IPL 2026 has produced one of the most dramatic seasons in the competition’s history. Ahead of the final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans, take a look at some of this year’s greatest moments.
Sooryavanshi’s 97 off 29 balls in the Eliminator
The most extraordinary individual innings of the season came on the biggest knockout stage. Sooryavanshi’s strike rate of 334.48 in his 97 against Sunrisers Hyderabad was another sensational knock in a standout campaign.
Twelve sixes. Twenty-nine balls. An innings that confirmed what the entire season had been building towards.
Punjab Kings chase 265
Punjab Kings successfully chased 265 against Delhi Capitals on April 25, the highest successful run chase in IPL history.
KL Rahul had scored 152 not out off 67 balls for Delhi in the same match, the first Indian to score 150 or more in IPL history. Two records broken in the same game, on the same night, by two different teams.
Rinku Singh’s Super Over heroics
Rinku Singh smashed four consecutive sixes off Digvesh Rathi in the 20th over to drag KKR from 129-7 to 155-7 and force a Super Over against LSG.
Sunil Narine then restricted LSG to 1-2, the lowest Super Over total in IPL history, to complete one of the most dramatic finishes the competition has ever seen.
Delhi’s collapse
Delhi Capitals swung from 264-2 against Punjab Kings to 75 all out against RCB in the space of 48 hours, one of the most remarkable statistical contrasts in IPL history.
The collapse summed up the unpredictability that made IPL 2026 so compelling from start to finish
Patidar’s 93 off 33 in Qualifier 1
With RCB’s place in the final on the line, captain Rajat Patidar walked out and delivered. His 93 off 33 balls powered RCB to 254 against Gujarat Titans, winning Qualifier 1 by 92 runs and booking their place in the Ahmedabad final.
It was the defining knockout performance of the season from a captain who led from the front when it mattered most.
Photo: REUTERS/Stringer
