New Delhi, India — March 13, 2026
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has produced countless memorable moments since its launch, with players setting remarkable milestones almost every season. While many records are broken with time, some achievements have remained untouched for years.
As the IPL 2026 season prepares to begin on March 28, fans are once again looking back at a few extraordinary records that have stood the test of time. These milestones are widely considered among the most difficult records to break in IPL history.
Chris Gayle’s Unbeaten 175 — The Highest Score in T20 History
One of the most iconic records in the IPL belongs to Chris Gayle, who holds the record for the highest individual score in IPL and T20 cricket history.
In 2013, playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gayle smashed an extraordinary 175 not out off just 66 balls against Pune Warriors India.
His innings included 17 sixes and 13 fours, making it one of the most explosive performances ever seen in professional cricket. Even more than a decade later, no batter has come close to surpassing this remarkable total.
Virat Kohli’s Historic 973-Run Season
The 2016 IPL season remains unforgettable for Virat Kohli, who produced the most prolific batting campaign in the tournament’s history.
Kohli scored 973 runs in just 16 innings, finishing the season with an astonishing average of 81.08 and four centuries.
Despite several outstanding seasons from other players, this record remains untouched. For example, Shubman Gill scored 890 runs in 2023, while Jos Buttler accumulated 863 runs in 2022, but neither crossed the 900-run mark.
Alzarri Joseph’s Record-Breaking Debut Spell
West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph delivered one of the most sensational IPL debuts in 2019.
Representing Mumbai Indians, Joseph took 6 wickets for just 12 runs in 3.4 overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
This spell became the best bowling figure in IPL history, surpassing the previous record of 6 for 14 held by Sohail Tanvir.
Kohli–AB de Villiers’ Record Partnership
Another unforgettable moment in IPL history came on May 14, 2016, when Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers produced the highest partnership in IPL history.
Playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the duo put together a massive 229-run stand against Gujarat Lions at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
In that match, De Villiers smashed 129 not out off 52 balls, while Kohli scored 109 off 55 balls, helping their team post 248/3 and secure a 144-run victory.
The Fastest Century in Professional Cricket
Chris Gayle also holds another legendary IPL record — the fastest century in professional cricket.
On April 23, 2013, Gayle reached his hundred in just 30 balls while playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Pune Warriors India.
More than a decade later, this record still stands as one of the most extraordinary batting feats in the history of the game.
Can These Records Be Broken in IPL 2026?
With IPL 2026 set to begin on March 28 and conclude with the final on May 31, fans are eagerly waiting to see whether the new season will produce fresh milestones.
However, the records set by legends like Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli remain some of the toughest benchmarks in IPL history, and breaking them may require another truly extraordinary performance.
