That was yet another entertaining season. And, once again it was CSK in the finals and MI clinching the title by 1 run of the very last ball to become the most successful IPL team in the history with 4 titles and also completing a 4-0 whitewash against CSK this year.
Yeah, this year I didn't support RCB and just like last year they played very poorly and couldn't even figure out their best X1 till the end and finally crashed out without even making it to the playoffs. (And, I copied this from my last year's post, except the didn't)
And, the runners CSK, they just couldn't figure out a way to win against MI and they lost to them 4 times. (And, I copied this also from my last year's post, except CSK was at the receiving end this year)
Here are some of the memorable moments from this IPL.
This time CSK didn't start with a thriller like they usually do, but with an easy win over RCB. It was the worst start for RCB getting all out for 70.
And, this year marks the comeback of Warner after his ban and he was phenomenal throughout the season winning the orange cap eventually. And, he started with an excellent half-century, but it was Dre Rus who stole the show with his excellent 49 off 19 to win it for KKR.
Delhi with a new name and coach were a revelation of this IPL. From finishing at the bottom last year to third this year was phenomenal. And, they started with a win in their first match against MI, the freak Rishab Pant scored 78 off just 27, even Bumrah couldn't stop him. And, there was a glimpse of old Yuvi, he scored a 53 off 35, but he couldn't continue eventually.
The first controversy of this IPL was during KX1 vs RR. RR was cruising towards a victory with Buttler going great guns and then Ashwin Mankads him and RR collapsed during the chase after Gayle's 79 of 47. And, then begin the spirit-of-cricket vs thats-the-law debates. He was well within the law to do it, but I felt he paused a little longer.
Dre Rus at it again, this time KKR was batting first against KX1 and Russel got lucky to be bowled off a no-ball from Shami very early of his innings and he finished with another 48 off 17 balls. And, he comes back and picked two wickets as well.
Another heartbreak for RCB, this time against MI. VK and ABD were going great guns in the chase and they lose it in the last delivery when ABD couldn't clear Malinga for a six. But, the controversy of this match was it was a no-ball and the umpire didn't spot it. And, if it was given a no-ball and if they managed to win this, they would have been in the playoffs.
Dre Rus again 62 off 28 with six sixes, but DC chased it almost comfortably with Shaw's 99, but collapsed towards the end and ended in a tie which gave us the first super over of this IPL. And, Rabada with a ball of this IPL took Russel with an outstanding yorker and DC won it eventually.
Warner and Bairstow continued their dominance against RCB by both scoring the century against RCB, chasing the 200+ they fell short by one run compared to Bairstow's score of 114, RCB all out for 113.
CSK once against started poor 27/3, but ended with 175 thanks to Dhoni's vintage 75* where he finished the innings with three consecutive sixes off last three deliveries. RR almost chased, but Bravo bowled brilliantly in the death and sealed the match.
DC's freakish collapse triggered by Pant while chasing 166 against KX1, thanks to Sam Curran's hat-trick they lost seven wickets for eight runs. It was unbelievable from 144 for 3 chasing 167 to 152 all out.
RCB did score a 200+ against KKR, but they couldn't defend it thanks to Dre Rus again for his another 48 off just 13 balls which included seven sixes. He was a monster.
Alazari Joseph of WI had a dream debut for MI against SRH, he finished with six wickets for just twelve runs and SRH all out for 96 chasing a modest 136.
Pollard stepped in a captain when Rohit got injured and with the help of KL's 100 and Gayle's 63 KX1 scored 197. And, Pollard took the match single-handedly scoring 83 off 31, which is for the best innings of this IPL. But, it was a thriller when Pollard got out, but Alzari Joseph's calm head got MI through the line.
Dhoni and Rayudu pull off a chase against RR, but another controversy of this IPL when Dhoni storms into the pitch to argue with the umpires regarding a decision on no-ball. Which was not the typical Dhoni we know and I didn't like it as well. Santner finished with a Six to win it off the last ball after Jadeja hit a six while falling down.
After six consecutive losses against six teams, RCB broke their curse against KX1, eventually winning their seventh match.
Another CSK classic thriller, with 26 needed off last over Dhoni did score 24 off Umesh, but couldn't connect the last ball and RCB won by 1 run. Dhoni almost pulled off this single-handedly scoring 84* off 48, third best innings of this IPL.
Ashton Turner finally scored his first run against SRH after three consecutive golden ducks this IPL.
