In T20 cricket, the first six overs are a scoring opportunity for the batters, as only two fielders can be placed outside the 30-yard circle. And it’s true for the IPL as well. While ‘powerplay’ suggests aggressive scoring, some teams have struggled during this phase, losing wickets and posting remarkably low scores. The powerplay’s fielding restrictions offer a scoring opportunity, but the risk of an attacking approach can lead to early collapses and disastrous starts. In this write-up, we will talk about the Lowest Powerplay scores in IPL since its beginning.
Lowest Powerplay Scores in IPL
1. Sunrisers Hyderabad 14/3 vs Rajasthan Royals (2022)
It was the lowest powerplay score in IPL history by an inning. Battered by the batting of Rajasthan, first up was SRH, who had to face an imposing 211-run chase on a green pitch by an inexperienced order. The captain, Kane Williamson, was responsible for providing a steady start, but he came across fellow Kiwi Trent Boult. The swing and seam movement exhibited by the Kiwi paceman was just too much, even for world-class batsman Williamson.
Inducting with his high action, Prasidh Krishna joined the attack, creating movement and forcing Williamson into an edge that Padikkal held onto after Samson had fluffed it in his first chance. The duo’s dominance was such that they bowled the entire powerplay, with Boult returning figures of 1 for 8 and Krishna an even more impressive 2 for 2.
2. Rajasthan Royals 14/2 vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (2009)
Technically, this is also the lowest powerplay score in IPL history, but we kept the SRH score on top because more wickets were lost in that one. The 2009 tournament, relocated to South Africa, offered very different conditions than Rajasthan’s inaugural victory in 2008. Both sides struggled on a pitch favouring swing and seam, with RCB’s 29 during their powerplay narrowly avoiding the list of IPL lowest.
Rajasthan seemed poised for victory, chasing a below-par score of 134, but their 14/2 after the powerplay spiralled into a dirty collapse. They were bowled out for 58, setting the record for the IPL’s lowest total at the time and the second-lowest in professional T20 history.
Related Read: Top 10 Highest Powerplay Scores in IPL
3. Chennai Super Kings 15/2 vs Kolkata Knight Riders (2011)
CSK’s slow start and subsequent lowest powerplay score in the IPL were influenced by the home team’s slow wicket at Eden Gardens and excellent bowling. The men in yellow struggled to find their rhythm throughout the innings and finished with 114/4 from their 20 overs. It appears that they could have taken a few more risks early on to try and get some momentum going.
The decision to bat first in a game ultimately decided by DLS due to rain delays may have contributed to CSK’s slow start. They struggled to get going in the powerplay, crawling to 15/2 while allowing 25 dot balls to pass by and failing to strike a single boundary. Perhaps the team was not convinced by the captain’s decision to bat first or simply failed to execute their game plan.
4. Chennai Super Kings 16/1 vs Delhi Capitals (2015)
CSK again found themselves in danger of alow IPL powerplay score to its name, this time against the Delhi Capitals in 2015. This is even more surprising considering their legendary top-order comprising Brandan McCullum, Steve Smith, and Suresh Raina.
CSK faced a struggling Delhi side without their main bowlers available for this match. But as luck would have it, they somehow managed the fourth-lowest powerplay score in IPL history.
5. Chennai Super Kings 16/1 vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (2019)
MS Dhoni’s men have a history of messing up things in the first six overs of the game, don’t they? In a shocking start to the IPL 2019, Chennai equalled their unwanted powerplay record on a slow Chepauk pitch. After restricting RCB to a meagre 70, CSK suffered a disastrous opening.
Shane Watson’s 10-ball duck was a major blow, and they were left struggling at 16 runs after six overs. Yuzvendra Chahal’s tight bowling (just six runs conceded) added to the pressure. Yet, in a stunning turnaround, cameos from the middle order propelled CSK to victory in 17.4 overs.
6. Kolkata Knight Riders 17/4 vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2020
Kolkata Knight Riders’ top order fell apart against a ruthless bowling performance by RCB in IPL 2020. The match was essentially over before the powerplay concluded. In a shocking 3.5 overs, KKR was reduced to four wickets down, forcing Morgan and Dinesh Karthik to try and endure the remaining powerplay overs simply.
