Season after season, players have produced stunning performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Over the course of the 12 seasons, there have been multiple instances of some world-class players stepping up to the challenge and producing specials. Be it with the bat or ball, the IPL sees a few top-class performances every season. There have been a lot of special knocks in the last 12 years. Right from Brendon McCullum’s 158 in the very first game in the history of the IPL to the multiple Gayle Storms to David Warner’s fine display in 2019, there have been plenty of such knocks. However, here we look at five top knocks from the IPL history but only among the current cricketers.
#1 Chris Gayle – 175 not out vs Pune Warriors India (2013)
There’s absolutely no doubt that this knock has to be at the top of the tree. There was no hiding for the bowlers that day as Chris Gayle came out all guns blazing and just blew away the Pune Warriors India (PWI) in no time. The Universe Boss smashed most batting records during that knock. It was just raining fours and sixes at the Chinnaswamy.
Gayle smashed a hundred in a mere 30 balls before he went on to register the highest-ever score in T20 cricket history – 175. The Jamaican opener smoked 13 fours and 17 sixes in his 66-ball knock. Every bowler that came into the attack travelled the distance. It was a stunning display of brute power and hitting ability. That 175 will certainly go down not only as one of the best knocks in the history of the IPL but also in the history of T20 cricket.
#2 Virat Kohli – 113 vs Kings XI Punjab (2016)
2016 was just Virat Kohli’s year. Everything he touched turned into gold. Before that IPL season, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper did not have a single ton in T20 cricket and he got four that season. And his fourth ton came in remarkable fashion. RCB were playing KXIP in a must-win game towards the fag end of the group stages in 2016. Rain played spoilsport and reduced the game to 15-overs-a-side.
RCB were sent into bat and Gayle got off to a flier. But Kohli was not too far behind. He kept up with the pace and kept going at the other end. He played shots all around the ground and treated the Chinnaswamy crowd to a manic and a splendid batting display as he got a ton inside 14 overs. He scored 113 off 50 balls to propel RCB to 211 in 15 overs which they comfortably defended.
#3 David Warner – 93 not out vs Gujarat Lions (2016)
The 2016 season is remembered for Virat Kohli’s staggering 973 runs. However, David Warner was not too far behind. He scored 848 runs in the season as well but Kohli’s season overshadowed that. More often than not, Warner was the one-man army for Sunrisers Hyderabad and the second qualifier that season was no different.
Table-toppers Gujarat Lions has put up 162 on the board. Chasing a tricky target, SRH lost wickets at regular intervals and it seemed like Warner was left stranded at the other end. However, he kept ticking over and kept SRH in the hunt. A few lusty blows from Bipul Sharma helped but apart from that it was all Warner and the left-handed Australian opener carried SRH through to the final. He scored an unbeaten 93 from 58 balls.
#4 Suresh Raina – 87 vs Kings XI Punjab (2014)
Suresh Raina has been a consistent performer in the IPL and he’s been the flag-bearer of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batting line-up for a long time. CSK have made it a habit of reaching the final and 2014 was one of those rare occasions where they didn’t. They lost the second qualifier to Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and crashed out. However, in that game, Raina played a gem.
Virender Sehwag’s brilliant 122 helped KXIP get to 226. Chasing a mammoth total, CSK lost Faf du Plessis on the second ball of the innings. Raina walked out and started taking the attack back to the KXIP bowlers. He put them under pressure and batted beautifully and got CSK off to a flying start. In fact, the Uttar Pradesh left-hander faced 25 balls in the powerplay and scored a stunning 87. CSK made 100 in the powerplay despite losing a couple of wickets. But a runout on the first ball after the powerplay ended Raina’s stupendous innings. CSK lost the plot after his dismissal and lost the game. Raina’s 87 will go down as one of the best in the history of the IPL, especially in a losing cause.
#5 MS Dhoni 54 vs Kings XI Punjab (2010)
This has to be one of the most defining moments in the history of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). In the final league game, CSK were in a must-win situation and it was their skipper, MS Dhoni who stepped up and delivered under pressure. Chasing 193 wasn’t going to be easy and CSK lost wickets regularly and were 89/3 in the 10th over when MS Dhoni walked out to bat.
Subramaniam Badrinath was giving him good company and he even stroked a decent half-century. When Badrinath was dismissed in the 17th over and the equation came down to 44 from the last three overs. Albie Morkel joined Dhoni and struck a couple of boundaries. But with two overs and 29 runs to go, it was down to Dhoni. The CSK skipper unleashed the beast in him and struck one four and two sixes when 16 runs were required off the final over to push CSK into the semi-finals and eventually they went on to win the title. Dhoni remained unbeaten on 54 and it was surely go down as one of the epic knocks in the IPL.