KKR scored 200 thanks to Dre Rus 80 off 40 balls in a must-win game against MI. But, MI almost pulled off thanks to free-flowing Hardik scored 94 off 34 balls. He was simply unbelievable, the second best innings of this IPL.
RCB never fails to entertain even in a five-over game. After starting with 23 runs off the first over, they almost tried to get all out with Shreyas Gopal getting a hattrick and ended with 62 for 7. Then,
RR almost chased it thanks to the rain which saved RCB.
Manish Pandey who came to form after Warner and Bairstow left pulled of a chase against MI, but ended in another super over. But, Hardik almost made it effortless in the super over.
Heitmeyer finally comes to form towards the end and Umesh with two boundaries off the last over to win it against SRH. Hope to more of Heitmeyer in the coming years.
KKR, especially Uthappa wasted their opportunity against MI to reach the playoffs and helped SRH to be the first team to reach the playoffs with 12 points, just one point more than the RCB which was at last position.
DC reached playoffs after a long time and they won the first eliminator against SRH, but once again Pant almost triggered a collapse after taking them too close. But, they managed to win with one ball remaining. Heartbreaking for SRH and Kane, but it was going for Thampi over Khaleel cost them badly where Pant scored 22 runs.
Finals, once again a CSK thriller went down to the wire and lost by 1 run of the final delivery. Watson just like last year final he played another brilliant inning with a lot of luck. Rohit's trust of Malinga and Bumrah's gun overs at death won the fourth title for MI. But, some CSK fans - that is not a run out = that's not a no-ball like Bangladesh fans from 2015 WC.
My Best X1 of this IPL: Few of them were part of last year as well.
David Warner - SRH ✈️
KL Rahul - KX1
Subhman Gill - KKR
Rishab Pant - DC
M S Dhoni - CSK
Andre Russel - KKR ✈️
Hardik Pandya - MI
Shreyas Gopal - RR
Imran Thahir - CSK ✈️
Jasprit Bumrah - MI
Kagiso Rabada - DC ✈️
Rahul Chahar - MI (12th Man) Couldn't leave him.
This year CSK's batting was totally dependent on Dhoni's, but at least Thahir, Bhajji, Chahar chipped in the bowling department. And, Thahir was outstanding winning the purple cap as well, but more famous for his celebration. It would be interesting to see whether Raina, Rayudu, Jhadav, Watson continue to play next year. And, also looking forward to the changes in RCB as well.
Yeah, this year I didn't support RCB and just like last year they played very poorly and couldn't even figure out their best X1 till the end and finally crashed out without even making it to the playoffs. (And, I copied this from my last year's post, except the didn't)
And, the runners CSK, they just couldn't figure out a way to win against MI and they lost to them 4 times. (And, I copied this also from my last year's post, except CSK was at the receiving end this year)
Here are some of the memorable moments from this IPL.
This time CSK didn't start with a thriller like they usually do, but with an easy win over RCB. It was the worst start for RCB getting all out for 70.
And, this year marks the comeback of Warner after his ban and he was phenomenal throughout the season winning the orange cap eventually. And, he started with an excellent half-century, but it was Dre Rus who stole the show with his excellent 49 off 19 to win it for KKR.
Delhi with a new name and coach were a revelation of this IPL. From finishing at the bottom last year to third this year was phenomenal. And, they started with a win in their first match against MI, the freak Rishab Pant scored 78 off just 27, even Bumrah couldn't stop him. And, there was a glimpse of old Yuvi, he scored a 53 off 35, but he couldn't continue eventually.
The first controversy of this IPL was during KX1 vs RR. RR was cruising towards a victory with Buttler going great guns and then Ashwin Mankads him and RR collapsed during the chase after Gayle's 79 of 47. And, then begin the spirit-of-cricket vs thats-the-law debates. He was well within the law to do it, but I felt he paused a little longer.
Dre Rus at it again, this time KKR was batting first against KX1 and Russel got lucky to be bowled off a no-ball from Shami very early of his innings and he finished with another 48 off 17 balls. And, he comes back and picked two wickets as well.
Another heartbreak for RCB, this time against MI. VK and ABD were going great guns in the chase and they lose it in the last delivery when ABD couldn't clear Malinga for a six. But, the controversy of this match was it was a no-ball and the umpire didn't spot it. And, if it was given a no-ball and if they managed to win this, they would have been in the playoffs.
Dre Rus again 62 off 28 with six sixes, but DC chased it almost comfortably with Shaw's 99, but collapsed towards the end and ended in a tie which gave us the first super over of this IPL. And, Rabada with a ball of this IPL took Russel with an outstanding yorker and DC won it eventually.
