3 AB de Villiers (133* vs Mumbai Indians, 2015)

AB de Villers was on song and in the mood

One of the best batsmen of our generation, AB de Villiers is a legend with his unique way. By the time he is done with playing cricket, De Villiers will have broken numerous records with his unblemished style of play. The Proteas mainstay is acknowledged as the ‘Superman’ of cricket for his prowess with the bat and also ‘Mr.360’ for his ability to score runs all around the ground.

De Villiers was destined to join this list and one can expect him to better his own record in the years to come. While playing for RCB, he came out hard in the 46th encounter of 2015 edition against the Mumbai Indians at Bangalore and left the opposition at sixes and sevens with his powerful hitting.

The South African scored an unbeaten 133 off 59 balls when RCB finished their 20 overs with 235 runs on the board. It was a classical display of calculated hitting and improvisation as yet again, the partnership between him and Virat Kohli was no less than a dream come true for many a cricket fan.

Barring Lasith Malinga, none of the MI bowlers were spared by the duo. RCB won the game by 39 runs as the cricket world was witness to another scintillating knock..

#2 Brendon McCullum (158* vs RCB, 2008)

Brendon McCullum set the IPL stage on fire in the tournament's first ever game

Before the first season of the IPL many people had varying thoughts regarding IPL’s future and what the tournament will bring forth. Brendon McCullum answered all those questions with a bang and put all the contemplations to rest.

Very few batsman in world cricket can score as quickly as McCullum does at the top. And the New Zealand opener left everyone bewildered in the very first encounter at the inaugural season of the IPL when he came out all guns blazing against RCB at the Chinnaswamy as he recorded the best innings score by an individual in T20 cricket at that point in time.

Opening the innings for the Kolkata Knight Riders, McCullum wasted no time and got the ball rolling from the outset. He played with unmatched confidence on a surface, where his imminent peers struggled to get going. McCullum smashed 10 fours and 13 sixes for his unbeaten 158 off 78 deliveries as he guided KKR to a gigantic total of 222.

There couldn’t be any better ribbon-cutting for the IPL as KKR won the game by 140 runs.

#1 Chris Gayle (175* vs Pune Warriors, 2013)

There was no stopping Chris Gayle

It wouldn’t be wrong in hailing the Caribbean giant Chris Gayle as the undisputed king of the Indian Premier League. He is a superstar when it comes to the IPL. Gayle is a household name, he has been a nightmare for many bowlers. Bowling to him when on-song is what every bowler fears of. And during the 31^st match of 2013 edition against Pune Warriors in Bangalore, the opponent bowlers merely had any idea of what is going to strike them during the course of 20 overs.

Gayle hammered PWI bowlers all over the ground and recorded the finest performance with the bat in T20 cricket across the globe with his unbeaten 175 off 66 deliveries. Gayle scored 13 boundaries and 17 sixes to wreak havoc at the Chinnaswamy.

RCB posted 263 runs on the board, which is also the highest innings total for any team till date and won the game by a massive margin of 130 runs. Such was the impact of Gayle’s miraculous innings that his counterpart, Yuvraj Singh, bowed to him for playing an innings of a lifetime.