Remembering The Best IPL Finals Of All Time

Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians have already booked their place in the IPL finals 2019, contending for a record fourth IPL title. They will face the Chennai Super Kings in the finals who defeated the Delhi Capitals in the qualifier 2 of the IPL 2019.

Mumbai Indians have had a four-day break to rest and refresh their minds after a highly pressurised season. While it will be a bit hectic for the MS Dhoni-led side as they will get only one day break after the qualifier 2.

The IPL finals at Hyderabad might favour MI, as they have the experience and a stronger team to conquer the title. But over the years, the IPL finals have always come out with surprises. The predictions about the winner are mostly erroneous. While all the IPL finals have been the most entertaining ones but let’s take a look at the best of the best IPL finals.

IPL Finals 2008: Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals

The first final of the Indian Premier League in 2008 was a match between the two mastermind captain, MS Dhoni, and Shane Warne. The finals would be remembered by every cricket fan as it was one of the most entertaining finals of league.

The match was played in Mumbai, where CSK choose to bat first. Their innings was slowly progressing till Suresh Raina came in to boost the innings with a 43 runs knock in 30 balls. In the end, Parthiv Patel and MS Dhoni played a quick cameo to take the final score to 163. It was the part-timer Yusuf Pathan who did the magic with the ball, taking 3 wickets with an economy of 5.5.

The Royals had a very ordinary start, losing 3 wickets for 42 runs. But it was again Yusuf Pathan who stepped up for his team at the crucial moment of the match. She added 65 runs with Shane Watson and 32 runs with Mohammad Kaif. He scored 56 off 39 balls.

Pathan couldn’t hold his wicket and got out before the dismissals of Ravindra Jadeja and Kaif. But Sohail Tanveer along with captain Shane Warne won a thriller match in the last ball. Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural season of IPL.

IPL Finals 2014: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab

KKR was facing the inexperienced KXIP in the finals of the IPL 2014. But KXIP was having the best of the season, being the table toppers with some impressive performances helped them to reach the finals of the tournament. While KKR had been to the finals before and had the experience of being at the bigger stages of the event.

Batting first, KXIP did not have a good start as Sehwag and Bailey fall out shortly as the scoreboard read 30 for 2. But Wriddhiman Saha and Manan Vohra added 129 runs in 12 overs for the third wicket. Saha played an incredible knock of 115 runs in 55 balls at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Saha’s unbeatable knock helped his team to put a competitive total of 199.

KKR was ready to chase the big target on a batting track in Bangalore. But anything near 200 is always tricky. Kolkata was lost their best batsman Robin Uthappa in the first over. But this time Manish Pandey took the responsibility to progress the innings along with captain Gambhir. Pandey added 53 runs with Gambhir and another 71 with Yusuf Pathan. But KKR lost a streak of wickets after losing Pandey and Pathan, they lost Shakib Al Hasan and Ryan ten Doeschate very quickly.

Pandey lost his wicket when his team needed 21 just off 18 balls. But the match took a turning point when KKR lost their 7th wicket, Suryakumar Yadav. Piyush Chawla walked in when his team needed 13 off 10. It looked like the match will go up to the last ball but Chawla had other plans. He smashed 13 runs in 5-balls and winning the match for his team with 3 balls to spare. KKR became only the second team after CSK to win the IPL twice.

IPL Finals 2012: Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders

The finals played between KKR and CSK is remembered to be the best IPL finals of all time. Two of the best sides of IPL faced each other for the first time at the finals stages. On one side was Gautam Gambhir, who made one of the most balanced teams in the history of IPL. While on the other side was the most successful captain and a mastermind of the sport, MS Dhoni. The match was fully packed with entertainment and some good quality cricket.

In one of the most memorable IPL finals, CSK batted first and put a mountainous score of 190 on the board. The Knight Riders’ bowlers were tested as only Rajat Bhatia gave under eight runs per over. Michael Hussey set up the platform for CSK, scoring a half-century. But it was Suresh Raina who changed the gears for CSK. Raina scored 73 off just 38 balls, shifting the momentum on their side.

Kolkata started poorly as they lost the skipper in the first over. But Manvinder Bisla turned out to be the unlikely hero for the Knight Riders. He smashed five sixes and eight fours to score 89 runs off just 48 balls. Jacques Kallis also joined Bisla to score 136 runs for the second wicket.

However, KKR lost Bisla when they needed 52 off 32 balls. KKR was taken to the back seat as they lost Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Yusuf Pathan in quick succession. Kallis waiting on the other side also lost his wicket in a soft dismissal. He scored 69 runs off 49 balls. The match was in the favour of CSK as Kolkata required 16 runs in the last 7.  But here’s come the turning point, Hilfenhaus stepped out in the last ball when Shakib got out, KKR managed to run two and hit a four on the extra delivery which was a free hit. The mistake cost 7 extra runs to CSK with only 9 required for KKR in the last over. Manoj Tiwari took the responsibility to take KKR on the winning side as he smashed two boundaries to Dwayne Bravo. With this victory, KKR won their maiden IPL title.