Highest individual scores at each position in IPL

The 11th edition of the Indian Premier League is less than a month away. The excitement for the biggest Twenty20 league on the planet is just building up as fans are eagerly awaiting the commencement of the tournament.

Throughout its past 10 seasons, the IPL has seen numerous tremendous batting performances from players batting in different positions and many of them are fondly remembered regardless of the result of the match.

Here are the highest individual batting scores for each position in the IPL.

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Opening- 175 by Chris Gayle vs Pune Warriors India, 2013

It was the 31st match of the 6th season of the Indian Premier League. The venue was Bangalore and Royal Challengers Bangalore were taking on Pune Warriors India. RCB batted first and added only three runs in the first over.

Chris Gayle began the second over by smashing two successive boundaries before the match was called off for a while due to rain. However, following the resumption of play, Gayle began to smash the PWI bowlers all around the park.

The left-hander became a nightmare for all the PWI bowlers and reached his century from just 29 deliveries, thus bettering Andrew Symonds’ 34-ball century to become the fastest centurion in T20 cricket.

Gayle went on to smash 175 off just 66 deliveries with 13 boundaries and 17 sixes to his name. In the process, he bettered Brendon McCullum’s 158 in the very first match in IPL history to become the highest individual scorer in IPL and T20 history.

This Gaylestorm propelled RCB to 263/5 which remains the highest total in IPL and T20 history. In response, Pune Warriors India could only manage 134/9 with Gaye picking up two wickets during the final over. Unsurprisingly, he was adjudged the Man of the Match.

No.3- 133 by AB de Villiers vs Mumbai Indians, 2015

ABD's 133 is the highest IPL score by any South African batsman

It was the 46th match of IPL 2015 and Royal Challengers Bangalore were up against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Both teams desperately needed a win to consolidate their chances of qualification to the playoffs.

RCB batted first but they lost Chris Gayle early. At this stage, AB de Villiers came in to join Virat Kohli at the crease. ABD began to smash the Mumbai Indians bowlers from the start of his innings and was looking absolutely unstoppable. Kohli assisted him by playing aggressively but De Villiers was clearly playing the lead role here.

The former South African skipper reached his hundred in just 47 deliveries but he wasn’t done yet. He ended the RCB innings in style by scoring 33 runs from his final 12 deliveries, ending his innings at 133 which is the highest IPL score by a South African or by any No.3 batsman. The Royal Challengers ended their innings at 235/1 to which Mumbai Indians could only respond with 196/7. Consequently, ABD was adjudged Man of the Match.

No.4- 117 by Andrew Symonds vs Rajasthan Royals, 2008

Symonds' 117 unfortunately, went in vain

The very first century scored by a No.4 batsman in IPL history is the highest individual score at this position. It was the 9th match of the inaugural season of the IPL and Deccan Chargers were playing Rajasthan Royals at Hyderabad.

The Deccan Chargers did not get off to a good start as they lost Adam Gilchrist and Shahid Afridi quite early. Andrew Symonds came in to bat at No.4 and he began to bash the Rajasthan Royals bowlers all around the park.

Symonds scored the third century in IPL history and the first in Deccan Chargers’ history. He ended his innings at 117 from 53 deliveries as Deccan Chargers put on 214/5 from their overs. However, Symonds’ knock went in vain as Rajasthan Royals scripted what still remains the highest run-chase in IPL history thanks to fifties from Graeme Smith and Yusuf Pathan as well as cameos from Mohammed Kaif and skipper Shane Warne.

No.5- 103 by Ben Stokes against Gujarat Lions, 2017

Ben Stokes' 103 helped RPS to a crucial victory

The highest individual score at the No.5 position came in the most recent season of IPL. It was the 39th match of last year’s tournament between Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions at Pune. Gujarat batted first and added 161 runs.

In reply, RPS were in total shambles as they were tottering at 42/4. Stokes, who was the highest signing of the auction that year, brought the Supergiants back into the game through his brilliant batting and added 76 for the 5th wicket with Dhoni.

The English all-rounder eventually reached his century and remained unbeaten on 103 as RPS chased down the target with a ball to spare. Stokes bettered David Miller’s 101 to set a new record for the highest individual score for a No.5 batsman in IPL history. He was deservingly adjudged the Man of the Match.

No.6- 75 by Rahul Dravid against Rajasthan Royals, 2008

Dravid's finest IPL innings

has

a significance of its own

This innings saw The Wall at his aggressive best. It was the 39th match of the inaugural season of the IPL between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore at Jaipur. The Royals batted first and posted 197/1 on the board.

The run-chase was already a lost cause for RCB as they were reeling at 31/4 when Dravid came in to bat. He played an uncharacteristic knock and batted very aggressively against the RR bowlers. Seeing him smash sixes at a quick rate reminded us of his explosive 22-ball fifty against New Zealand at Hyderabad in 2003.