Warner and Bairstow continued their dominance against RCB by both scoring the century against RCB, chasing the 200+ they fell short by one run compared to Bairstow's score of 114, RCB all out for 113.
CSK once against started poor 27/3, but ended with 175 thanks to Dhoni's vintage 75* where he finished the innings with three consecutive sixes off last three deliveries. RR almost chased, but Bravo bowled brilliantly in the death and sealed the match.
DC's freakish collapse triggered by Pant while chasing 166 against KX1, thanks to Sam Curran's hat-trick they lost seven wickets for eight runs. It was unbelievable from 144 for 3 chasing 167 to 152 all out.
RCB did score a 200+ against KKR, but they couldn't defend it thanks to Dre Rus again for his another 48 off just 13 balls which included seven sixes. He was a monster.
Alazari Joseph of WI had a dream debut for MI against SRH, he finished with six wickets for just twelve runs and SRH all out for 96 chasing a modest 136.
Pollard stepped in a captain when Rohit got injured and with the help of KL's 100 and Gayle's 63 KX1 scored 197. And, Pollard took the match single-handedly scoring 83 off 31, which is for the best innings of this IPL. But, it was a thriller when Pollard got out, but Alzari Joseph's calm head got MI through the line.
Dhoni and Rayudu pull off a chase against RR, but another controversy of this IPL when Dhoni storms into the pitch to argue with the umpires regarding a decision on no-ball. Which was not the typical Dhoni we know and I didn't like it as well. Santner finished with a Six to win it off the last ball after Jadeja hit a six while falling down.
After six consecutive losses against six teams, RCB broke their curse against KX1, eventually winning their seventh match.
Another CSK classic thriller, with 26 needed off last over Dhoni did score 24 off Umesh, but couldn't connect the last ball and RCB won by 1 run. Dhoni almost pulled off this single-handedly scoring 84* off 48, third best innings of this IPL.
Ashton Turner finally scored his first run against SRH after three consecutive golden ducks this IPL.
KKR scored 200 thanks to Dre Rus 80 off 40 balls in a must-win game against MI. But, MI almost pulled off thanks to free-flowing Hardik scored 94 off 34 balls. He was simply unbelievable, the second best innings of this IPL.
RCB never fails to entertain even in a five-over game. After starting with 23 runs off the first over, they almost tried to get all out with Shreyas Gopal getting a hattrick and ended with 62 for 7. Then,
RR almost chased it thanks to the rain which saved RCB.
Manish Pandey who came to form after Warner and Bairstow left pulled of a chase against MI, but ended in another super over. But, Hardik almost made it effortless in the super over.
Heitmeyer finally comes to form towards the end and Umesh with two boundaries off the last over to win it against SRH. Hope to more of Heitmeyer in the coming years.
KKR, especially Uthappa wasted their opportunity against MI to reach the playoffs and helped SRH to be the first team to reach the playoffs with 12 points, just one point more than the RCB which was at last position.
DC reached playoffs after a long time and they won the first eliminator against SRH, but once again Pant almost triggered a collapse after taking them too close. But, they managed to win with one ball remaining. Heartbreaking for SRH and Kane, but it was going for Thampi over Khaleel cost them badly where Pant scored 22 runs.
Finals, once again a CSK thriller went down to the wire and lost by 1 run of the final delivery. Watson just like last year final he played another brilliant inning with a lot of luck. Rohit's trust of Malinga and Bumrah's gun overs at death won the fourth title for MI. But, some CSK fans - that is not a run out = that's not a no-ball like Bangladesh fans from 2015 WC.
My Best X1 of this IPL: Few of them were part of last year as well.
David Warner - SRH ✈️
KL Rahul - KX1
Subhman Gill - KKR
Rishab Pant - DC
M S Dhoni - CSK
Andre Russel - KKR ✈️
Hardik Pandya - MI
Shreyas Gopal - RR
Imran Thahir - CSK ✈️
Jasprit Bumrah - MI
Kagiso Rabada - DC ✈️
Rahul Chahar - MI (12th Man) Couldn't leave him.
This year CSK's batting was totally dependent on Dhoni's, but at least Thahir, Bhajji, Chahar chipped in the bowling department. And, Thahir was outstanding winning the purple cap as well, but more famous for his celebration. It would be interesting to see whether Raina, Rayudu, Jhadav, Watson continue to play next year. And, also looking forward to the changes in RCB as well.
