IPL 2026 | In PowerPlay era, the safe score concept becomes obsolete
Priyansh and Prabhsimran… making the first six overs count.
| Photo Credit: MOORTHY RV
When Punjab Kings overhauled Delhi Capitals’ 264 at the Arun Jaitley stadium last month, completing the highest successful chase in the history of T20s, the margin of surprise was minimal. A target of 265 should have been unconquerable. It proved anything but that.
Prabhsimran Singh’s assault at the top and Shreyas Iyer’s composed authority in the middle had reduced a landmark total to a footnote.
The chase was completed with seven balls to spare. IPL 2026 had already conditioned its audience to expect the extraordinary. This season has produced a statistical anomaly that would have been unimaginable five years ago. Sunrisers Hyderabad currently leads the way in this list, smashing records in recent seasons with massive totals (287 and 286).
SRH chased down 244 against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede, Rajasthan Royals successfully pursued 223 against PBKS at New Chandigarh, and as recently as Monday, DC hunted down 211 against PBKS at Dharamshala. What was once a match-winning total has now become merely competitive. Several factors have converged to produce this batting revolution.
Pitches across many IPL venues are flatter, offering minimal lateral movement and little assistance to seam bowlers.
Smaller boundary dimensions at several grounds have also significantly increased six-hitting rates.
Batting line-ups now extend deep, also aided by the Impact Player rule, reducing the dependence on tailenders. PowerPlay batting, once relatively measured, is now built around relentless aggression. The first six overs have become decisive, and openers are expected to attack from the very first ball, often scoring at rates of 12 or even 13 runs per over.
In successful 200-plus chases this season, the average scoring rate in the first six overs has climbed to 13.81, an increase of nearly 21% from last year.
On average, winning chasing sides complete more than 37% of their target before the PowerPlay ends.
The consequences are profound. Captains winning the toss no longer take comfort in posting 210. In this season of IPL, the very concept of a safe score has ceased to exist.
Published – May 13, 2026 12:04 am IST
