Closest Finishes in IPL History — All-Time Top 25 Ranked

When One Run Rewrites History

On May 12, 2019, Lasith Malinga bowled the final over of the IPL final with Mumbai Indians needing to defend 9 runs against Chennai Super Kings. Shane Watson, batting on 80, launched a desperate assault — but Malinga's slower-ball yorker on the last delivery sealed a 1-run victory and MI's fourth IPL title. The margins in T20 cricket can be impossibly thin, and the IPL has delivered some of the most heart-stopping finishes in the format's history.

Across 18 seasons (2008–2025), exactly 15 IPL matches have been decided by a single run — and another 10 by just 2 runs. These 25 contests represent the razor's edge where one boundary, one wide, or one missed run-out separates champions from heartbreak. What follows is the definitive ranking of the closest finishes in IPL history.

The Complete Top 25 — Closest IPL Finishes by Run Margin

The Top 5 — Stories Behind the Margins

1. KKR vs Rajasthan Royals — Eden Gardens, 2025

In a late-season clash that had playoff implications for both sides, Kolkata Knight Riders defended their total by the slimmest margin imaginable at Eden Gardens on May 4, 2025. Rajasthan Royals, chasing under pressure, needed 2 off the final ball — and could only manage a single. The Eden Gardens crowd erupted as KKR's death bowlers held their nerve in a match where every dot ball in the final over carried the weight of the season. This was Eden Gardens' third 1-run finish in four seasons, cementing the venue's reputation as the IPL's theatre of impossible finishes.

2. SRH vs Rajasthan Royals — Hyderabad, 2024

Rajasthan Royals found themselves on the wrong end of a 1-run margin for the second time in consecutive seasons. Chasing at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on May 2, 2024, RR's middle order built momentum through the middle overs before the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling attack strangled the scoring in the death. The final over delivered a masterclass in pressure bowling — with RR falling agonisingly short despite having wickets in hand.

3. KKR vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — Eden Gardens, 2024

Just eleven days before the SRH thriller, Eden Gardens hosted another 1-run classic. On April 21, 2024, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's chase against KKR came down to the wire. The Kolkata spinners proved decisive in the middle overs, taking pace off the ball on a surface that offered variable bounce. RCB's lower order staged a valiant fightback but ultimately finished 1 run short, with the final wicket falling on the penultimate delivery.

4. LSG vs Kolkata Knight Riders — Eden Gardens, 2023

Eden Gardens again — this time as the venue where Kolkata Knight Riders were on the losing side. On May 20, 2023, Lucknow Super Giants pulled off a defence that seemed impossible at the halfway mark. KKR's chase gathered steam through the powerplay and middle overs, but LSG's death bowling — a mix of slower balls and wide yorkers — created enough doubt. KKR needed 2 off the final delivery and managed only a single, handing LSG a 1-run victory in what became a decisive result for the playoff race.

5. RCB vs Delhi Capitals — Ahmedabad, 2021

In the UAE-India split season of 2021, Royal Challengers Bangalore produced one of the great defensive performances at the Narendra Modi Stadium on April 27. Delhi Capitals, chasing a moderate total, were cruising through the middle overs before RCB's death bowlers turned the screws. The final over became a battle of wits, with DC needing 14 off 6 — they got close, agonisingly close, but fell 1 run short. This match showcased why Harshal Patel's death-over variations earned him the Purple Cap that season, with his slower balls proving nearly unplayable under pressure.

Patterns and Insights

Kolkata Knight Riders dominate this list with 6 appearances across both winning and losing columns — more than any other franchise. Eden Gardens is the single most represented venue, hosting 4 of the 25 closest finishes (3 of them by just 1 run). The frequency of nail-biters has increased sharply in recent seasons: 2024 and 2025 alone account for 5 entries, compared to just 2 in the entire 2008–2012 period with 1-run margins. Rajasthan Royals hold the unwanted record of being on the losing side in 4 of these matches. Meanwhile, RCB appear 5 times across both columns — reflecting their well-documented tendency toward dramatic matches regardless of outcome.

Why Closest Finishes Define the IPL

The IPL's evolution from a bat-dominated spectacle in its early years (2008–2013) to a tactically sophisticated league has directly increased the number of close finishes. In the first 6 seasons, only 5 matches were decided by 1 run. In the most recent 6 seasons (2020–2025), that number jumped to 7. The reasons are structural: improved death bowling — with specialists like Jasprit Bumrah, Harshal Patel, and Arshdeep Singh mastering slower-ball variations — has made chasing harder. The introduction of the Impact Player rule in 2023 added another tactical layer, allowing teams to load their XI with extra bowling depth specifically for defending tight totals. Average run rates in IPL death overs (overs 16–20) actually decreased from 10.2 in 2018 to 9.4 in 2025, despite bat improvements — a testament to bowling innovation.

Could Anyone Break the Pattern?

The 1-run margin is the absolute floor in cricket — there is no closer finish possible in a completed run-chase (excluding ties and Super Overs, which are a separate category). What has changed is the frequency of these results. As T20 bowling tactics continue to evolve — with reverse-swinging new balls, cutters at 120 kph, and data-driven field placements — the probability of defending small totals in the final over keeps rising. The trend suggests the IPL will continue producing 2–4 one-run finishes per season, particularly at venues with variable bounce like Eden Gardens and Chepauk. With 74 league matches per season from 2022 onwards (up from 60 pre-expansion), the raw opportunity for close finishes has grown by 23%. The question is not whether the IPL will produce more 1-run thrillers — it is which franchise will endure the most.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the closest finish in IPL history?

The closest possible finish by runs is a 1-run margin, and the IPL has seen 15 such results across its 18 seasons (2008–2025). The most recent was KKR defeating Rajasthan Royals by 1 run at Eden Gardens in 2025.

Which team has been involved in the most 1-run finishes?

Kolkata Knight Riders lead with 4 appearances in 1-run finishes (winning 2, losing 2). Royal Challengers Bangalore are close behind with 3 wins by 1 run.

Which IPL venue has hosted the most close finishes?

Eden Gardens, Kolkata has hosted 4 of the top 25 closest finishes — 3 of them decided by just 1 run (2023, 2024, 2025). The venue's variable bounce and spin-friendly surface make chasing particularly difficult in the death overs.

Why are 1-run finishes becoming more common in the IPL?

Death-over bowling has improved significantly since 2018, with specialists using slower balls, wide yorkers, and cutters to restrict scoring. Average death-over run rates dropped from 10.2 (2018) to 9.4 (2025). The 10-team format (from 2022) also means 74 matches per season — 23% more opportunities for close results.

How many IPL matches have been decided by 2 runs or fewer?

Across 18 seasons, 25 IPL matches have been decided by 2 runs or fewer — 15 by exactly 1 run and 10 by exactly 2 runs.

Has an IPL final ever been decided by 1 run?

Yes. The 2017 IPL final between Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiant at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium was decided by 1 run. The 2019 final (MI vs CSK) was also a 1-run result — making MI the only franchise to win two finals by the minimum margin.

Are these the closest finishes in all T20 cricket or just the IPL?

This ranking covers IPL matches only (2008–2025). Other T20 leagues and international T20s have also produced 1-run finishes, but the IPL's combination of high stakes, packed stadiums, and elite death bowling makes its close finishes particularly dramatic.