We did get to witness the ‘Miya Magic’ as Md. Siraj spearheaded the destruction, earning KKR their lowest-ever IPL powerplay score. His dominance was clear in his mid-powerplay figures: 2 overs, 2 maidens, and 3 devastating wickets. Good figures to have in a T20 match, right?
7. Rajasthan Royals 17/4 vs Kolkata Knight Riders (2021)
Rajasthan Royals’ hopes to make it to the IPL 2021 Playoffs were killed after another disastrous powerplay. After their forgettable score of 90 for 9 against Mumbai Indians in the same season, things somehow worsened against KKR.
Young opener Yashashwi Jaiswal’s early exit was a setback, but losing captain Sanju Samson – their only consistent batsman was the beginning of the end. KKR paceman Lockie Ferguson then struck twice in three balls, leaving the Royals at a dismal 13 for 4 by the fourth over.
Only a Shivam Dube edge prevented them from setting a new record-low IPL powerplay score. Interestingly enough, KKR used five different bowlers during the powerplay!
8. Mumbai Indians 17/3 vs Kings XI Punjab (2015)
Rohit Sharma’s early wicket was a nightmare start for Mumbai Indians when the team was chasing against KXIP. They were high on confidence after George Bailey’s explosive 61 off 32. However, Mumbai’s powerplay collapsed – losing three wickets and sinking to 59 for 6 – seemed to seal a humiliating defeat.
But then, Harbhajan Singh ignited an incredible comeback, smashing 64 off just 24 balls. This was a peak IPL moment. Just when you thought things were over, they became much more exciting.
9. Royal Challengers Bangalore 17/1 vs Chennai Super Kings, (2014)
RCB has been able to restrict opponents to a low powerplay score several times. However, in their encounter against CSK in IPL 2014, they tasted their own medicine. CSK put up 138 on a challenging pitch and squeezed RCB to 17 runs in the powerplay. While Partiv Patel started aggressively, his departure saw IPL giants Gayle and Virat Kohli adopt a shockingly conservative approach.
It was an absolute shocker for the fans, as the last person you would expect to stop hitting the ball away to the boundary is Chris Gayle. This led to just one single scored in the final two powerplay overs!
10. Rajasthan Royals 18/1 vs Mumbai Indians (2011)
This match between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians was a low-scoring affair. Mumbai struggled to 94, after which Rajasthan took an ultra-cautious approach to avoid an early collapse.
Promoting Johan Botha to number 3 led to a slow powerplay, but he persisted, scoring 45 alongside his 3 wickets in the first innings. This earned him a well-deserved Man of the Match as the Royals inched towards victory. This was a simple approach of putting a price tag on your wicket by Rajasthan Royals.
Also Read: Who is the Baap of IPL?
Why is scoring in the IPL Powerplay important?
Now, the question arises: what is the importance of the IPL powerplay? Utilising the field restrictions in the first 6 overs in an IPL match is really important for many reasons.
Momentum: A strong power play allows a team to seize the psychological advantage. It puts the opposition’s bowlers under pressure and sets a positive tone for the rest of the innings.
Run Rate: A high scoring rate in the powerplay makes achieving a large total much easier. It also eases pressure on middle-order batters, allowing them to build partnerships without excessive risk.
Maximising Advantage: The first six overs see only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. This encourages batsmen to attack and hit boundaries, making it the prime scoring opportunity of the innings.
Challenging the Bowlers: With fielders spread out, bowlers are forced to alter their lines and lengths. This makes them more vulnerable to aggressive shots and boundary-hitting.
Match Dynamics:
Winning Potential: Teams with successful powerplays have a significantly higher chance of winning. Early wickets for the opposition demoralise them and can lead to further batting collapses.
Chasing Targets: When chasing a large total, a strong powerplay is often essential to stay on track with the required run rate. It prevents the asking rate from going out of control later in the innings.
Conclusion
So, this was the list of the Lowest Powerplay Scores in IPL from 2008 to 2023. Of course, some of them were tactical measures, while the others were caused by complete top-order batting failures. Nevertheless, the IPL is here waiting for you to get the most out of it. Visit the Fun88 website today to bet on your favourite IPL teams and players and earn real money. Our website has a straightforward UI and is utterly secure to bet. So, what are you waiting for? It’s the time to earn while enjoying your favourite sports.
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