Lightning has struck twice. On April 25, 2026, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) achieved what was once considered unthinkable: they broke their own world record for the highest successful run chase in T20 history. After dismantling KKR’s 261 in 2024, they have now gunned down 265 against the Delhi Capitals (DC) with 7 balls to spare.
The Tale of Two Record Chases
| Feature | The KKR Bashing (2024) | The DC Thrashing (2026) |
| Target | 262 | 265 |
| Score Reached | 262/2 (18.4 overs) | 265/4 (18.5 overs) |
| The Catalyst | Jonny Bairstow (108* off 48) | Prabhsimran Singh (76 off 26) |
| The Finisher | Shashank Singh (68* off 28) | Shreyas Iyer (71 off 36)* |
How the Record Was Broken
- Powerplay Carnage: PBKS openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya (43 off 17) posted 116/0 in the first 6 overs. Prabhsimran famously hammered Mukesh Kumar for six consecutive fours in the 6th over.
- Middle-Order Composure: After the openers fell, skipper Shreyas Iyer anchored the chase with an unbeaten 71 off 36 balls, ensuring the momentum didn’t slip despite the mounting pressure.
- The Ngidi Factor: DC’s defense was crippled by the loss of Lungi Ngidi, who was stretchered off with a concussion. Without their lead pacer, DC conceded 265 runs at an economy of 14.07.
Top 10 Highest Successful T20 Run Chases (All-Time)
| Rank | Score Reached | Chasing Team | Opposition | League/Level | Year |
| 1 | 265/4 | Punjab Kings | Delhi Capitals | IPL | 2026 |
| 2 | 262/2 | Punjab Kings | KKR | IPL | 2024 |
| 3 | 259/4 | South Africa | West Indies | T20I | 2023 |
| 4 | 258/3 | Brisbane Heat | Perth Scorchers | BBL | 2025 |
| 5 | 254/3 | Middlesex | Surrey | T20 Blast | 2023 |
| 6 | 247/2 | Sunrisers Hyd. | Punjab Kings | IPL | 2025 |
| 7 | 246/4 | Bulgaria | Serbia | T20I | 2022 |
| 8 | 245/5 | Australia | New Zealand | T20I | 2018 |
| 9 | 244/4 | Bulgaria | Gibraltar | T20I | 2025 |
| 10 | 243/2 | Multan Sultans | Peshawar Zalmi | PSL | 2023 |