IPL: Top three most expensive first overs
The Indian Premier League has given several memorable moments to the fans in its 15-year-long history. From the fastest fifties to hundreds, fans have got to see all in the illustrious history of the competition. Bowling in T20 is already difficult for bowlers and to bowl during the powerplay against some of the biggest hitters of the cricket ball is an even tougher task. Time and again, bowlers are taken to the cleaners right from the first over itself as batters stamp their authority on them. On that note, let’s take a look at the top three most expensive first overs in the history of IPL:
3) 25 runs – Prithvi Shaw vs Shivam Mavi, DC vs KKR, Match 25, IPL 2021
Chasing a target of 155, Prithvi Shaw got Delhi’s innings off to a great start as he smacked six consecutive boundaries against Shivam Mavi. The right-arm seamer also conceded a wide on the very first ball of the innings which resulted in total of 25 runs being scored in the over. DC chased down the target in 16.3 overs and Mavi’s over became the third most expensive over in the history of IPL.
2) 26 runs – Yusuf Pathan and Gautam Gambhir vs Harbhajan Singh, KKR vs MI, Match 33, IPL 2013 and Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Nitish Rana, KKR vs RR, Match 55, IPL 2023
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, KKR opener Yusuf Pathan started the innings in grand fashion smashing three consecutive fours and a six against Harbhajan. The off-spinner bowled a no ball on the fifth delivery and Pathan took a single bringing Gambhir on the strike. The KKR captain smacked him for a six on the free hit while the last ball was a dot delivery. Harbhajan ended up leaking 26 runs in the over as KKR got off to a fiery start.
Yashasvi Jaiswal clobbered 26 runs against Nitish Rana during Match 55 of the ongoing IPL 2023 season. He smashed two sixes and three fours and also took a couple to score 26 runs in the over making it the joint second-highest expensive first over in the competition.
1) 27 – Chris Gayle vs Abu Nechim, RCB vs MI, Qualifier 2, IPL 2011
Bowling the first over for MI after they chose to field first, Nechim started off with a wide down the leg side as Mayank Agarwal ran a single bringing Gayle on strike. The southpaw smacked him for three fours and a six and also ran a couple in the six legal deliveries he faced. Nechim made matters worse for himself by conceding a boundary off a wide. The bizarre over cost 27 runs to MI which is still the most expensive first over in the history of IPL.
