Faf du Plessis’ highest IPL score is 96, a number that looks modest until you place it beside the rest of his record.
Across 154 IPL matches, he scored 4,773 runs at an average of 35.10 and a strike rate of 135.79, with 39 fifties, 439 fours, 174 sixes, and 85 catches. He never scored an IPL hundred, yet he consistently produced top-order innings of real value across multiple teams and phases of his career. ‘
That is what makes this list interesting: it is not built around one freak season or one outrageous knock, but rather on repeated, high-level output over time.
Top 10 Highest Scores by Faf du Plessis in IPL
Faf du Plessis’ top 10 highest IPL scores, led by his career-best 96.
| Rank | Score | Balls | Minutes | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | Batting Position | Dismissal | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 96 | 55 | 89 | 10 | 4 | 174.54 | 1 | Bowled | Kings XI Punjab | Mohali | 5 May 2019 |
| 2 | 96 | 64 | 106 | 11 | 2 | 150.00 | 2 | Caught | LSG | DY Patil | 19 Apr 2022 |
| 3 | 95* | 60 | 105 | 9 | 4 | 158.33 | 2 | Not out | KKR | Wankhede | 21 Apr 2021 |
| 4 | 88 | 57 | 82 | 3 | 7 | 154.38 | 1 | Caught | Punjab Kings | DY Patil | 27 Mar 2022 |
| 5 | 87* | 53 | – | 11 | 1 | 164.15 | 2 | Not out | Kings XI Punjab | Dubai (DICS) | 4 Oct 2020 |
| 6 | 86 | 59 | 104 | 7 | 3 | 145.76 | 1 | Caught | KKR | Dubai (DICS) | 15 Oct 2021 |
| 7 | 84 | 56 | 78 | 5 | 5 | 150.00 | 2 | Caught | Punjab Kings | Mohali | 20 Apr 2023 |
| 8 | 79* | 46 | 104 | 5 | 5 | 171.73 | 1 | Not out | LSG | Bengaluru | 10 Apr 2023 |
| 9 | 76 | 55 | 102 | 8 | 2 | 138.18 | 2 | Caught | Punjab Kings | Dubai (DICS) | 7 Oct 2021 |
| 10 | 73* | 50 | 109 | 8 | 2 | 146.00 | 1 | Not out | SRH | Wankhede | 8 May 2022 |
1) 96 vs Kings XI Punjab, 2019
This remains Faf du Plessis’ highest IPL score, and it came in a knock that blended timing with clean acceleration.
Opening the innings at Mohali, he made 96 off 55 balls in 89 minutes, hitting 10 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 174.54.
The innings was not just about boundary count; it was about control over tempo, because he kept CSK ahead of the game for most of his stay. Falling just four short of a hundred hurts on paper, but this was still one of the sharpest top-order innings of his IPL career and a clear example of how dangerous he could look once he got beyond the first 20 balls.
2) 96 vs Lucknow Super Giants, 2022
In his first season with RCB, Faf produced another 96, this time in a more responsibility-heavy innings. Batting at No. 2 at DY Patil, he faced 64 balls, struck 11 fours and 2 sixes, and scored at 150, while staying at the crease for 106 minutes.
This was not a pure powerplay blitz or a death-over cameo, it was a full-innings contribution where he had to carry the structure of the batting.
The value of the knock lies in how long he batted and how cleanly he controlled the innings without ever losing shape, even though he again finished just short of a maiden IPL hundred.
3) 95 vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 2021*
This was one of the most complete unbeaten knocks of his IPL career. Faf opened against KKR at Wankhede and remained 95 not out off 60 balls, hitting 9 fours and 4 sixes at 158.33 across 105 minutes. He batted at No. 2, stayed till the end, and shaped the innings without any real dip in momentum.
The strength of this knock was how evenly paced it felt; he was not hanging around early and then exploding late, nor was he reckless upfront. It was a proper top-order T20 innings where he managed risk, scoring rate, and longevity almost perfectly.
4) 88 vs Punjab Kings, 2022
This innings had a more aggressive feel from the start. Opening the batting, Faf hammered 88 off 57 balls at DY Patil, with 3 fours and 7 sixes at a strike rate of 154.38, which immediately tells you this was built more through power hitting than boundary manipulation.
He batted for 82 minutes, which also shows he was not just swinging through a short burst; he held the innings together over time. This knock stands out because it showed the more forceful side of his T20 batting, especially when he was looking to dominate length and spin rather than simply pace the innings.
5) 87 vs Kings XI Punjab, 2020*
This was one of Faf’s cleanest unbeaten innings in the IPL and a strong example of how he could dominate without over-relying on sixes. Batting at No. 2 in Dubai, he finished on 87 not out off 53 balls, striking 11 fours and 1 six at 164.15.
The innings was built through crisp placement, fast running, and repeated pressure through the off-side rather than constant aerial hitting. That is what made it such a polished effort. It was not a chaotic T20 innings at all, just a highly efficient one where he kept scoring at a pace without looking rushed.
