Best of the best: 5 most memorable encounters in IPL history
The 12 editions of the Indian Premier League have dished out many iconic matches where a batsman or a bowler has completely turned the tide with his match-winning performance. Several batsmen have hogged the headlines by decimating bowlers on a particular day and cruising to a quick-fire ton. Similarly, bowlers also have had days where they crushed the batting force and scalped wickets when it mattered the most. Several IPL matches have been last-ball thrillers, owing to such impressive individual performances. Here are five such memorable encounters in the IPL:
5. Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings (2019)
Mumbai Indians, led by Rohit Sharma, clinched their fourth IPL trophy by defeating Chennai Super Kings in the final of the 2019 edition. The final was not short of a thriller where MI sealed the triumph by the narrowest of margins.
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WHAT. A. GAME.
Absolute scenes in Hyderabad!@mipaltan win the @IPL 2019 final by one run! ??pic.twitter.com/Xufz0nj83P
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) May 12, 2019
CSK were hunting a target of 150 when Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga denied the victory for them. Bumrah registered 2/14 from his four overs while Malinga conceded only three runs from the final three deliveries to guide MI to the victory. On the last ball of the match, Malinga ruined CSK’s party by trapping Shardul Thakur LBW. MI pulled off a single-run final ball victory and it was another IPL trophy under their belt.
4. Mumbai Indians vs Rising Pune Supergiant (2017)
Mumbai Indians have had many thrilling encounters in their IPL voyage. One such game was the IPL 2017 final, where Rohit Sharma and his men lifted their third title by a slim margin.
After slumping to 79/7, Mumbai Indians amassed a respectable total on the back of lower-order hitting from Krunal Pandya and Mitchell Johnson. With a modest total on the board, chances of a victory were looking slim. However, Johnson rose to the occasion and defended seven runs from the last five balls, cruising MI to lifting the trophy. The Australian speedster scalped the wickets of Manoj Tiwary and Steve Smith in the last over as Mumbai Indians pulled off one of their most memorable victories.
3. Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Deccan Chargers (2009)
IPL finals have always been entertaining and full of thrill. The IPL 2009 final was no different where Royal Challengers Bangalore were denied their maiden IPL title. Deccan Chargers, on the other hand, scripted history with Adam Gilchrist at the helm.
After being put to bat first, DC’s Herschelle Gibbs remained unbeaten on 53 as they posted a respectable total of 143 on the board. Chasing 144 in the final was certainly going to be tough for any side. RCB, chasing under the lights, lost wickets at regular intervals until Roelof van der Merwe and Ross Taylor tried to show some fight at the end. However, they failed to steer RCB past the finishing line as Deccan Chargers clinched the victory by six runs. RCB haven’t lifted the IPL trophy so far and the IPL 2009 final was definitely a point when they could’ve created history. If we look back at the final, it was filled with drama, excitement and tension during every over.
2. Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals (2009)
More than a decade ago, the encounter between Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals at Cape Town thrilled the fans as they witnessed the very first Super Over of IPL. After electing to bat first, Rajasthan steered to a 150-run total on the back of Yusuf Pathan’s explosive 42 off just 21 deliveries.
In reply, Kolkata Knight Riders’ run chase was bolstered by skipper Sourav Ganguly’s batting heroics. However, ‘Dada’ edged the ball to Kamran Akmal when KKR needed two off two deliveries. Ishant Sharma came in to bat next and he managed to steal only one run off the last delivery, leading to fans witnessing the first Super Over in the IPL history.
KKR was looking to seal victory in the Super Over after Gayle hit three boundaries. However, Yusuf Pathan dazzled with the bat again, smashing two sixes and a boundary to guide Royals to the victory in the first four deliveries.
1. Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals (2014)
This is one of the best-ever IPL matches. The last league game of the IPL 2014 and the qualification scenario had gone down the wire. Mumbai Indians, the defending champions, were left to chase down a mammoth total of 190 runs in 14.3 overs. Half-centuries from Karun Nair and Sanju Samson had helped the Royals post 189 runs on the board in 20 overs.
Even the Royals had to win to qualify for the playoffs and they needed to restrict MI from reaching the target before 14.3 overs. Lendl Simmons was dismissed early in the chase but then Corey Anderson was promoted to three and the move worked wonders for the team. He slammed an unbeaten 95 off just 44 deliveries and things went so close that MI tied the score after 14.3 overs.
? | 6️⃣ years later, Aditya Tare narrates his side of the iconic SIX which propelled us into the playoffs of the 2014 IPL ?#OneFamily #OnThisDay @adu97 pic.twitter.com/BXUoce6eaF
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 25, 2020
Nobody had even dreamt of this happening and after a few calculations, it was revealed that MI will need to hit a four or sixes off the next delivery to pip the Royals in NRR. Aditya Tare was the new man and on-strike with Anderson left stranded. However, James Faulkner missed his mark and ended up dishing out a full-toss only for Tare to hit a humongous six and help his team make it to the playoffs.
