The Indian Premier League  (IPL) is renowned for its high-scoring thrillers, but some of its most unforgettable moments come from teams defending seemingly impossible low totals. The exciting matches showcase both the skillful structured bowling and astute leadership decisions as well as the surprising nature of T20 cricket. In IPL history five times teams have successfully protected their minimal scorelines with Punjab Kings' 111 in 2025 as the first and most notable example followed by Chennai Super Kings' 116 from 2009. The following text examines the pivotal batting performances alongside crucial match-altering moments of these engaging IPL matches.

1. Punjab Kings – 111 vs Kolkata Knight Riders (2025)

In IPL 2025 the team posted an all-time low defended total which became the narrowest successful run chase in IPL history. Punjab Kings achieved a collapse that resulted in a score of 111 while Ashutosh Sharma managed to be their top performer. The bowling side accomplished what looked impossible by turning around the game. Yuzvendra Chahal logged four wickets for 28 runs as Marco Jansen delivered a first-over hat-trick for 17 wickets. Rinku Singh scored 35 runs but it was not enough to stop KKR from folding after 15.1 overs with a total of 95 runs. This defensive accomplishment became a thrilling stadium-breaking record that seized global cricket media attention.

See Also: IPL 2025, Match 31: Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders Full Match Highlights

2. Chennai Super Kings – 116/9 vs Kings XI Punjab (2009)

The condition of Durban's pitch during 2009 led to Chennai Super Kings scoring just 116 runs in their innings. The batting show had only one highlight as Parthiv Patel achieved 32 runs. The attacking bowling performance of CSK turned the modest 116 into a substantial number. Muttiah Muralitharan started the fiasco with his 4-over spell that produced 2 wickets against 8 runs before Ashwin and Raina joined him. Kings XI Punjab suffered a shocking defeat after their stars including Yuvraj Singh delivered only 92 runs with eight wickets lost in their 2009 contest against Chennai Super Kings.

3. Sunrisers Hyderabad – 118 vs Mumbai Indians (2018)

During their 2018 Wankhede encounter SRH managed only 118 runs with their batting order. A spectacular performance in bowling emerged after this juncture. MI's batting line crumbled after Siddarth Kaul took 3 wickets for 23 runs while Rashid Khan limited the opposition to 2 wickets for 11 runs despite Suryakumar Yadav making 34 runs. Mumbai Indian batsmen sprawled for 87 runs as Hyderabad accumulated a momentous victory that secured their spot in league history.

4. Kings XI Punjab – 119/8 vs Mumbai Indians (2009)

During IPL 2009 Kings XI Punjab managed to score only 119 against Mumbai Indians in their match. The calm 45 runs Kumar Sangakkara scored became the foundation that enabled continued wicket losses around his performance. India succeeded in their response due to JP Duminy's 59 but no other batsman could provide stability as the totals reached 87 runs. Punjab defied the dry scoring conditions through unmatched poise to win the match through a narrow margin of 3 runs.

Also Read: IPL 2025: MI vs SRH Match 33 - A Head to Head breakdown

5. Sunrisers Hyderabad – 119/8 vs Pune Warriors India (2013)

The SRH faced Pune Warriors India at the 2013 game where they ended with an 8/119 scorecard. Amit Mishra proved crucial for his team by first hitting 30 runs then finishing the match through his remarkable bowling performance. A fantastic 4/19 over performance by Mishra took out the last three Pune Warriors India batsmen with a hat-trick. The team suffered a batting collapse even though Angelo Mathews reached 26 runs before the Taiwanese collapse at 108. The victory went to SRH by 11 runs after Mishra showed his all-round talent in the match.

T20 cricket emphasizes that the match stays in play until the final delivery of the game. Total runs as small as 108 managed to secure victory thanks to confidence and timely bowling execution in combination with well-designed game plans. These groundbreaking defensive performances will permanently reside in IPL historic records as proof that skilled bowlers deserve the maximum audience applause.