IPL, aka the Indian Premier League, is one of the most renowned and fascinating cricketing leagues not just in India but all around the globe. With players shedding their sweat on and off the pitch, the tournament has been generating attention-worthy moments for over 14 years now. That’s why we thought of presenting our readers with 10 of the best IPL moments.
In the following write-up, you’ll encounter the IPL moments that didn’t even fall an inch short in offering limitless delight to all the cricketing fans.
Table of Contents
1. The Highest Ever Run Chase
- What: Highest Run Chase in IPL
- Who: Rajasthan Royals
- When: September 27, 2020
Let’s kick off our list of the best IPL moments with the highest ever run chase the tournament has ever witnessed. Dated on 27th September 2020 when Sharjah went into the history book for hosting the best IPL match, at least when the number of runs scored is considered. Batting first, thanks to Mayank Agarwal’s impressive 50-balls 106 and KL Rahul’s 69, Kings XI Punjab set a scintillating target of 223. Chasing 224 is never an easy task, and Rajasthan Royals made sure they played the best out of them.
Although RR didn’t have the most pleasant of losing Butler in the third over, Australia’s Steve Smith and India’s Sanju Samson kept the fight going and the match alive. Rahul Tewatia’s 31-balls 53 also had a significant role to play, but at the end, hitting two consecutive sixes, Jorfa Archer sealed victory for the team.
No doubt, chasing 224 is a feat in itself, but the fact that the run chase was concluded even three balls before the 20-over quota makes it even more remarkable. Nearly 450 runs in 40 overs; we don’t see that happen often, do we?
2. Kieron Pollard Going All Shut
- What: Pollard Putting Tape on His Mouth
- Who: Kieron Pollard (MI)
- When: May 24, 2015
Caribbean crickets are known for their characters on-field. No matter if you talk about the legends like Viv Richards, Michael Holding, or the modern-day superstars DJ Bravo, Chris Gayle, and more, everyone has their own set of traits to fill up the game with thrills and chills and fun alike. The Indian Premier League isn’t far away from that aura.
Whenever there is a Caribbean player on the field, 9 out of 10 times, you can expect to encounter a “get out of your seat” moment. So what can you anticipate when there are two going head to head? That brings us to the 8th season of IPL, where a match between RCB and MI is still remembered to bag one of the IPL funny moments.
Defending 210, Mumbai Indians’ star all-rounder Kieron Pollard attempted to slip under the skin of the Universe Boss Chris Gayle by exchanging a few words. Now that’s something you can’t expect the officials to take sportingly, which is exactly what happened. The umpires warned Pollard and instructed him to maintain a healthy distance from such activities.
Reacting to that, Pollard made it to the field, putting a tape on his mouth. Interestingly even when he needed to talk to his teammates, he simply peeled one edge before sticking it back again. It is still registered as the IPL best match when funny instances are considered.
3. The Perfect Curtain Raiser
- What: Splendid Batting Display on the Inaugural IPL Match, McCullum Scoring 158
- Who: Brendon McCullum (KKR)
- When: April 18, 2008
No doubt Chris Gayle’s unbeaten 175 runs is still the highest individual score in the history of IPL, and oh boy, that was some innings, the one that follows next marks more specialty. We’re talking about Brendon McCullum’s 158 runs in 73 balls. The fact that it makes it to our list of the best IPL matches or moments, in particular, is that it was the very first IPL match ever played.
18th April 2008, and the Indian Premier League was already off to a flying start. Batting first, Kolkata Knight Riders ended up putting 222 runs on the scoreboard. It was a one-person show as the kiwi wicket-keeper batsman made the RCB bowlers suffer. They say the importance of first impressions is impeccable, and rightly so. Since then, there has been no looking back, and after more than 14 years this superb all-around display still bags the same hype.
4. Batsman’s Graveyard
- What: Lowest Team Score in IPL
- Who: Royal Challengers Bangalore
- When: April 23, 2017
Having talked about one of the best IPL matches, especially for the batting department, let’s walk through one that featured an all-out performance from the bowlers. Speaking of the lowest team totals in the history of IPL, RCB leads the tally. During a match against Kolkata Knight Riders, RCB stumbled as they were restricted by their opponent’s bowling for just 49.
Being able to restrict the entire team within 10 overs, it won’t be a wrong decision to crown the KKR bowlers on that very day with the IPL best match bowling award. To name the personnel behind, we’ve got the likes of Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Woakes, and Colin de Grandhomme, who bagged 3 wickets each. India’s front-line pacer, Umesh Yadav, completed the math with his 1 for 15 in 3 overs.
So if you’ve got a special affinity for bowlers, this very match must already be among the best IPL moments.
