Flashback: 5 best moments from IPL 2023
The 16th season of the grandest T20 league in the world, the Indian Premier League (IPL), was one of the most entertaining seasons in the tournament’s history. The season had numerous memorable moments across 74 matches as all the ten franchises left no stone unturned to give their fans some thrilling finishes. As another golden chapter of IPL begun on March 22, let’s take a look at the top five best moments of IPL 2023:
1. Rinku Singh snatches victory from the jaws of defeat
With 39 runs needed off the last eight balls having just three wickets in hand, nobody gave Kolkata Knight Riders a chance against Gujarat Titans in Match 13 of the tournament. However, little did anyone know, a small-town boy named Rinku Singh was about to etch his name with golden words in IPL history by pulling off a mind-boggling heist.
After hitting a six and a four off the last two balls of the 19th over against Joshua Little, Rinku brought the equation down to 29 needed off the last six. The southpaw further launched an all-out attack on Yash Dayal in the final over hitting him for five consecutive sixes and sealed an improbable win for KKR.
2. Mohit Sharma’s miserly bowling makes LSG choke in run chase of 136
Chasing a small target of 136 runs, Lucknow Super Giants were in full control of the game needing 31 runs to win off the last 36 balls having nine wickets in hand against Gujarat Titans in Match 30. However, LSG bowlers kept things tight at death as Mohit Sharma was brought back on in the 18th over. The right-arm seamer gave six runs away bringing the equations down to 17 off 12. He was further given the responsibility to win the last over as LSG required 12 runs to win.
The right-arm seamer, who was making his comeback in the tournament after three years, held his nerve dismissed a well-set KL Rahul on the second ball and gave away just four runs in the over to set up a seven-run victory for his side. He finished with figures of 2/17 in three overs and was also adjudged Player of the Match.
3. Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq face-off
The tempers flared on the field during Match 43 of the tournament between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore as star batter Virat Kohli was involved in an altercation with Naveen-ul-Haq. The duo exchanged words on the field and the argument continued even after the game ended, prompting LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir to intervene. With both players having a history of salty relations in the past, Gambhir and Kohli were once again in each other’s faces having a heated chat out in the open before being separated. The moment became the most talked about incident of the season forcing BCCI to come down with heavy fines on all three parties involved for not keeping up with the spirit of the game.
4. Yashasvi scores fastest fifty in IPL history
The 22-year-old had a dream season in 2023 as he plundered runs for fun across 14 matches for Rajasthan Royals. During Match 56 against Kolkata Knight Riders, Jaiswal unleashed his beast beat mode on the opposition registering the fastest fifty in IPL history. The prodigy from Bhadohi completed his half-century off just 13 balls within the first three overs of the innings. Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 98* off 47 balls smashing 13 fours and five sixes in his innings helping RR chase down 151 in 13.1 overs.
5. MS Dhoni lifts Ravindra Jadeja to celebrate CSK’s fifth title win
After incessant rain across two days, the final of IPL 2023 was already turning out to be the most unique in the tournament’s history. However, after hours of waiting for both fans and players, 13 runs separated Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans from winning the coveted trophy.
Gujarat captain Hardik Pandya trusted Mohit Sharma to once again pull off a final over win and the seamer responded by giving just three runs in the first four balls bringing the equation down to ten needed off the last two balls. With CSK having their back against the wall, Ravindra Jadeja turned out to be the knight in shining armour for his side smashing a six and a four off the last two balls to help CSK clinch the joint most five IPL titles.
Seeing Jadeja pull off a thrilling chase, even Captain Cool Dhoni couldn’t control his emotions and lifted him in his arms, a moment which became an integral part of CSK’s rich IPL history.
