There have been many critics of the IPL and the slam-bam variety of cricket played. However, all and sundry will agree that the IPL never fails to throw up entertainment and excitement at the drop of a hat. Last-ball finishes, breath-taking catches and run outs, hat-tricks and plethora of sixes add to the constant thrill of the spectator. One has to literally sit with the heart on the sleeve never-knowing what to expect.
The IPL this year is just 17 matches old, but even then it has already produced its fair share of excitement. Already there have been four last-ball finishes. In the past also there have been occasions when the fate of a game has been decided on the last ball, but not in the same frequency as it has happened in the current edition of the tournament.
It all started with Rinku Singh’s five successive sixes against Yash Dayal. The miraculous feat enabled KKR hand Gujarat Titans (GT) their first defeat of season. Then the very next day Lucknow Supergiants (LSG) held their nerves to pip Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by one wicket… again off the last ball.
In the very next game played Tuesday, Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians (MI) came up against Delhi Capitals (DC). Here again the match was decided off the last ball with Tim David scrambling home for the second run off the last ball. Wednesday, it was another last-ball finish with Sandeep Sharma of Rajasthan Royals (RR) preventing MS Dhoni of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) from hitting a six to help his team the game win by three runs. The excitement this season has been non-stop and at times nerve-wracking too for fans of any particular team.
Here’s a look at some of the exciting last ball or last over finishes
Rising Pune Supergiants vs Kings XI Punjab (2016)
It was the year when CSK were sidelined with a ban. MS Dhoni and company were playing for Pune. The game was played at a time when they were more or less out of the tournament. To get 23 runs of the last over was indeed a steep ask, but then who would question Dhoni’s ‘finisher’ tag. Axar Patel, bowling the 20th over was expected to defend the total, but here’s the sequence of the deliveries he bowled…. 6, 0, WB, 6, 0, 6, 6. In between, a dog which had entered the field, refused to leave, but could not affect Dhoni’s concentration.
Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders (2011)
After KKR had scored 175 for 7, MI were 155 for 9 in the 19th over needing 21 runs to win. L Balaji came on to bowl the 20th over. Kiwi batter James Franklin hit Balaji for four successive fours and then took a single on the fifth ball of the over. It meant Ambati Rayadu had four to get off the last ball. Rayadu obliged hitting Balaji for a six over square- leg to script a memorable win against the Knights at Eden Gardens.
Mumbai Indians vs Rising Pune Supergiants 2017
It was the IPL final and when MI could only manage 129 for 8 all hope was lost. Nobody even gave them an iota of a chance. RPS looked coasting to victory with Steve Smith and Dhoni at the crease. However, after Dhoni’s dismissal, MI pulled things back bringing down the equation to 11 off six deliveries. Mitchell Johnson bowled the 20th over. Manoj Tiwary hit him for a four off the first ball before handing a catch to Kieron Pollard off the next. The well-set Smith was out off the next ball as RPS needed seven off three. Daniel Christian and Washington Sundar stole a bye before running two. With four needed off the last ball, Christian and Sundar ran two, but the latter got run out while taking the third as MI completed a famous one-run win.
Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings (2019)
Again the final and again it was MI’s turn to celebrate. Usually it is the batters who turn heroes in the IPL, but in this final MI’s Lasith Malinga turned from zero to hero in a matter of six deliveries. Having conceded 42 in his first three overs, Malinga came on to bowl the 20th over with CSK needing nine for a win. Malinga conceded just seven runs in his over to script a fourth title win for MI. Watson who held the CSK innings together with a magical innings of 89 was run out while Malinga bowled some magnificent yorkers to leave the ground on the shoulders of his teammates.