5. The Real Nail Biting Qualification
- What: Nail Biting Playoff Qualification with Aditya Tare’s 6 off the last ball
- Who: Aditya Tare (MI)
- When: May 25, 2014
We, the IPL fans, already know about the last ball finishes that almost every other match packs. Consider the recent encounter between Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings, for instance. Requiring 12 off the last 2, the scenes were less probable for the Titans to win. However, Tewatia had a different plan as he hit two consecutive balls from Smith out of the park and ensured his team ended up on the winning end. However, it is nothing compared to how the final league match of season 2014 unfolded.
Drawing back to the ever-popular net run rate scene, Mumbai Indians needed more than a win against Rajasthan Royals to book a place in the playoffs. Batting first, RR scored 189; now, the statisticians wanted the target to be chased within 14.3 overs for MI to qualify.
Thankfully Corey Anderson got some form, and his 95 off 44 brought the team close. But that was not the factor that marked the very match to end up as one of the IPL best moments. While wickets stumbled from both ends, Aditya Tare came into the crease. The first ball he faced bagged the requirement of 6 runs, and he delivered. Smashing James Faulkner’s full toss for a six over square leg, the Royals were left with broken hearts.
56th match of the league and an end like this. Do you think the thrills can get any better? Not just Aditya Tare’s 6, but James Faulkner slower ball also started getting popular, but for different reasons.
6. Once in a Lifetime
- What: Adam Gilchrist’s First-Ever Delivery in T20s
- Who: Adam Gilchrist (KXIP)
- When: May 18, 2013
Australia’s destructive wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist is no stranger to anyone. Although there were instances when his ruthless run-scoring approach broke the heart of the opposition many times, he has also been a part of heartwarming moments. The most gladdening beat came in his last IPL appearance.
Representing Kings XI Punjab, he decided to take the keeping gloves off and try bowling some spin to the last batting pair standing on the field. The very first ball and he was successful in coaxing Harbhajan Singh into a slog. Of course, it wasn’t the worst batting performance but even one of the most memorable moments. Sealing the match, Gilly bid goodbye to the world of cricket in style. Talking about records, though, Gilchrist indisputably bags the best record of any bowler in any format.
It is indeed one of the best IPL match moments worth reliving again and again.
7. The Dream Combination
- What: Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting Teaming to Face Muttiah Muralitharan
- Who: Sachin Tendulkar (MI), Ricky Ponting (MI), Muttiah Muralitharan (RCB)
- When: April 4, 2013
Driving back to 4th April 2013, when Mumbai Indians were set for a fight against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Talking about fantasy combinations, there was a moment in the match when Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting were paired up, and Muttiah Muralitharan was ready to deliver his off-break. A tally of 171 international hundreds competing against 1,347 international wickets is like a dream come true for many cricket fans all around the globe.
Yes, world cup doubleheaders and contests between bat and bowl are exciting, but witnessing such dream combinations is only possible, all thanks to IPL.
8. Clash of the Proteas Titans
- What: AB de Villiers facing Dale Steyn in the Death Overs
- Who: AB de Villiers (RCB) Dale Steyn (DC)
- When: May 6, 2012
Ever since the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Deccan Chargers was drawn for the 5th season of IPL, fans started anticipating how the clash between the two proteas would end up. Thankfully it turned up similar to how everyone wished it to be.
The match came down to the situation with RCB requiring 39 off the last three overs. Having Dale Steyn bowl two of the three, the task seemed heavy for the batting side. ABD, however, made sure to counter Steyn’s fury and come out victorious.
That’s the beauty of IPL. Although called the Indian Premier League, you can expect players from all around the globe to make it to the list of the best IPL moments.
9. The Funny Rain-Chase
- What: Gayle Chasing Yuvraj with His Bat
- Who: Chris Gayle (RCB) Yuvraj Singh (DD)
- When: May 17, 2015
The magnificence of IPL isn’t limited to the effort players put in for their team’s cause; instead, it extends to the emotional state as well. During a rain-affected match between Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2015, Yuvraj Singh and Chris Gayle suddenly got involved in a captivating action.
As the rain started to pour down and all the players were making their way towards the pavilion, Yuvraj Singh pushed Chris Gayle in a friendly manner. The Universe Boss then started chasing Yuvi with his bat. It was indeed among the best IPL moments that brought charm to the crowd, who were somewhat disappointed because of the rain.
Scenes like this in professional cricket are special and always will be.
10. The First-Ever IPL Final
- What: The First-Ever IPL Final
- Who: Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings
- When: June 1, 2008
We have seen many IPL finals, but the taste of the first is always special. No harm to consider the match between Shane Warne led Rajasthan Royals and MS Dhoni’s CSK as the best IPL match ever. Batting first, the Super Kings ended their 20 overs scoring 163 runs. The Royals, however, successfully concluded the chase after a series of nail-biting instances when Sohail Tanvir scored the winning single that too off the very last ball.
Conclusion
There you have it, the best IPL moments worth reliving. Limiting the list to 10 is a bit unfair considering the actual existing number. However, there is always a best among the best, and we’ve tried to scrap exactly those.
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