The highest score in IPL powerplay is one of the most exciting batting records in the Indian Premier League. The first six overs of a T20 innings are played under fielding restrictions, giving opening batters an opportunity to attack from the very beginning. Over the years, IPL teams have transformed the powerplay from a period of cautious accumulation into an explosive phase capable of changing an entire match.

As of the end of IPL 2026, Sunrisers Hyderabad hold the record for the highest score in IPL powerplay, scoring 125/0 against Delhi Capitals in six overs in 2024. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma produced an extraordinary attacking display at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Their performance broke Kolkata Knight Riders’ previous record of 105/0, set against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2017.

The record has remained intact despite several spectacular powerplay performances since then. In IPL 2026, Punjab Kings came very close when they scored 116/0 against Delhi Capitals, making it the second-highest powerplay total in IPL history.

What Is a Powerplay in IPL?

A powerplay in IPL cricket refers to the first six overs of an innings. During this period, only two fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle. This restriction gives batting teams an opportunity to attack because fewer fielders are positioned on the boundary.

Each IPL innings normally consists of 20 overs, meaning the powerplay represents the first 30% of the innings. Although it lasts only six overs, the runs scored during this period can have a major impact on the final total.

A team that scores 60 or more runs during the powerplay is generally considered to have made a strong start. However, modern IPL batting has pushed those numbers much higher. Scores above 90 are now possible, while totals above 100 have become some of the most remarkable performances in IPL history.

The current record of 125/0 in six overs demonstrates just how aggressively teams can exploit the fielding restrictions.

Highest Score in IPL Powerplay

The highest score in IPL powerplay is 125/0, scored by Sunrisers Hyderabad against Delhi Capitals on April 20, 2024, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s opening combination of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma completely dominated the Delhi Capitals bowling attack. The pair reached 125 without losing a wicket at the end of six overs.

Head scored 89 runs in the innings, while Abhishek Sharma contributed 46. Their combined attack produced a powerplay that rewrote the IPL record books.

SRH 125/0 vs DC — IPL 2024

Important Details

• Team: Sunrisers Hyderabad
• Opponent: Delhi Capitals
• Powerplay score: 125/0
• Date: April 20, 2024
• Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
• Openers: Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma
• Final SRH score: 266/7
• Record: Highest IPL powerplay score

The innings was built around relentless boundary hitting. Head attacked the Delhi bowlers from the opening over, while Abhishek joined the assault and maintained an extraordinary scoring rate.

The six-over score of 125/0 surpassed the previous IPL record of 105/0, which had stood since 2017.

Top 10 Highest Powerplay Scores in IPL History

The IPL powerplay record has changed significantly in recent seasons. The following list includes the leading powerplay totals through IPL 2026.

The leading records show how dramatically powerplay batting has evolved. Eight of the leading totals in some updated lists have come from 2024 onward, highlighting the increased emphasis on attacking cricket.

1. Sunrisers Hyderabad — 125/0 vs Delhi Capitals, 2024

The top position belongs to Sunrisers Hyderabad.

On April 20, 2024, SRH produced one of the most explosive starts in IPL history against Delhi Capitals. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma attacked virtually every type of bowling used against them.

Head reached his half-century in only 16 deliveries, while Abhishek also scored at an extraordinary pace. The pair helped SRH reach 125/0 after six overs.

The final SRH total was 266/7.

This performance remains the benchmark whenever fans search for the highest score in IPL powerplay.

2. Punjab Kings — 116/0 vs Delhi Capitals, 2026

Punjab Kings produced the second-highest powerplay score in IPL history during their remarkable 2026 chase against Delhi Capitals.

Delhi had scored 264/2, setting PBKS a target of 265. Instead of beginning cautiously, Punjab attacked immediately.

Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya powered the team to 116/0 after six overs. Prabhsimran smashed 76 from just 26 deliveries, while Arya scored 43 from 17 balls.

The official IPL report described the 116/0 as the second-highest powerplay score in tournament history.

Punjab eventually completed the chase at 265/4 in 18.5 overs, creating one of the most remarkable successful chases in IPL history.

This innings also demonstrates that an enormous powerplay score does not necessarily require a team to lose wickets. PBKS reached 116 without losing either opener.

3. Sunrisers Hyderabad — 107/0 vs Lucknow Super Giants, 2024

Sunrisers Hyderabad appear again near the top of the list with 107/0 against Lucknow Super Giants.

The performance was another example of SRH’s aggressive batting philosophy during the 2024 season.