Dravid smashed 6 fours and as many sixes en route to his 75 of just 36 deliveries. He could not take RCB even close to the total but his innings helped them bat for the entire 20 overs. The Royal Challengers ended their innings at 132/9.

No.7- 60 by Irfan Pathan vs Deccan Chargers, 2010 and Darren Sammy vs Rajasthan Royals, 2013

Pathan's and Sammy's knocks went in vain but both are the highest scores by a No.7 batsman in the IPL

This position has two players holding the record and both of them are all-rounders - Irfan Pathan and Darren Sammy. The first one to achieve the record was Irfan Pathan, against Deccan Chargers in 2010 at Cuttack.

Pathan came in to bat at No.7 with KXIP struggling at 57/5 while chasing 171. He gave the Kings XI a ray of hope through his hard hitting. The left-hander went on to score his only fifty in the IPL and ended up scoring 60 from just 29 deliveries before being dismissed in the final over. However, his heroics went in vain as KXIP fell 6 runs short of the target.

Darren Sammy equalled Pathan’s record in 2013 against Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur. In Sammy’s case, his team Sunrisers Hyderabad were in a much bizarre situation as they were 19/5 when he came in to bat. They were later struggling at 29/6.

However, Sammy played some brilliant cricket against the Rajasthan Royals bowlers to keep SRH in the game. He went on to score 60 from just 41 deliveries before being dismissed by James Faulkner. Sammy’s innings helped SRH reach 144/6. However, this wasn’t enough as Royals comfortably chased down the total with more than two overs to spare.

No.8- 64 by Harbhajan Singh vs Kings XI Punjab, 2015

Unfortunately, Bhajji's finest IPL knock came in a losing cause

Unfortunately, Harbhajan Singh’s finest batting performance in the IPL came in a losing cause. It was the 7th match of the 2015 IPL between Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians at Mumbai. The Kings XI batted first and put on 177/5 on the board thanks to George Bailey’s 32-ball 61 and other contributions from Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay.

In reply, Mumbai Indians were struggling at 59/6 when Harbhajan Singh came in to join Jagadeesha Suchith at the crease. Bhajji began smashing the Punjab bowlers but by that time, it was too little too late for MI.

Nonetheless, the Turbanator managed to score 64 from just 24 deliveries before being dismissed on the penultimate ball of the match. Mumbai Indians eventually ended their innings on 159/7.

No.9- 49 by Harbhajan Singh vs Deccan Chargers, 2010

Bhajji's quickfire 49 helped Mumbai Indians to a win

Bhajji makes a second appearance on this list due to his explosive cameo against Deccan Chargers at Mumbai. Mumbai Indians batted first and except a 55 from skipper Sachin Tendulkar, the other batsmen could not add much to the total and they were 119/7 close to the 17th over.

However, Bhajji faced 18 of the remaining 20 deliveries and smashed 8 fours and 2 sixes to take Mumbai Indians to 172/7. He scored 49 from just 18 deliveries.

Harbhajan was brilliant with the ball as well, taking three wickets as Deccan Chargers were bowled out for 131. He was unsurprisingly adjudged the Man of the Match.

No.10- 28 by Dhawal Kulkarni vs Chennai Super Kings, 2014

Kulkarni's 28 brought Rajasthan Royals close to a win against CSK

It was the 10th match of 2014 IPL in Dubai between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. CSK batted first and thanks to a fifty from Dwayne Smith and a 36 from Ravindra Jadeja, put up 140/6 on the board.

In reply, Royals were unable to stay in the run-chase and were tottering at 85/8. At this stage, Dhawal Kulkarni came in to bat and hit a couple of sixes which gave his team a glimmer of hope.

Kulkarni remained unbeaten on 28 from 19 deliveries but RR were dismissed for 133 in 19.5 overs. Nevertheless, Kulkarni’s 28 is the highest for any No.10 batsman in the IPL.

No.11- 23 by Munaf Patel vs Delhi Daredevils, 2009

Munaf Patel's 23 remains the highest score by a No.11 batsman in IPL history

It was the 50th match of IPL’s second edition, the venue was Bloemfontein and Delhi Daredevils were up against Rajasthan Royals who were in dire need of a win. DD batted first and put up 150/3 thanks to a 55-ball 79 from AB de Villiers.

In reply, Rajasthan Royals were struggling at 24/4. A partnership of 55 between Johan Botha and Ravindra Jadeja then gave them some hope but following the end of the partnership, wickets were tumbling and RR were at 107/9 with the match pretty much out of their reach.

At this point, Munaf Patel came in to bat and smashed five boundaries to take RR’s total to 136/9. Patel ended with 23 off 10 deliveries which remains the highest individual score for a No.11 batsman in IPL history.