From blistering centuries to nerve-wracking chases, these five innings defined IPL Finals history
When the IPL final approaches, the spotlight doesn’t just shine on the team but also on the individuals who rise to the occasion and change the game. Over the years, some batsmen have carved their names into IPL folklore with innings that were nothing short of electrifying. As IPL 2025’s final looms large, it’s the ideal time to rewind and savour the top five individual knocks that stole the show on cricket’s biggest domestic stage.
Not every final revolves around team totals or nail-biting finishes. Sometimes, it’s a single player’s brilliance that captures the limelight — innings that have swung momentum, ignited hope, and ultimately shaped champions.
Shane Watson — the ultimate IPL final gladiator. His unbeaten 117 off 57 balls in 2018 helped the Chennai Super Kings chase down 179 with ease, securing their fourth IPL crown. This is the highest individual score in IPL final history.
Credit: Cricshots
Watson’s knock was the second century in IPL final history and demonstrated his blend of grit and flair, striking boundaries with poise and punishing every loose ball. His innings transformed the chase into a statement of intent.
Back in 2014 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Wriddhiman Saha dispelled the notion that IPL finals are cagey affairs. Smashing an unbeaten 115 off just 55 balls, he became the first player to score a century in an IPL final. His furious assault, featuring 10 fours and 8 sixes, propelled Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) to a formidable 199/4.
Credit: ESPN
Though Punjab fell short that night against Kolkata Knight Riders, Saha’s whirlwind hundred established the tone for what a final innings could resemble — fearless, powerful, and full of flair.
Fast forward to IPL 2023, where Sai Sudharsan announced himself as a rising giant on the final’s biggest stage. After a steady start, the young Gujarat Titans batter exploded with 96 runs off 47 deliveries, helping his team post the highest-ever total in an IPL final — 214/4 against the Chennai Super Kings.
Credit: TOI
Sudharsan’s innings, featuring 8 fours and 6 sixes, was a vivid display of raw talent and maturity. Although Gujrat lost the rain-affected final to CSK by the DLS method, the 21-year-old’s knock still stands as the third-highest individual score in an IPL final.
Reflecting on 2011, Murali Vijay’s 95 against Royal Challengers Bangalore displayed an innings rich in elegance and power. Vijay’s 52-ball onslaught, adorned with 4 fours and 6 sixes, occurred at a staggering strike rate of 182.69.
Credit: TOI
His contribution propelled Chennai Super Kings to an imposing 205/5, paving the way for a resounding 58-run victory and the defence of their title. Vijay’s innings serves as a quintessential example of how to dominate the opening overs of a final.
Just hours after Wriddhiman Saha’s blazing innings in the 2014 final, Kolkata’s Manish Pandey responded with a composed yet fiery 94 off 50 balls against Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). Facing a daunting chase of 200, Pandey expertly paced his innings, ensuring KKR remained on track with every boundary.
Credit: ESPN
His innings exemplified the balance of aggression and caution, achieving the highest successful chase in any IPL final to date. Thanks to Pandey’s calmness under pressure, KKR lifted their second IPL trophy.
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