The Indian Premier League is one of the most exciting and thrilling cricket tournaments in world cricket. It is the best domestic cricket league across the globe and attracts a lot of fans, spectators, management staff, coaches, and even players from various countries. IPL is considered a way of showing the world cricket talent and skill set by a lot of players.
Since the quality of cricket played in the IPL is so good that all the top players in international cricket come and play here, the excitement and the level of cricket reach a whole new level, giving us a lot of exciting and close encounters. There have been a lot of close matches in the history of the IPL where the teams have won by the barest of margins, such as just a single run or just one wicket.
In the below article, we will have a look at all of such close encounter matches in the history of the Indian Premier League from the inaugural season of 2008 till the last season of 2023, where the teams have won by either 1 run or 1 wicket margin.
IPL Close Encounter Matches with 1 run margin
A total of 12 close encounter matches have taken place in the Indian Premier League, where teams have won by a margin of 1 run. These matches have always kept the viewers and cricket fans on the edge of their seats, providing them with nail-biting finishes where you can’t predict the winner of the match until the last ball. The joint-most successful team in IPL history, the Mumbai Indians, have been involved in a total of three wins in close encounter matches with a 1 run margin, along with the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise. The Delhi Capitals have lost the most number of matches by a single run margin in the league’s history (3).
| Match | Winner | MOTM | Date | Season | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KXIP vs MI | KXIP | Shaun Marsh | 21-05-2008 | 2008 | Mumbai |
| KXIP vs DC | KXIP | Yuvraj Singh | 17-05-2009 | 2009 | Johannesburg |
| DC vs RR | DC | Virender Sehwag | 29-04-2012 | 2012 | Delhi |
| MI vs PWI | MI | Lasith Malinga | 03-05-2012 | 2012 | Pune |
| CSK vs DC | CSK | Ashish Nehra | 09-04-2015 | 2015 | Chennai |
| GL vs DC | GL | Chris Morris | 27-04-2016 | 2016 | Delhi |
| RCB vs KXIP | RCB | Shane Watson | 09-05-2016 | 2016 | Mohali |
| MI vs RPS | MI | Krunal Pandya | 21-05-2017 | 2017 | Hyderabad |
| RCB vs CSK | RCB | Parthiv Patel | 21-04-2019 | 2019 | Bangalore |
| MI vs CSK | MI | Jasprit Bumrah | 12-05-2019 | 2019 | Hyderabad |
| RCB vs DC | RCB | Ab de Villiers | 27-04-2021 | 2021 | Ahmedabad |
| LSG vs KKR | LSG | Nicholas Pooran | 20-05-2023 | 2023 | Kolkata |
KXIP Vs MI Thriller In IPL 2008
In this close encounter match, Kings XI Punjab batted first and they scored totally 189 runs for the loss of 4 wickets from 20 overs. Whereas Mumbai Indians were able to make only 188 runs from the given 20 overs after losing all their wickets. This match was played in Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on 21st May 2008. KXIP’s Shaun Marsh was given the “Player of the Match” award.
KXIP Vs DC Close Encounter In 2009
In the IPL 2009 season, KXIP again made it with a 1 run win against Deccan Chargers on 17th May, 2009 in Johannesburg, South Africa. In this 49th IPL league match of 2009 IPL, Kings XI Punjab team scored 134 runs in their first innings by losing 7 wickets from twenty overs. While chasing Punjab’s 134 runs, Deccan Chargers team were able to score only 133 runs for 8 wickets from 20 overs. Kings XI’s Yuvraj Singh was selected as “Man of the Match”.
DC vs RR Thriller Encounter In IPL 2012
Delhi Capitals IPL team made their close margin win against Rajasthan Royals IPL team on 29th April 2012 in Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi. Delhi’s Sehwag was given the man of the match award for his contribution on runs. Delhi Capitals have set the target of 153 runs for Rajasthan team. Though Rajasthan Royals didn’t lose many wickets, they were able to put up only 151 runs.
MI vs PWI – IPL 2012 Close Encounter
In the same IPL 2012 season, there was one more 1 run close and thriller encounter cricket T20 match between Mumbai Indians and Pune Warriors India IPL teams. This close T20 game was played at PWI’s home ground Pune on 3rd May 2012. Mumbai Indians batted first and put 120 runs on the scoreboard for the loss of 9 wickets from the limited 20 overs. After playing the complete 20 overs in the 2nd innings, Pune Warrior was able to score 119 runs only for the loss of six wickets.
CSK vs DC Close Encounter Thriller In IPL 2015
In IPL 2015, the mighty Chennai Super Kings registered their first win in a close encountered cricket match on 9th April, 2015. It was the 2nd league match of the season between Delhi Capitals and CSK. CSK have scored 150 runs for 7 wickets initially in their batting innings. In the bowling innings of Chennai Super Kings, CSK were able to restrict the Delhi Capitals team exactly on 149 runs. Chennai’s Ashish Nehra was given the “Player of the Match” award for his excellent bowling.
GL vs DC in IPL 2016
Again Delhi Capitals lost one more close match in IPL 2016. This time, DC has failed to chase Gujarat Lions first innings score 172 runs. This match was played in Delhi on 27th April 2016. Delhi team have scored only 171 runs from the 20 overs for the loss of 5 wickets.
