The highest individual score ever in IPL history is held by Chris Gayle with an astonishing 175 not out off just 66 balls. This record came to fruition on April 23, 2013 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru when he was playing against Pune Warriors India while representing Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). His innings of power hitting consisted of 13 fours and 17 sixes, which led RCB to score a mammoth total of 263/5, winning that game by 130 runs.
Since Gayle is called the Universe Boss, he made this match one of the most iconic innings in T20 matches. The innings was a significant landmark in IPL history thanks to his explosive batting, rapid century, and hard hitting.
Chris Gayle Highest Score in IPL: Record Overview
Chris Gayle’s highest IPL score is 175 not out, which he scored in the 2013 season. His innings remains one of the most celebrated individual performances in the tournament.
| Record | Details |
| Player | Chris Gayle |
| Highest IPL Score | 175* |
| Balls Faced | 66 |
| Fours | 13 |
| Sixes | 17 |
| Strike Rate | 265.15 |
| Team | Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| Opponent | Pune Warriors India |
| Match Date | 23 April 2013 |
| Venue | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| RCB Total | 263/5 |
| Pune Warriors Total | 133/9 |
| Match Result | RCB won by 130 runs |
The asterisk (*) indicates that Gayle remained not out at the end of the innings. His strike rate of 265.15 shows how quickly he scored throughout the match.
When Did Chris Gayle Score 175 Runs in the IPL?
31st Match: IPL 2013 season – Chris Gayle (175 runs) on April 23, 2013 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Pune Warriors India, Bengaluru Chasing a big score Gayle turned it on with an innings which completely swung the game.
Pune Warriors India opted to bowl after winning the toss. But their decision soon became an arduous task as Gayle hit the bowlers from the first few overs.
He looked very confident and assertive, regularly finding the boundary as well as clearing it. None of the Pune bowlers could rein him in and Gayle batted at a rate that seemed unimaginable by distance.
RCB relied on him along with the opening partner Tillakaratne Dilshan. AB de Villiers also joined the party scoring 73 runs off just 29 balls as Bangalore managed a total of 263 runs for five wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
That massive total put Pune Warriors India under pressure and they finally ended up scoring 133/9. RCB won by 130 runs and the Player of the Match award went to Gayle.
How Chris Gayle Completed His Record-Breaking Innings
What made Gayle’s innings remarkable was the extravagance in shot-making and an amazing level of consistency. He didn’t just stop after crossing a milestone but kept targeting the meek bowls whenever present.
His runs came off 66 balls, which means he posted on an average of over four RU vs. He scored 154 runs in boundaries, hitting 13 fours & 17 sixes.
It was a batting display that showed his command over both pace and spin bowling. He cleared the boundary with his brute strength while precisely finding the gaps between fielders with fabulously timed strokes.
What also impressed was how Gayle kept attacking throughout the innings. Post his century, he didn’t quit loosening it and stayed to accumulate an unholy arrangement of runs.
His innings also gave RCB a massive lead of 101 before Pune Warriors India commenced their chase.
Chris Gayle’s 30-Ball Century in IPL 2013
A century off 30 balls highlighted Gayle’s innings of 175. It made the fastest century at that time and one of the most iconic feats in T20 cricket, creating a big IPL record.
The hundred came in 100 deliveries where he did nonsensical work by pounding fours and six. The opposition found plenty of means to stifle the run wall flowing in after his rapid score.
A 10-ball century is outrageous because even the best T20 batters usually take more balls than that to reach the three figures in runs. To do it, Gayle made history by going on the attack from his first ball instead of waiting to settle in at the crease.
Clift played an inning sparking his 15th WT20I century but after reaching 100 he did not stop there and continued batting. He kept on attacking the bowlers and remained not out at 175 runs.
That unique knack of morphing a fast start into an even bigger score furthermore contributes to just how everlasting his innings remains.
How Many Sixes Did Chris Gayle Hit in His Highest IPL Score?
Chris Gayle hit 17 sixes and 13 fours during his record-breaking innings of 175 not out.
His six-hitting ability was the biggest feature of the performance. He repeatedly sent the ball over the boundary, putting pressure on the bowlers and making it difficult for Pune Warriors India to control the scoring rate.
Here is a breakdown of his boundary scoring:
| Scoring Detail | Number | Runs Scored |
| Fours | 13 | 52 |
| Sixes | 17 | 102 |
| Total Boundary Runs | 30 | 154 |
| Runs from Other Scoring Shots | NA | 21 |
| Total Runs | NA | 175 |
Gayle scored 154 of his 175 runs through fours and sixes. This means that most of his runs came directly from boundaries, highlighting the extraordinary power and consistency of his hitting.
