When 250 Became the New 200
A few years ago, a score of 200 in T20 cricket was an event. Today, teams are surpassing that mark as if it’s a warm-up. On April 3, 2024, in Visakhapatnam, Kolkata Knight Riders pummeled 272/7 against Delhi Capitals—just five runs shy of the all-time IPL record set by Sunrisers Hyderabad (287/3) one week earlier.
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Sunil Narine led the charge, blasting 85 off 39. A week ago, he was an unpredictable pinch-hitter. Now, he appears to be a top-order powerhouse. Angkrish Raghuvanshi, the 18-year-old who grew up watching KKR, played as if he belonged on the biggest stage, smashing 54 off 27. And then came the inevitable Russell mayhem—41 off 19.
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IPL 2025 has already seen powerplays turn into an all-out assault, with KKR raising the bar once again. By the end of the first six overs, they had posted an impressive 88/1—the highest powerplay score of the season. Sunil Narine made a significant contribution with a rapid 50 off just 21 balls, marking the fastest innings by a KKR batter this season.
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KKR’s score of 135/1 in 10 overs was the third-highest 10-over score in IPL history at that time, and notably, all three of these records were set in 2024. While Delhi started with some swing, it quickly faded, enabling KKR to launch their assault.
By the 19th over, Delhi’s problems had multiplied. KKR had already surpassed 250, and due to a slow over-rate, DC had to bring an extra fielder inside the circle. Rinku Singh (26 off 8) and Russell didn’t wait for an invitation. Anrich Nortje’s 19th over yielded 25 runs. At one point, he had figures of 3-38 after 3 overs.
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By the time Nortje finished, it was 4-59 in 4. The only thing that prevented KKR from breaking SRH’s record was Ishant Sharma’s inch-perfect yorker that dismissed Russell in the last over.
The chase became a formality, thanks to KKR’s impact player Vaibhav Arora, who delivered a decisive performance. He took his first wicket with a dream inswinger that dismissed Prithvi Shaw, followed by a sharp bouncer that surprised Abishek Porel. Arora secured a third wicket with a regulation edge, finishing impressively with figures of 3-27 in 4 overs.
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Starc finally claimed his first wickets of the season, and Varun Chakravarthy added three more, reducing Delhi to 33/4 in the first five overs. Rishabh Pant (55 off 25) and Tristan Stubbs (54 off 32) attempted a fightback, but the match effectively concluded within the first 10 overs. Ultimately, KKR won by 106 runs as DC managed only 166.
A year ago, a 250-plus score in the IPL was a once-in-a-season spectacle. In 2024, it became routine. SRH pushed the boundaries with 287, 277, and 266. Punjab, RCB, KKR and Delhi joined the club.
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The IPL isn’t just evolving—it’s rewriting the definition of a good total. Bowlers are being forced to adapt, power-hitting is at an all-time high, and the race to 300 no longer feels like an if but a when.
