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Chasing a target swiftly in the Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 cricket is a thrilling display of power, precision, and pressure handling. With the💦 tournament showcasing 𓃲some of the world’s finest hitters, IPL chases often become masterclasses in aggressive intent fused with smart shot selection.
Power-hitters and the art of chasing
Power-packed IPL stars like Andre Russell, Heinrich Klaasen and Nicholas Pooran thrive by picking lengths early and dispatching bowlers with clinical brutality. Their explosive style forces captains to rethink strategies mid-game, often unsettling field placements and bowling rhythms. What sets these batters apart is their ability to rotate strike seamlessly while unleashing maximums when it matters most. The smaller Indian grounds, quick outfields, and high-scoring surfaces further aid their fearless approach. As bowlers miss their lines under pressꦆure, these batters capitalize instantly, making even 10-an-over chases seem routine. In high-octane IPL clashes, such firepower transforms run-chases into spectacles, proving that with the right approach and intent, no target is truly out of reach.
IPL milestones: Fastest top 3 chases of 100+ targets
1. RCB vs KKR, Bengaluru, 2015 (Target: 112 in 9.4 overs)
In a rain-affected encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Royal Challengers Bengaluru made a mockery of the revised 112-run target against Kolkata Knight Riders. With only 10 overs allotted due to DLS conditions, the onus was on RCB to go hard right from the start – and they did not disappoint. Virat Kohli played a captain’s knock, while Chris Gayle launched a brutal assault with Mandeep Singh finis🦩hing it with brilliant knock of 45 runs in just 18 balls, bludgeoning the KKR bowlers to all parts of the ground✤.
Their intent was ruthless, with boundaries coming almost every over. Though the match had fewer overs, the strike rates displayed were phenomenal. Kohli and Gayle ran a clinic in controlled aggression, never letting the pressure mount. The chase was completed with two balls to spare in the 10-🐽over contest, equaling the fastest 100+ chase by balls used. While the DLS format aided them, the hitting was still outrageous. It remains one of the cleanest demolitions in a rain-curtailed IPL match.
Also READ: List of cricketers who have won both IPL and🦋 PSL trophies ft. Rashid Khan
2. SRH vs LSG, Hyderabad, 2024 (Target: 166 in 9.4 overs)
This remains arguably the greatest full-game chase in IPL history, as Sunrisers Hyderabad dismantled Lucknow Super Giants in front of a stunned home crowd. Chasing 166, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma showed no mercy, hammering 100+ runs in just the first six overs. The pair unleashed relentless hitting, clearing boundaries with ease and ensuring the required run rate never became an issue. Their partnership turned the match into a net session, treating international-quality bowlers like club-level opposition. Both batters scored at a strike rate well over 250, maintaining breathtaking consistency. No wickets fell, no slowdown occurred – just pure, fearless hitting. The game ended with 62 balls to spare, showcasing a dominance rarely seen in the IPL. Unlike the RCB match in 2015, this wasn’t shortened – it was sheer batting madness across 9.4 overs. It was an IPL record for the fastest 150+ chase in full T20 history.
3. KKR vs CSK, Chennai, 2025 (Target: 104 in 10.1 overs)
At the fortress of Chepauk, Kolkata Knight Riders delivered a statement performance by annihilating Chennai Super Kings in front of their home crowd. Chasing a paltry 104, KKR made it look like a walk in the park, thanks to Phil Salt’s electric start and Venkatesh Iyer’s finishing flourish. The CSK bowlers looked utterly clueless as boundaries rained from both ends. Salt’s powerplay onslaught ensured half the target was wiped out within five overs, while Iyer carried the momentum seamlessly. Chennai’s low total gave their bowlers no margin for error, but even their best efforts failed to slow the chase. KKR’s calculated aggression and efficient strike rotation made the run-chase look effortless. The loss was not just a defeat—it was humiliation for CSK, marking one of their heaviest in history. The 10.1-over finish added another unwanted record to CSK’s struggling 2025 season. It was a clinical and crushing performance from KKR in every department.