RCB vs Pune Warriors India: Full Match Summary
The match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Pune Warriors India became historic because of Gayle’s extraordinary batting and RCB’s enormous total.
Royal Challengers Bangalore Innings
RCB scored 263/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Gayle led the innings with an unbeaten 175, while Tillakaratne Dilshan contributed 33 runs. AB de Villiers added a quick 31 off just eight balls, providing another burst of scoring late in the innings.
RCB’s total gave Pune Warriors India a target of 264 runs to win.
Pune Warriors India Innings
Pune Warriors India struggled during the chase and lost wickets regularly. Steve Smith was their leading scorer with 41 runs, but the team could not match RCB’s scoring rate.
Pune finished at 133/9 in 20 overs, giving RCB a 130-run victory.
| Match Detail | Score |
| RCB First Innings | 263/5 |
| Pune Warriors India | 133/9 |
| Target for Pune | 264 |
| Winning Team | Royal Challengers Bangalore |
| Winning Margin | 130 runs |
| Player of the Match | Chris Gayle |
The result highlighted how a remarkable individual innings can shape the outcome of a T20 match.
Is Chris Gayle’s 175 Still the Highest Score in IPL History?
Yes. As of October 2026, the highest individual score in IPL history is an unbeaten 175 by Chris Gayle.
His record has withstood the test of time through several IPL seasons and bats from around the world. This is a notable achievement because T20 cricket has grown so brutal that more than 200 is now the standard score for many teams.
There may have been some great one-man innings from certain players, but getting to 175 in a single IPL inning is still no ordinary feat.
Gayle’s record is hard to emulate because of the unique combination it needs – a brisk beginning, right timing, capability to hit sixes at will and deliveries to spare on how many runs one can score without getting out.
That 175 isn’t just a high score now. Is a historic innings with one batsman out-scoring an entire innings and helping his team to a second victory on the bounce.
Why Chris Gayle Is Known as the Universe Boss
With an unparalleled reputation as one of the hardest hitting batsmen to ever play T20 cricket — Chris Gayle has been labelled Universe Boss. The compact-built batsman, known for his aggressive style of play, turned a confident stroke-maker capable of clearing the ropes with massive hits – making him a household name at cricket grounds around the world.
In the IPL, Gayle played for teams like Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). One such decade at RCB was one of his most memorable because he played some really good innings for the franchise.
Any innings of Gayle was constructed around going after the opportunities. He could score against all kinds of bowling at a rapid pace and swing the momentum of a match in just a few overs.
The clearest exhibition of his amazing hitting ability remains his 175 not out, The innings probably put him firmly on the way to establishing himself as one of his generation’s most destructive T20 batters.
Read More: What Is the Highest Score in IPL by a Player || SRH Highest Score in IPL 2026
FAQs About Chris Gayle Highest Score in IPL
1. What is Chris Gayle’s highest score in IPL?
Chris Gayle’s highest score in the IPL is 175 not out, scored against Pune Warriors India in 2013.
2. How many balls did Chris Gayle take to score 175 runs?
He took just 66 balls to score 175 not out.
3. How many sixes did Chris Gayle hit in his 175-run innings?
Gayle hit 17 sixes and 13 fours during his record-breaking innings.
4. Against which team did Chris Gayle score 175 in the IPL?
He scored 175 not out against Pune Warriors India while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
5. In which year did Chris Gayle score 175 in the IPL?
He achieved this record on 23 April 2013 during the IPL 2013 season.
Conclusion
One of the finest knocks in IPL history, Chris Gayle’s unbeaten 175 off just 66 balls is still the highest score by an individual in the tournament. On 23 April 2013, he registered this remarkable achievement for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India.
Chris Gayle scored 215 from 147 balls against Zimbabwe with 17 sixes, 13 fours and a strike rate of 265.15 and his innings is remembered worldwide till now. RCB posted 263/5, winning the match by a massive margin of 130 runs due to his performance.
The record served as a reminder of Gayle’s phenomenal ability to crush the ball, his perfect sense of timing[runs] and how he is still at home in the midst of a T20 match with more time than cricketing responsibility. That 175 not out is still a defining moment in IPL history, and the inning should serve as a reference point for another 10-15 years for any upcoming aggressive batter.
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