Scoring more than 100 runs in six overs is extremely difficult because it requires an average of more than 16 runs per over. SRH achieved that level while keeping all their wickets intact.

Their 107/0 remains one of the highest powerplay totals in IPL history.

4. Kolkata Knight Riders — 105/0 vs RCB, 2017

Before SRH’s extraordinary 2024 performance, Kolkata Knight Riders held the IPL powerplay record.

KKR scored 105/0 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2017 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

At the time, crossing 100 runs during the first six overs was almost unimaginable in the IPL. KKR’s performance therefore became a major benchmark for explosive starts.

The record stood for approximately seven years before SRH surpassed it with 125/0 in 2024.

The 2017 KKR innings remains an important part of IPL powerplay history because it showed that teams could score at an extraordinary rate without sacrificing wickets.

5. Sunrisers Hyderabad — 105/0 vs Punjab Kings, 2026

SRH’s dominance of the powerplay record list continued in 2026.

Against Punjab Kings, Hyderabad reached 105/0 in the first six overs, again crossing the 100-run mark.

The performance means SRH have recorded multiple 100-plus powerplays during the modern IPL era.

Their presence at the top of the list reflects the team’s long-running emphasis on aggressive opening batting.

6. Chennai Super Kings — 100/2 vs Punjab Kings, 2014

Chennai Super Kings became one of the earliest IPL teams to cross 100 runs during the powerplay.

CSK scored 100/2 against Kings XI Punjab, now Punjab Kings, in the 2014 season.

This performance is particularly significant because it came before the recent explosion in powerplay scoring.

At that time, a team reaching 100 in six overs was an exceptional event. The innings therefore remains one of the historic benchmarks in the development of aggressive IPL batting.

7. Rajasthan Royals — 97/1 vs RCB, 2026

Rajasthan Royals recorded another outstanding powerplay in IPL 2026, reaching 97/1 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Although the team did not cross the 100-run mark, the scoring rate was still extraordinary.

The innings illustrates the changing expectations around powerplay batting. A score close to 100 in the first six overs is no longer impossible, especially on good batting pitches and against attacks that struggle to control the opening overs.

8. Chennai Super Kings — 97/1 vs LSG, 2026

Chennai Super Kings also recorded 97/1 during the 2026 season against Lucknow Super Giants.

The score places another modern IPL innings among the highest powerplay totals in tournament history.

CSK have historically combined aggressive opening partnerships with experienced middle-order batting, but the evolution of T20 cricket has increasingly encouraged teams to maximize the fielding restrictions from the first delivery.

9. Sunrisers Hyderabad — 94/1 vs Rajasthan Royals, 2025

Sunrisers Hyderabad continued their remarkable powerplay record in 2025.

They reached 94/1 against Rajasthan Royals, adding another high-scoring powerplay to their record book.

SRH’s repeated appearances demonstrate that their aggressive approach was not limited to one extraordinary match in 2024.

10. Punjab Kings — 93/0 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2026

Punjab Kings also featured prominently among the highest powerplay totals in 2026.

They reached 93/0 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, another score that would have been considered extraordinary during the early IPL years.

The fact that 93 is now outside the top few positions demonstrates the rapid increase in powerplay scoring standards.

Why Is the Powerplay So Important in IPL?

The first six overs provide batting teams with a unique opportunity.

Because only two fielders can be outside the circle, captains have fewer boundary riders available. This creates gaps in the outfield and encourages batters to attack.

Teams generally try to take advantage of this by:

• Targeting the fielding restrictions
• Playing aggressive shots in the powerplay
• Attacking pace bowlers with drives and pulls
• Taking calculated risks against spin
• Running aggressively between the wickets
• Maintaining a high run rate without losing too many wickets

A strong powerplay can give a team a significant platform for the remaining 14 overs.

For example, a team reaching 70/0 after six overs needs only 130 runs from the remaining 14 overs to reach 200. That becomes a much more manageable equation than starting the middle overs at 40/2.

How Has Powerplay Batting Changed in IPL?

The evolution of IPL powerplay batting is one of the most interesting aspects of the competition.

During the early seasons, teams often focused on preserving wickets. Opening batters generally took time to assess the pitch before accelerating.

Modern T20 cricket has changed that approach.

Teams increasingly view the powerplay as an opportunity to score as many runs as possible while the fielding restrictions remain in place.

The rise of players such as Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and other aggressive opening batters has further accelerated this trend.

The progression of the record provides a clear example:

105/0 in 2017 → 125/0 in 2024

The emergence of 116/0 by Punjab Kings in 2026 shows that the 125-run record is being challenged by increasingly aggressive batting performances.

Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma’s Record-Breaking Partnership

The 125-run powerplay against Delhi Capitals was built around the extraordinary partnership between Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma.

Head was particularly destructive against the pace attack. He reached his half-century in only 16 balls, setting the tone for the innings.

Abhishek was equally aggressive. He attacked spin and pace and repeatedly found the boundary.

The pair did not simply score quickly; they maintained pressure on the bowlers throughout all six overs.

The final over was particularly productive, with Head returning to the strike and helping SRH collect 22 runs.

By the end of the powerplay, SRH had reached 125/0.

How Difficult Is It to Score 100 Runs in the Powerplay?

Scoring 100 runs in six overs requires an extraordinary run rate.

A team scoring 100 runs from 36 legal deliveries needs to average approximately 2.78 runs per ball.

That means a combination of boundaries, sixes, running between wickets and occasional bowling extras.

The challenge becomes even greater when a team attempts to score 120 or more.

For 125 runs in six overs, the required scoring rate is approximately 20.83 runs per over.

This explains why only a handful of IPL innings have crossed the 100-run mark during the powerplay.

Does a High Powerplay Score Guarantee Victory?

No.

A massive powerplay provides a strong foundation, but it does not automatically guarantee victory.

Cricket matches can change dramatically during the middle and death overs. A team can score quickly during the first six overs and then lose wickets in clusters.

Similarly, bowling teams can recover by controlling the middle overs and limiting boundaries.

However, an explosive powerplay usually gives the batting side more options because it creates a higher scoring base for the rest of the innings.

Highest Powerplay Score in IPL: Record Progression

The IPL’s powerplay record has evolved considerably.

KKR’s 105/0 against RCB in 2017 represented a major breakthrough. It demonstrated that a team could score more than 100 runs in the opening six overs.

SRH eventually raised the benchmark to 125/0 against DC in 2024.

Punjab Kings then produced 116/0 against DC in 2026, becoming the closest team to the current record.

The progression can be summarized as:

The record illustrates how quickly IPL batting strategies have evolved.

Which Team Has Scored the Most Powerplay Runs?

Sunrisers Hyderabad are particularly prominent in the list of the highest powerplay scores.

Their record includes:

• 125/0 vs DC in 2024
• 107/0 vs LSG in 2024
• 105/0 vs PBKS in 2026
• 94/1 vs RR in 2025

Their repeated appearances reflect the team’s aggressive batting philosophy and the importance placed on maximizing the first six overs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest score in IPL powerplay?

The highest score in IPL powerplay is 125/0, scored by Sunrisers Hyderabad against Delhi Capitals on April 20, 2024, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

Who scored 125 runs in the IPL powerplay?

Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 125/0 in six overs against Delhi Capitals. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma were the opening batters during the record-breaking powerplay.

Who held the IPL powerplay record before SRH?

Kolkata Knight Riders held the record before SRH. KKR scored 105/0 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2017.

What is the second-highest powerplay score in IPL history?

As of the end of IPL 2026, Punjab Kings’ 116/0 against Delhi Capitals in 2026 is the second-highest powerplay score in IPL history.

Has any IPL team scored more than 100 runs in the powerplay?

Yes. Several teams have crossed 100 runs in the first six overs. The most notable examples include SRH’s 125/0 and 107/0, KKR’s 105/0, CSK’s 100/2 and PBKS’s 116/0.

How many overs are in an IPL powerplay?

The IPL powerplay consists of the first six overs of an innings.

Why can teams score so quickly during the powerplay?

Only two fielders are permitted outside the 30-yard circle during the powerplay. This creates more gaps in the outfield and gives aggressive batters greater opportunities to find boundaries.

Conclusion

The highest score in IPL powerplay remains Sunrisers Hyderabad’s 125/0 against Delhi Capitals in 2024. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma produced an extraordinary six-over assault that broke the long-standing record of Kolkata Knight Riders.

The record has continued to face serious challenges. Punjab Kings scored 116/0 against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026, making it the second-highest powerplay score in tournament history.

What makes these records particularly fascinating is the speed at which powerplay batting has evolved. Scores that once appeared almost impossible are now regularly being approached by the most aggressive IPL teams.

With modern batters taking greater risks and teams placing increased emphasis on attacking from ball one, the six-over powerplay has become one of the most decisive phases of an IPL match. The 125/0 record therefore stands not only as a remarkable statistical achievement but also as a reflection of how far T20 batting has developed.