6) 86 vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 2021
Another long, high-value top-order innings came later in 2021, this time against KKR in Dubai. Faf scored 86 off 59 balls in 104 minutes, hitting 7 fours and 3 sixes at 145.76 while opening the innings.
This knock sits in a slightly different category from some of his quicker ones because it leaned more on batting time and control than pure damage. He stayed through enough of the innings to give the side stability and then still scored at a rate that kept the total healthy. That balance between volume and tempo is exactly why he remained such a dependable IPL opener.
7) 84 vs Punjab Kings, 2023
By 2023, Faf was no longer just a senior overseas batter; he had become one of RCB’s central batting pillars, and this innings reflected that. He made 84 off 56 balls in Mohali, striking 5 fours and 5 sixes at 150, while batting at No. 2 for 78 minutes.
It was a well-shaped innings where he handled the new ball, kept the scoreboard moving through the middle overs, and still had enough left to accelerate.
The spread between fours and sixes also tells the story, this was not one-dimensional hitting, but a balanced innings with both placement and power.
8) 79 vs Lucknow Super Giants, 2023*
This unbeaten 79 was one of his more efficient knocks in terms of scoring speed. Opening at Bengaluru, he stayed 79 not out off 46 balls, smashing 5 fours and 5 sixes at a strike rate of 171.73, while batting for 104 minutes.
That is a strong combination, a long stay at the crease with a high strike rate, and it underlines how well he controlled the innings. This was the kind of knock where he did not need to overplay early because once he settled, the scoring rate climbed naturally.
It was not his highest score, but it was one of his cleanest tempo innings.
9) 76 vs Punjab Kings, 2021
This one was less explosive than some of the others on the list, but it still carried major value because of how much time he spent at the crease. Faf made 76 off 55 balls in 102 minutes, with 8 fours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 138.18 while batting at No. 2 in Dubai.
The innings show a slightly more measured version of his T20 game, where he absorbed pressure and kept the innings functional across phases.
Not every top score has to be a demolition job, and this one worked because it gave his side control rather than just a burst of momentum.
10) 73 vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2022*
This was a neat, chase-style innings built more on assurance than aggression. Opening the batting at Wankhede, Faf remained 73 not out off 50 balls in 109 minutes, striking 8 fours and 2 sixes at 146.
He kept the innings in shape without forcing low-percentage shots and managed the scoring rate in a way that made the chase or total feel under control.
It may not be the flashiest knock on this list, but it is a very Faf innings, structured, composed, and built to carry batting responsibility over a long stretch.
Faf du Plessis Overall IPL Stats
Batting Summary
| Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Balls Faced | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 154 | 143 | 11 | 4,773 | 96 | 35.10 | 3,515 | 135.79 | 0 | 39 | 439 | 174 |
Fielding Summary
| Matches | Catches | Stumpings |
|---|---|---|
| 154 | 85 | 0 |
Faf du Plessis IPL Teams And Career Timeline
As of the 2025 IPL season, Faf du Plessis played for Delhi Capitals, where he was picked for INR 2 crore and named vice-captain.
Before that, he captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru from 2022 to 2024 and had his longest and most successful IPL run with Chennai Super Kings. He also spent two seasons with Rising Pune Supergiant during CSK’s suspension period.
Faf du Plessis IPL Team History
| Years | Team |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Delhi Capitals |
| 2022–2024 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| 2016–2017 | Rising Pune Supergiant |
| 2011–2015, 2018–2021 | Chennai Super Kings |
Key Career Notes
- Won 2 IPL titles with Chennai Super Kings (2018, 2021)
- Named Player of the Match in the 2021 IPL Final
- Played as a right-handed opening batter
- One of the few IPL batters to score 4,000+ runs without a century
- Withdrew from the IPL 2026 auction to play in the Pakistan Super League
Best Faf du Plessis IPL Seasons
Faf’s strongest IPL phase came in the later stretch of his career, especially once he became a more fixed top-order leader. His best season by runs was 2023, when he scored 730 runs in 14 matches at an average of 56.15 and a strike rate of 153.68, along with 8 fifties.
He was also highly productive in 2021, making 633 runs, and in 2022, when he added 468 runs in his first season as RCB captain. That late-career surge gave his IPL numbers far more weight than a standard overseas batter’s record.
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Conclusion: 96 Remains Faf du Plessis’ Highest IPL Score
Faf du Plessis’s highest IPL score of 96 still feels slightly unfinished, mainly because his overall consistency suggests he should have had at least one hundred in the tournament. But that is also what makes his IPL career different.
He did not build his record on a single giant outlier inning. He built it on repeatable top-order value, season after season, across different teams, roles, and match situations. And that is why his IPL record still stands up strongly even without a three-figure score.
FAQs
Faf du Plessis’ highest IPL score is 96.
No, Faf du Plessis has not scored a century in the IPL.
He has scored 4,773 runs in 154 IPL matches.
His best IPL season was 2023, when he scored 730 runs.
He has played for Chennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Supergiant, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Delhi Capitals.
