Top 5 astounding moments of the IPL
Picture credits: www.espncricinfo.com
IPL has
been for a decade and the 11th edition is just right the corner. T20
has been exciting and the competition and intensity in which IPL is played,
there are bound to be nail biting moments. Moments where the fans are awe
struck and don’t believe what the match transpired into. Here, I’m presenting
the top 5 moments which brought goose bumps and I’m almost sure everyone else
got too. There are of course more than 5 moments but here are my top 5. Don’t
feel shy to tell me about yours. Here it goes-
5. McCullum
starts IPL in his own style
Brendon McCullum, retired New Zealand veteran batsman started off the IPL with a bang. The first IPL and the first match of the ever successful IPL, McCullum took RCB bowlers for a toss, smacking 158 of just 73 balls. I bet all the owners except for RCB’s enjoyed the innings as it got all the attention from fans from all around the globe marking towards the success of the IPL. McCullum’s 158 helped KKR reach 222-3 after their 20 overs. A mammoth total even in today’s date. RCB tottered as they never looked to be in the game since the start, being bowled out for a mere 82. This blazing innings set the tone for the rest of the years to come.
Brendon McCullum, retired New Zealand veteran batsman started off the IPL with a bang. The first IPL and the first match of the ever successful IPL, McCullum took RCB bowlers for a toss, smacking 158 of just 73 balls. I bet all the owners except for RCB’s enjoyed the innings as it got all the attention from fans from all around the globe marking towards the success of the IPL. McCullum’s 158 helped KKR reach 222-3 after their 20 overs. A mammoth total even in today’s date. RCB tottered as they never looked to be in the game since the start, being bowled out for a mere 82. This blazing innings set the tone for the rest of the years to come.
Picture credits: Yahoo News Singapore
4. RCB all
out for 49
The Royal Challengers from Bangalore were having the worst times in IPL 2017, and they were up against Kolkata Knight Riders. KKR, after batting first set a target of 132 in 20 overs. It should have been a cakewalk for RCB with their star studded batting line up. However, what transpired was surprising. KKR bowlers got Kohli out on his first ball. From there, everyone else fell like nine pins. The highest individual score in the RCB batting line up was that of Kedar Jadhav who scored 9 runs. RCB were bowled out for a paltry 49.
The Royal Challengers from Bangalore were having the worst times in IPL 2017, and they were up against Kolkata Knight Riders. KKR, after batting first set a target of 132 in 20 overs. It should have been a cakewalk for RCB with their star studded batting line up. However, what transpired was surprising. KKR bowlers got Kohli out on his first ball. From there, everyone else fell like nine pins. The highest individual score in the RCB batting line up was that of Kedar Jadhav who scored 9 runs. RCB were bowled out for a paltry 49.
Picture credits: Hindustan Times
3. Gayle
Storm hits Bangalore
Ask the Pune Warriors India bowlers, they will tell you what Gayle did to them when he hit the fastest ever T20 century in just 30 balls. Not only that he continued the onslaught and scored the highest ever individual score in T20’s- 175* of just 66 balls, which is still a record. 175 in a T20 match, some players dream to reach that score in 50 overs. Aaron Finch, the 3rd player to captain PWI that season, had nothing to offer to Gayle as he came on to bowl to him at one stage. However, nothing new happened. He was taken for 29 in his only over. Mitchell Marsh, Ishwar Pandey, Ali Murtuza wouldn’t have thought of this even in their nightmare. Gayle went berserk and RCB posted the highest ever total in T20’s- 263/5. PWI in their reply, couldn’t cross Gayle’s individual score, as they halted their 20 over innings at 133/9
Ask the Pune Warriors India bowlers, they will tell you what Gayle did to them when he hit the fastest ever T20 century in just 30 balls. Not only that he continued the onslaught and scored the highest ever individual score in T20’s- 175* of just 66 balls, which is still a record. 175 in a T20 match, some players dream to reach that score in 50 overs. Aaron Finch, the 3rd player to captain PWI that season, had nothing to offer to Gayle as he came on to bowl to him at one stage. However, nothing new happened. He was taken for 29 in his only over. Mitchell Marsh, Ishwar Pandey, Ali Murtuza wouldn’t have thought of this even in their nightmare. Gayle went berserk and RCB posted the highest ever total in T20’s- 263/5. PWI in their reply, couldn’t cross Gayle’s individual score, as they halted their 20 over innings at 133/9
Picture credits: www.rediff.com
2. Kumble’s
5 for 5
Anil Kumble, India’s wrist spinner known for his 10 wickets in an innings
against Pakistan had a similar thing in mind when RCB met against RR. RCB, with
the help of Rahul Dravid’s half century reached 133 in their 20 overs. RR in
their reply tottered at 28-4. Kumble came in to the attack after that and
worsened the situation for RR, as he took 5 wickets conceding just 5 runs in
3.1 overs. RR were all out for 58 and the match was won by RCB.
