Top 48 IPL Tournament Historical Facts

Indian Premier League or commonly known as IPL is probably the best franchise league in the world. This tournament is nothing less than an international match because the enthusiasm for this tournament managed by the BCCI remains intact. What makes the IPL the most popular and best league in the world is of course the lucrative contracts and the presence of the best cricketers in the world. There have been 13 IPL seasons so far and the 14th season will end in the UAE in September. Skyblogs has collected some interesting facts about IPL that cricket fans might like.

IPL Facts

The Very First List

BCCI started the IPL in an effort to end the ICL, organized by ZEE Entertainment Enterprises, which started in 2007. Contemporary BCCI Vice President Lalit Modi was behind the birth of the IPL after India's victory in the 2007 T20 World Cup.

In 1995, IPL planner Lalit Modi proposed a competition in the 50+ format, but it was rejected by BCCI officials. Imagine what would have happened if the IPL was a 50+ format. Compared to the T20 format, the matches will be smaller and the entertainment will also be smaller.

In the first match of the IPL, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders faced each other. KKR won the first IPL game by 140 points.

A question arises in the minds of cricket fans, who faced the first IPL ball? The answer is Sourav Ganguly.

Praveen Kumar kicked the first IPL ball

The first wicket-taker in IPL is Zaheer Khan, he dismissed Sourav Ganguly in the first IPL game in 2008.

Former Kiwi goalkeeper Brendon McCullum hit the first six and four in the lucrative league, it was Zaheer Khan who hit the four.

The Rajasthan Royals strung up the first IPL crown as Australian veteran Shane Warne led his side to victory.

As fans around the world follow the famous Indian tournament, they must be wondering about the first winner of the IPL orange cap, the player who scores the most runs wins. Australian fly-half Shaun Marsh was the inaugural edition's top scorer with 616 runs in 11 innings.

If we talk about the first purple cap holder in IPL, it is Pakistani swing bowler Sohail Tanvir who won 22 wickets in 11 matches.

Interesting Facts

In 2010, the IPL committee started live-streaming IPL matches on YouTube.

Speaking of taking the most catches in the IPL, Suresh Raina is on top with 104 catches.

Versatile Indian star Ravindra Jadeja has scored the most 21 strikeouts in IPL history.

The most interesting fact about the IPL is that out of 8 teams, Mumbai Indians have won the title 5 times (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020).

Chennai Super Kings is the only franchise that hasn't changed captains since participating in the IPL.

Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals are the only teams to have reached the IPL Finals once, the rest of the teams have played multiple times.

Throwing a maiden is a big deal in the T20 format, especially if it's the IPL. Praveen Kumar has recorded the most opens in the IPL (14).

The Best and Highest List

Former Indian spin doctor Harbhajan Singh is one of the best spinners in this lucrative league, having thrown 1,268-point balls in 160 innings.

The T20 and six formats are the best combination for any batsman. Caribbean legend Chris Gayle hit the highest of six, 357 in 139 innings.

The record for the highest IPL strike rate is in the name of versatile KKR Andre Russell. His pass rate is 179.29.

In terms of the best batting average, Indian flyhalf KL Rahul ranks first with an impressive average of 46.53.

Current India captain Virat Kohli is the IPL's top scorer with 6076 points in 199 matches.

Mumbai Indians and Sri Lankan star Lasith Malinga hold the record for most wickets with 170 wickets in 122 IPL matches.

The flamboyant Australian opening batsman, David Warner, has won the Cape Orange three times (2015, 2017, and 2019). Isn't it interesting that a foreign player is leading the Indian event? Amazingly, Indian players have only won Cap Orange four times.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2016 $2017) and Dwayne Bravo (2013 & 2015) have had the privilege of winning the Purple Cap twice in IPL history.

The mark of scoring over fifty in the IPL is held by David Warner, the southpaw has fifty in 1148 games.

"Universe Boss" Chris Gayle has scored the most centuries in the IPL (6). Virat Kohli is only a century away from equaling this record.

The Best and Most Lost

Fast and aggressive bowler Dale Steyn has thrown the most run balls (211) in a season, a feat he accomplished while representing Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2012.

Taking 5 wickets in a T20 match is something to be proud of, Alzarri Joseph took 6/12 against SRH in IPL 2019, the best numbers in bowling by a bowler.

The Indian veteran leg spinner has achieved the maximum number of hat tricks in the IPL (2008, 2011, and 2013).

Currently, Rashid Khan has the best savings rate in IPL (6.23). Rotation assistant Anil Kumble comes in second place based on the best economic data.

People are always interested in the IPL single-season top scorer, they would be delighted to know that the Indian and RCB captain holds the record of 973 points in 16 matches which includes four centuries.

Versatile Dwayne Bravo of Chennai Super Kings won the most wickets in a single IPL season with 32 wickets in just 18 matches with a BBF of 4/32.

Teams Related Facts

CSK is the only IPL team that has reached the final 8 times in 11 seasons and lost the final the maximum number of times (5 times).

If we are talking about winning the match, CSK is in control. He tasted victory, with 111 wins in 186 games with a winning percentage of 59.68.

The Punjab Kings have the lowest winning percentage of 44.44.

Winning the best on the field is a player's desire. Proteas and RCB star AB de Villiers has won the most man-of-the-match awards in IPL history (23).

Scoring for a duck is a bizarre record, Harbhajan Singh and Parthiv Patel have 13 ducks each, the most by any IPL player.

Prayas Ray Barman is the youngest player to play in the IPL at the age of 16 years and 157 days against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

On the other hand, Brad Hodge is the oldest cricketer to ever play in an IPL match. Hodge played his last match for KKR at the age of 45 years and 92 days.

The most expensive IPL player in Indian Premier League history is Chris Morris who was bought by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 16.25 crore at an auction in 2021. The second most expensive player is Yuvraj Singh who was bought by Delhi Daredevils for Rs 16 crore.

The estimated valuation of IPL is over INR 45,000 crore.

In a match against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2015, Kieron Pollard coached Chris Gayle, then the on-court referee cautioned him, so Pollard covered his mouth for the remainder of the match.

One of the most interesting facts fans want to know is about the cricketer who has hit the most sixes in one inning. Gayle hit 17 sixes in his 175* innings on 66 balls against Pune Warriors India in 2013.

Due to match-fixing allegations, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were banned for 2 years (2016 & 2017).

KL Rahul scored the fastest IPL half-century in 2018 against Delhi Capitals in 14 balls.

Amit Mishra is the highest wicket-taker among Indians with 166 wickets.

Delhi's best batsman, Virat Kohli is the only player to have played for a franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore (2008-present).