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As a cricket fan, there are few things more exhilarating than watching the Indian Premier League (IPL). The world’s best cricketers come together to compete in a fast-paced, action-packed tournament that always delivers drama.
Over the years, we’ve seen some truly incredible matches that have left us on the edge of our seats. From nail-biting finishes to high-scoring thrillers, the IPL has provided us with some unforgettable moments.
Here are three of the most impressive matches in the history of the IPL:
The 2014 Eliminator: Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders
In 2014, the Rajasthan Royals and the Kolkata Knight Riders faced off in the eliminator, with the winner earning a place in the IPL semi-finals.
The Royals batted first and set a total of 171, thanks to brilliant innings from Ajinkya Rahane. However, the Knight Riders were more than up to the challenge, and they started their chase with a bang.
Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir put on a record-breaking opening partnership of 121 runs, with Uthappa scoring 65 off just 42 balls.
But the Royals weren’t done yet, and they fought back to take the game down to the wire. In the end, it was Piyush Chawla who hit the winning runs for the Knight Riders, securing their place in the semi-finals and sending the Royals crashing out of the tournament.
2013 Match Between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore
The 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) final was played between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on May 26, 2013, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.
With the toss won, CSK elected to field first. Meanwhile, RCB got off to a good start, with Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli putting on a 76-run partnership for the first wicket.
However, Dwayne Bravo broke the partnership when he dismissed Gayle for 28. Kohli continued to bat well, but he was eventually dismissed for 56 by Ravindra Jadeja. RCB finished their innings on 191/4, with Suresh Raina top-scoring with 73.
CSK’s chase got off to a shaky start, with Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay both being dismissed early on. However, Suresh Raina came to the rescue and scored 48 off 21 balls, including 6 sixes. He was well supported by MS Dhoni, who scored 24 off 14 balls. With 15 runs needed off the last over, Raina hit a six off the last ball to win the match for CSK.
In the end, CSK won the match by 5 wickets, with Suresh Raina hitting a six off the last ball to win it for his team.
2013 Final: Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings
2013 was quite a year for the IPL, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that we have another 2013 match on this list.
The 2013 IPL final was a high-scoring affair, as the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings put on a show for the fans.
The Super Kings batted first and set a target of 202, thanks to a magnificent century from Michael Hussey. The Mumbai Indians responded with an incredible batting display of their own, with Dwayne Smith and Sachin Tendulkar putting on a 68-run partnership in just five overs.
However, it was Kieron Pollard who stole the show, smashing an unbeaten 60 off just 32 balls to guide Mumbai to victory.
It was a remarkable innings from Pollard, who hit four sixes in the final over to secure the win for
his team.
The Mumbai Indians lifted the trophy for the first time in their history, and it was a fitting end to a thrilling season. Without a doubt, this is also what makes Mumbai Indians a favorite of many cricket fans, and this shows on 10CRIC IPL championship odds each year.
2019 Final: Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings
There was no shortage of drama in the 2019 IPL final, and drama gets more intense with one of our favorite rivalries: Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.
Sure, the 2013 match is something many fans won’t forget, but another match between these two teams that’s also too impressive not to include on this list is the 2019 final.
In this match, Chennai Super Kings won the toss and chose to bat, setting a target of 150 for the Mumbai Indians to chase.
However, the Mumbai team struggled to get going, and they lost three wickets in the powerplay. Just when it looked like the match was slipping away from them, they were rescued by an incredible knock from Kieron Pollard.
Pollard smashed an unbeaten 41 off just 25 balls, hitting four sixes in the final over to take the Mumbai Indians to a total of 149.
Before the match ended, CSK needed just two runs to win off the last ball, but Lasith Malinga held his nerve to dismiss Shardul Thakur and secure the victory for Mumbai. It was indeed a thrilling finish to an incredible tournament and one that will be remembered for years to come.
Wrap Up
True enough, the IPL has given us some unforgettable matches over the years, and these three are just a few examples of the incredible cricket that we have witnessed.
Whether it’s a nail-biting finish or a high-scoring thriller, the IPL never fails to provide us with entertainment. Surely, all IPL fans can’t wait to see what the future holds for this incredible tournament.
