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 5 to 1. (Check out Part 2 here)
Brendon McCullum’s 158* in the first ever IPL game was ahead of its time! pic.twitter.com/YlvEoJDKLF
— Hemank (@Hemank_fpl) April 18, 2022
At number five we have to go back to the first-ever IPL game in 2008 between the Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore. With the entire world watching, Brendon McCullum took the IPL by storm in the curtain-raiser, setting the tone for the tournament in style as he creamed an incredible 158* off just 73 balls. The Kiwi smashed ten fours and 13 sixes in an innings that kicked off the Indian Premier League in spectacular fashion, setting up 15 years of nonstop excitement.
#OnThisDay in 2014, Mumbai Indians made 195 runs in 14.4 overs only. They required to score 190 in 14.3 to qualify for playoffs but they tied RR score at 189.
Aditya Tare First ball six. Superb inngs from Corey Anderson and 30(10) cameo from rayudu. pic.twitter.com/IniW6hZ4V8
— D E E P A N K A R (@5_IPL_Titles) May 24, 2021
The Mumbai Indians did the impossible in the 2014 edition of the IPL, as they scored an incredible 195 runs in just 88 deliveries to leapfrog the Rajasthan Royals into the playoff positions. Needing to beat RR by a crazy margin to overtake them via net run rate, Mumbai completed one of the biggest heists in IPL history. Corey Anderson smashed an incredible 95 off 44 deliveries before Aditya Tare hit the decisive winning six to send the Wankhede Stadium into delirium and MI into the final four.
THROWBACK THURSDAY: #OnThisDay in 2019, #MumbaiIndians beat #CSK by 1 run to secure their 4th #IPL title 🔥🔥
RELIVE 👇https://t.co/BrMnnelnb0 #CSKvMI #MIvCSK #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/yWpZyk5WYG
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) May 12, 2022
The two most successful sides in the Indian Premier League locked horns in 2019 in one of the closest finals in history, which saw the Mumbai Indians win by just a solitary run. Defending 149, Mumbai were on the brink of defeat after a lightning start by Faf du Plessis and some incredible striking from Shane Watson. However, a middle-order collapse and some excellent bowling from Jasprit Bumrah and Rahul Chahar saw Chennai lose their way before Lasith Malinga delivered the killer blow on the final ball of the game, dismissing Shardul Thakur with a yorker with just two needed off one delivery.
Spartan King Chris Gayle’s 175* in 66 balls(13x4s, 17x6s) is the highest individual score in IPL & T20 history #IPL6 pic.twitter.com/acauCb2gqw
— Gaames Unlimited (@gaamesunlimited) April 23, 2013
At number two, we have another Chinnaswamy special played by the Universe Boss, Christopher Henry Gayle. It was raining sixes in Bangalore in 2013 as Gayle smashed the fastest century in IPL history, which took a mere 30 deliveries. The West Indian hit 17 sixes on his way to 175*, the highest score in the history of the IPL, and his onslaught also helped RCB score the highest total in the competition (263). This knock was Chris Gayle was at the peak of his powers where it felt like he could hit every ball out of the ground at will.
Shane Warne was the first captain to lift the IPL Trophy in 2008 for Rajasthan Royals.!@rajasthanroyals @imjadeja@munafpa99881129 @iamyusufpathan @ShaneRWatson33
#RIPShaneWarne #RIP #shanewarne #Cricket #legend pic.twitter.com/Ill4KDCPO6
— CRICFANSOFFICIAL (@CricFansIndia) March 4, 2022
Nobody expected the Rajasthan Royals to go all the way in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League, but led by Shane Warne, the team defied all expectations to win their only IPL title to date. In the final against CSK, the Royals chased down Chennai’s target of 164 in dramatic fashion. Following a rocky start, Yusuf Pathan settled the Royals’ nerves with an incredible half-century before Shane Warne and Sohail Tanvir took Rajasthan over the line off the final delivery of the match.
[Featured Image Credit: Kolkata Knight Riders]
Shivaan Shah