Picture credits: www.cricketcountry.com
1. MI win
in added time
The most successful team of the IPL, the Mumbai Indians were up against the Royals from Rajasthan, inaugural IPL winners. RR had 14 points in the bag after their penultimate match and MI had 12. It was the last match of the league before the play-offs. The equation to qualify for the RR was simple, win the match and qualify or make it difficult for the MI to qualify, as MI net run rate was much lower than that of RR. So, even if MI win, it wouldn’t have guaranteed MI’s entry in the play-offs. Rajasthan was not leaving anything of this affect their playing style as the youngsters Sanju Samson and Karun Nair scored half centuries to take their side to 189 at the end of 20 overs.
The most successful team of the IPL, the Mumbai Indians were up against the Royals from Rajasthan, inaugural IPL winners. RR had 14 points in the bag after their penultimate match and MI had 12. It was the last match of the league before the play-offs. The equation to qualify for the RR was simple, win the match and qualify or make it difficult for the MI to qualify, as MI net run rate was much lower than that of RR. So, even if MI win, it wouldn’t have guaranteed MI’s entry in the play-offs. Rajasthan was not leaving anything of this affect their playing style as the youngsters Sanju Samson and Karun Nair scored half centuries to take their side to 189 at the end of 20 overs.
Picture credits: Wisden India
190 to chase in 20 overs itself is a big
ask, but MI to edge the net run rate and qualify for the play-offs, needed that
target to be achieved in 14.3 overs. Simmons and Hussey started off blazing
before Simmons was out in the 2nd over. Hussey looked in great touch
but the target was such even a big match player like him was taken out for
22(10). And when Pollard fell in the 5th over leaving MI at 61-3,
the best of the optimistic fans also gave the hope of MI qualifying.
Picture credits: India Today
One considered to be the fail buys at the auction was Corey Anderson and he wasn’t utilized for the
money MI were paying him. But guess, who stepped on the gas that day? Guessed
it right, Corey Anderson. Don’t know what he was up to, but suddenly he found
middle of bat and the timing was perfect.
Picture credits: NDTV Sports
However, the story doesn’t end here. Anderson
needed a partner who would go at the same rate as him or better than him. Why?
Remember the target, 190 in freaking 14.3 overs. He hoped Rohit Sharma would be
the one to support him. Although, he was out after hitting a six and a four. Then
came out, Ambati Rayudu, when MI score read 108-4 in 9.2 overs. The ask was
still big. 82 runs were needed in 31 balls. Rayudu started to give blows as he
scored a 10 ball 30. The pressure on Anderson was somewhat relieved. At one
point, with the rate Anderson and Rayudu were going, the qualification target
looked possible and in grasps. However, a patch came where MI slowed down and
the target again went far from their reach. They needed 8 runs of 2 balls with
Rayudu on strike. Rayudu hit a six, and left MI needing 2 of the last ball to
qualify. They still had a 5 overs to win the match but just a ball with 2 runs
needed to qualify.
Picture credits: NDTV Sports
Rayudu mistimed his shot and was run out at the keeper’s end
trying to run the second. The MI ended their score at 189 in 14.3 overs. 1 run
less than their target. RR dugout started celebrating. However, wait a second,
there’s a twist. Net Run Rate (NRR) depends on the final score and not on the
target score. So, MI still had a chance. The commentators confirmed that MI
needed a boundary on the next ball to qualify. It was like added time in football
where a team looks to score and win the match. For the last ball, came in
Aditya Tare with just one job in hand, a boundary of his first ball. And guess
what he did? He smacked the leg side full toss above the boundary line for a
six. The entire MI dug out came out celebrating and Tare was ecstatic as he put
rolled his jersey on his face. Rajasthan Royals fell helpless as they lost the
match and the place in the play-offs.
Picture credits: www.espncricinfo.com
Corey Anderson was awarded the M-o-M award
for his absolutely breath-taking 95 off 44 balls. I have never seen such drama
in a cricket match before. It was electrifying as a MI fan it was even more of
just electrifying. It was unimaginable.
These were
my top 5 moments which left the fans astounded. I’m sure there are more.
Comment them down.
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