RCB Vs KXIP Match With 1 Run Margin
This is the second close encounter match in the same season IPL 2016. The match was between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab on 9th May 2016 in Mohali, Chandigarh. Royal Challengers Bangalore batted first and have put 175 runs on board after losing six wickets. While chasing the first innings score of 175 runs, KXIP were able to score 174 runs. Shane Watson was given the Man of the Match award.
MI Vs RPS – IPL Final 2017
This is the 8th close thriller match in the IPL history, and the match was between MI and RPS IPL teams. This IPL final match was played at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on 21st May 2017. The Mumbai Indians team set the target for this critical match as 130 runs for RPS. At the end of 2nd innings’ 20th over, the Rising Pune team had scored only 128 runs for the loss of 5 wickets.
CSK Vs RCB Close Encounter In IPL 2019
This close encounter match was between MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings and Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL team on 21st April, 2019 in Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore. CSK vs RCB this league match was crucial for RCB in the context of where they were positioned in the tournament and it did end as another as an another close encounter matches in IPL. In this match, Royal Challengers had batted first and scored 161 runs, whereas CSK was able to score only 160 runs.
MI Vs CSK Close Encounter In IPL 2019 Final
Again a bad luck match for Chennai Super Kings in the last year’s IPL final 2019. After winning the toss, Rohith Sharma MI’s skipper was elected to bat first. Mumbai Indians have scored 149 runs from 20 overs. While chasing the target, CSK had started well with the help of Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis, later they lost few quick wickets and finally, they were able to score 148 runs only.
RCB vs DC in IPL 2021
The RCB team played a close encounter for the ages versus the Delhi Capitals franchise in the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in the year 2021. The match was won by the Bangalore team by 1 run, and Ab de Villiers was the player of the match. He played a sensational 75 runs in just 42 balls and was the savior for the RCB team. He was well complemented by Rajat Patidar, who made 31 runs in 22 balls. For Delhi, Rishab Pant and Shimron Hetmyer tried their best as they scored fifties but were not able to take Delhi over the line. Harshal Patel took two wickets for the Royal Challengers Bangalore team in that match in his four overs.
LSG vs KKR in IPL 2023
The last match won by a one-run margin in the Indian Premier League was played in the 2023 season between the Lucknow Super Giants and the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens Stadium. It was a league match that ended in an absolute thriller between these two competitive teams. Nicholas Pooran shone with the bat for LSG, scoring 58 runs in just 30 balls, whereas Rinku Singh and Jason Roy were KKR’s top batters in that match, scoring 67* and 45 runs, respectively. A spirited and exceptional bowling performance from the LSG bowlers, especially Ravi Bishnoi and Krishnappa Gowtham, sealed the victory for them.
IPL Close Encounter Matches with 1 wicket margin
In contrast to the twelve close encounter matches with 1 run margin, only four close encounter matches have been played in the IPL where teams have won by a margin of 1 wicket. The first one was played in the 2015 season, the other two in 2018, and the latest one in the 2023 season between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Lucknow Super Giants team. Mumbai Indians have been involved in two of these four matches and unfortunately have lost both of them.
| Match | Winner | MOTM | Date | Season | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KXIP vs KKR | KKR | Andre Russell | 09-05-2015 | 2015 | Kolkata |
| MI vs CSK | CSK | Dwayne Bravo | 07-04-2018 | 2018 | Mumbai |
| SRH vs MI | SRH | Rashid Khan | 12-04-2018 | 2018 | Hyderabad |
| RCB vs LSG | LSG | Nicholas Pooran | 10-04-2023 | 2023 | Bangalore |
KXIP vs KKR (IPL 2015)
The Punjab team faced a close loss against the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise in the 2015 season, which they could have won easily. KXIP scored a total of 183 runs in the match batting first but KKR chased it with a wicket to spare and a ball left. Andre Russell was the player of the match, scoring 51 runs in just 21 balls and taking the Punjab bowlers to the cleaners. Sunil Narine was the best bowler in the match, taking four wickets for just 19 runs in four overs.
MI vs CSK (IPL 2018)
The two most successful teams in the IPL history have also been involved in a lot of close matches against each other but nothing beats this match where CSK beat their arch-rivals in the league by just one wicket against all odds. This match is definitely one of the most highlighted close encounter matches in the history of IPL. Dwayne Bravo was the hero of the match for the Chennai team scoring 68 runs in just 30 balls and giving only 25 runs in his four overs. It was Bravo’s one of the best performances in the IPL. Mayank Markande was the best bowler in the match taking three wickets for 23 runs.
SRH vs MI (IPL 2018)
The Mumbai Indians team was once again on the losing side of a close encounter, this time against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, who beat them by just one wicket in the closest of games in IPL’s history. The player of the match was Rashid Khan, who bowled an excellent spell of four overs, giving away just 13 runs for one wicket. Deepak Hooda helped the team cross the finish line, scoring 32* runs in just 25 balls. Mayank Markande once again took three wickets for the MI team and was the best bowler.
RCB vs LSG (IPL 2023)
The latest match that ended with a team winning it by one wicket was played in the 2023 season between RCB vs LSG. The Bangalore team batted really well in the first innings and scored 212 runs, but their opponents chased it with a wicket to spare on the last ball of the match. Pooran was the orchestrator of this wonderful chase by the LSG, scoring 62 runs in just 19 balls and playing an inning for life. Marcus Stoinis also contributed well by scoring 65 runs on 30 balls. Mohammed Siraj was RCB’s best bowler, taking three crucial wickets in the match.
