Coronavirus can condemn us all from traveling outdoors, but who can stop the memory train from taking a trip? We at Sportzian decided you take a trip down the memory lane! As part of a series of articles, we decided that we will, along with you revisit most iconic IPL moments! Now, All aboard the memory train, let us travel deep to rediscover 5 forgotten yet epic encounters in IPL History.
5. Kings XI Punjab vs Rising Pune Supergiant, 2016
This was the last league match of the 2016 season, a tournament that had not gone well for either team. This was the first time in IPL history, a team led by MS Dhoni had failed to qualify for the playoff in 9 years. Both the teams started the game at the bottom of the points table and the loser of the game was to end the year in the last position.
Pune was chasing Punjab’s score and it boiled down to the last two balls where 12 runs were needed. Only two sixes off the last 2 balls could win Pune the game. Then the fairy-tale began. Axar Patel’s last two balls were dispatched beyond the ropes by MS Dhoni for two sixes and Pune clinched 7th place from the jaws of the wooden spoon
4 . Delhi Daredevils vs Chennai Super Kings, 2008
This was an epic high scoring battle back in 2008, where Shikhar Dhawan made a mark in Indian T20 cricket. CSK was chasing a mammoth 188 but useful contributions throughout their batting order kept the team in the hunt.
In the last over, 15 runs were required when an unlikely star Manpreet Gony smashed a six and a four off Shoaib Malik. CSK needed 1 run off the last two balls with Badrinath on strike, who kept a dot and then looped the last ball in the air. Dhawan almost pulled off a spectacular catch at deep mid-wicket but dropped it, allowing CSK to clinch a humdinger.
3. Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians, 2011
KKR needed to win this game to qualify in the top two places of the table and meet RCB in the Qualifier 1. They almost had the game in the bag when MI needed 21 runs off the last over. However, James Franklin battered
L Balaji for 4 boundaries in the first 4 balls of the last over. With 4 needed off the last ball, Rayudu heaved Balaji over the ropes to condemn KKR to fourth place. MI sealed the 3rd place and went on to beat KKR in the Eliminator that year.
After this match, KKR captain Gautam Gambhir said that Balaji would come back stronger. Balaji was in red hot form in the subsequent season when KKR won the title in 2012. An injury kept Balaji from playing the 2012’s final where KKR beat CSK and Gambhir dedicated that win for Balaji. What a way to rise from the ashes!
2. Delhi Daredevils vs Rajasthan Royals, 2012
A chasing team generally doesn’t lose when it needs to get 54 runs from 43 balls with 10 wickets in hand. However, some teams are what we call the chokers. Rajasthan was cruising while chasing a modest 153 for victory. Rahane was in sublime form in this game. However, when just 15 runs were needed off 12 balls, Morne Morkel produced an outstanding 19thover, conceding just 3 runs off it.
When 12 runs were needed off the last over, Rahane kept his cool and brought the equation to 2 of 1. However, he missed the last ball from Umesh Yadav and the non-striker Owais Shah could not complete the bye run, handing Delhi an improbable victory.
1. Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals, 2009
Ok, 15 from 12 is not that easy. How about 4 from 6? Gettable? Even gettable when Munaf Patel is the bowler? No!
In this forgotten yet epic encounter, MI needed just 4 off the last over bowled by Munaf Patel with 3 wickets in hand. Panic set in the MI camp as they couldn’t connect the ball with the bat properly. This resulted in a bowled and two run-outs in the span of 4 balls. MI lost all 10 wickets and was 2 runs short of the target and Rajasthan Royals won a game they thought they had lost 6 balls ago.
About the Author
The post is written by Vignesh . Vignesh is graduate from IIM Visakhapatnam who loves to watch Football and Cricket. He is a huge fan of CSK, Chelsea FC and Chennaiyin FC. He follows Tennis and Kabaddi as well and is an ardent supporter of Roger Federer
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