The 18th of April 2022 marked 15 years since the inaugural match of the Indian Premier League, and in light of the rich history of the most popular T20 tournament in the world, we take a look at the 15 best moments in IPL history.
Here are numbers 10 to 6. (Check out Part 1 here)
10. The Rahul Tewatia special
#IPL2020 #RRvKXIP @rahultewatia02 sends social media into a tizzy🏏
In a matter of just five deliveries in @SaluteCotterell‘s 18th over, #RahulTewatia changed the script of an @IPL match like never before
Details ➡️ https://t.co/T4UXQoJ17V pic.twitter.com/p0VymbHsU8
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) September 29, 2020
Chasing 224 against the Kings XI Punjab at Sharjah, the Rajasthan Royals seemed to have made one of the biggest tactical blunders in IPL history, with the promoted Rahul Tewatia struggling to put bat on ball and managing just eight runs from his first 19 deliveries. However, the left-hander proved that it’s not about how you start but how you finish, as he smashed five sixes in a row in a game-changing 18th over from Sheldon Cottrell to help the Royals score 51 runs off their last 15 deliveries and steal an improbable victory.
9. Mr. IPL lights up the Wankhede
87 off 25
Not Out
of our hearts and minds forever.#WhistlePodu #ChinnaThala #MrIPL
🦁💛 pic.twitter.com/4PVSwMjmoX— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 30, 2020
At number nine on the list is arguably one of the greatest knocks played in IPL history as Suresh Raina smashed an unbelievable 87 off 25 balls against KXIP in the Qualifier 2 of IPL 2014. Needing 227 to reach the final, Raina came out all guns blazing at the Wankhede Stadium to play an innings that encapsulated his ability to pull out a performance when his team needed it the most. He helped CSK score an incredible 100 runs in the powerplay and was on course to score the fastest IPL century before a magnificent piece of fielding from the Kings XI Punjab captain George Bailey cut short his extraordinary knock on 87.
8. Virat Kohli’s 973-season
OTD IN IPL 2016 ,,,@imVkohli Scored his First ever IPL century ❤️,,,Nowadays He is going through a bad phase 💔#IPL2016 #ViratKohli𓃵 #RCB pic.twitter.com/BQqwSoY3bD
— Aakash Kohli (@aakashvkfan) April 24, 2022
On an individual front, no player in IPL history can match the historic peak scaled by Virat Kohli in 2016. The RCB captain shattered all sorts of batting records during season nine of the IPL, scoring a mind-boggling 973 runs in 16 matches at an average of 81. Kohli scored four centuries in the IPL in 2016 – the most by a player in a single edition – while also smashing the highest partnership in IPL history alongside AB de Villiers against the Gujarat Lions (229 runs).
7. AB de Villiers takes on Dale Steyn
His knock in 2016 qualifier is ultimate but in 2012 vs Deccan Chargers,he was on 9 off 7 balls and RCB needed 39 in last 3 overs and AB scored 37 runs in next 9 balls and 23 off them came in Dale Steyn over and RCB won with 7 balls remaining.
AB finished on 47* off 17 balls.
🐐 pic.twitter.com/VpKADOmQBf— Ashutosh 2.0 (@AlienAbd) October 15, 2020
Two of world cricket’s biggest global superstars faced off in IPL 2012 when the Royal Challengers Bangalore took on the Deccan Chargers at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. With 39 needed off the final 18 deliveries, AB de Villiers tore into his countryman Dale Steyn in one of the most breath-taking overs of action the IPL has ever seen. Mr. 360 displayed the full range of his awe-inspiring stroke-play as he plundered 23 runs from Steyn’s over and smashed an incredible 47 off 17 balls to take RCB home against the Chargers.
6. Watson smashes century in CSK’s perfect homecoming
Shane Watson reacts to his stunning century which guided Chennai Super Kings to victory in yesterday’s @IPL final 🏏🔥https://t.co/5V9a1U9rBT pic.twitter.com/qOErV1Hp4h
— ICC (@ICC) May 28, 2018
At number six in our list, it has to be Shane Watson’s scintillating century for CSK in the 2018 IPL final against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Watson scored 117* off 57 balls – the highest score in an IPL final – to help CSK seal their third title in style on their much-awaited return to the IPL. What is so fascinating about this innings is that Watson scored no runs off the first ten deliveries he faced before going almost radioactive for the rest of the innings. He also didn’t just tear apart any bowling line-up. This was the best bowling attack in the tournament that included Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, peak Siddharth Kaul and Sandeep Sharma.
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[Featured Image Credit: ANI]
Shivaan Shah