The Indian Premier League (IPL) has given us countless memorable batting performances over the course of nine seasons.
MS Dhoni’s knock of 54 off 28 balls in IPL 2010, which took the Chennai Super Kings into the semifinals, will be etched in every cricket fan’s mind forever. And who can forget the quick century by David Miller against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
As we get ready to move into the tenth edition of the IPL, here’s a look at the knocks that have left an indelible mark in the league’s history.
Adam Gilchrist – 85 off 35 Balls, IPL 2009
Australia’s star wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist was the captain of the Deccan Chargers side in the 2009 edition of the IPL. The captain produced his very best in the semi-final against Delhi Daredevils during a tricky chase of 154. On a slow Centurion wicket, Gilchrist was at his vintage best as he slashed his willow like a sword and punished all the bowlers brutally.
His scintillating 85 off just 35 balls was filled with 10 gorgeous fours and 5 huge sixes. The innings knocked the stuffing out of the Delhi side and helped the Deccan Chargers win the game with more than two overs to spare.
David Miller – 101 off 38 Balls, IPL 2013
There are aggressive knocks. Then there is this one. Kings XI Punjab required a daunting 140 runs to win from around 12 overs against Royal Challengers Bangalore when South African left-hander David Miller walked in to bat. Without much fuss and without a single change in his facial expressions, Miller carved and scythed the Bangalore bowlers to every inch of the Mohali stadium.
The sixes were colossal and the hitting was as clean as one had ever seen. Miller remained unbeaten on a sensational 101 from just 38 balls with 8 fours and 7 sixes. His knock helped Punjab clinch the game with two overs to spare.
Manvinder Bisla – 89 off 48 Balls, IPL 2012
To come up with such an exceptional performance in a high-voltage final, against the best IPL team of all time, that too while chasing, is indeed a stupendous effort. Wicketkeeper-batsman Manvinder Bisla, while opening the innings for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2014 IPL final against the Chennai Super Kings, played the innings of his life in a stiff chase of 191 on a true Chennai surface.
Bisla was more of a hit-and-miss player prior to this knock, but that night in Chennai, he was simply unstoppable as he hit boundaries and sixes with great style. Never did he look uncomfortable and went on to score a magnificent 89 off 48 balls with 8 fours and 5 sixes that won the IPL title for Kolkata.
Suresh Raina – 87 off 25 Balls, IPL 2014
It is rather unfortunate that an innings of such high caliber did not turn out to be a match-winning one. Regardless, Suresh Raina’s 87 off 25 balls was a whirlwind of an effort that gave the Kings XI Punjab a real scare in the second qualifier of IPL 2014 at Mumbai.
Chasing an intimidating target of 227, the left-handed Raina of Chennai Super Kings ignited his team’s hopes as he launched a stunning onslaught on the Punjab bowlers and took the score to 100 in just 6 overs.
Raina was literally murdering every single delivery and would have taken Chennai home had he not been run-out. He cracked 12 fours and 6 sixes and had a phenomenal strike rate of 348. Unfortunately, Chennai fell short by 24 runs in the end despite this astounding effort.
MS Dhoni – 54 off 29 Balls, IPL 2010
The image of Mahendra Singh Dhoni punching his jaw after crunching two sixes off Irfan Pathan to take Chennai Super Kings to the IPL 2010 semifinals will go down as one of the defining moments of the league. Chennai had a topsy-turvy season that year and needed to win their last league match against Kings XI Punjab at Dharamsala to qualify for the last four.
Chasing a formidable 193 for victory, it was Dhoni’s fabulous late innings burst which helped them overhaul the target with two balls to spare. The Chennai captain was calculative in his approach and kept hitting boundaries regularly. Dhoni’s unbeaten 54 off 29 balls included 5 boundaries and two towering sixes.
Dhoni has played several counter-attacking innings in his life, but this one shall always be cherished as one of the most exhilarating.
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