Since its inception in 2008, the Indian Premier League has captured the imagination of the cricketing world with its in-your-face entertainment quotient. The excitement of a new season is heightened several notches due to the progressive success of the preceding editions. Over the years, the tournament has witnessed moments of unparalleled joy, heartbreaks, outstanding individual performances, inexplicable gaffes. Cricbuzz takes a trip down memory lane and pulls out 10 golden moments from the eight previous seasons to kindle your anticipation for the gala event.
1. Ssssh! Pollard at Work
Kieron Pollard found his own 'unique' way to stay within the limits prescribed by the on-field umpires © BCCI
Over the years, West Indies players in the IPL have brought with them, a unique Caribbean spirit. Chief among them, Kieron Pollard, has lit up many an IPL game with his antics. At the Chinnaswamy Stadium against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2015, Pollard resorted to banter in a bid to unnerve fellow West Indian Chris Gayle - who was key to the hosts' chase of 209. The on-field umpires objected to the chatter and instructed Pollard to keep quiet. In what is set to go down amongst one of the most bizarre moments of cricket, something that left the commentators and members of the Mumbai Indians dugout in splits, Pollard turned up on the field in the next over with a tape around his mouth. Classic!
2. The Premature celebration
David Warner's gaffe on the boundary line against Royal Challengers Bangalore during the 2015 season was a lesson in the old cricketing adage - The catch isn't complete till it's complete. In yet another rain-curtailed game in Hyderabad, the Royal Challengers were set a daunting target of 81 to chase down in six overs to keep their qualification hopes alive. Led by an opening assault by Gayle, Royal Challengers kept abreast with the asking rate. Virat Kohli, the last remaining recognized batsman in the line-up, needed to score 4 off 2 deliveries when he lofted a length delivery from Bhuvneshwar Kumar towards the long-off fence. Warner, stationed guarding the boundary line, steadied himself and pouched the catch, only to pull out a premature celebratory fist-pump towards the dugout while inadvertently moving backwards and stepping on the boundary and conceding a six. While Royal Challengers won the match, the Sunrisers proceeded to lose the final game and were knocked out of the competition. Too high a price for a celebration.
3. Gangnam vs Bhangnam
In an intriguing battle of bat and ball, Harbhajan Singh had the last dance © BCCI
The IPL 2013 clash between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Wankhede Stadium was billed as the battle of the heavy weights - Lasith Malina and Chris Gayle. Royal Challengers came into the match on the back of a thumping win over Pune Warriors where Gayle's scarcely believable 175 broke all kinds of records including those set for most number of impromptu "Gangnam Style" dances. It took the Mumbai crowd a while to see Gayle as Rohit Sharma opted to bat. Mumbai's total of 194 meant the Jamaican would go after the target straight away. And go-after he did. Mitchell Johnson was hit for a six and a couple of fours forcing Rohit to bring on Harbhajan inside the powerplay. The offie struck in his first over with a slightly slower delivery that forced Gayle into mishitting one to deep mid-wicket. Having dismissed the dangerman, Harbhajan started a celebratory jig that was half 'Gangnam' and half 'Bhangra', a Punjabi dance form, much to the delight of the 30,000 home fans. Gayle's dismissal triggered a batting collapse and the Royal Challengers fell well short of Mumbai's total. "My dance ended up in a 'Bhangnam' style," an ecstatic Harbhajan said after the match.
4. Gilly strikes with his first and last ball
Adam Gilchrist, a modern-day great and a benchmark for wicketkeeping standards, bid goodbye in his own style - with a wicket and the 'Gangnam' © BCCI
Adam Gilchrist, as a champion wicket-keeper, over the course of his career effected innumerable dismissals. In the 2013 season of IPL, with Mumbai Indians nine down and looking unlikely to win, the affable superstar created a truly memorable moment when he decided to let go of his wicket-keeping gloves to have a bowl. Gilchrist, playing in his final IPL game, flighted his first delivery outside the off-stump and Harbhajan Singh took the bait and holed out to Gurkeerat Singh at long on. A surprised Gilchrist set-off on a run and did the 'Gangnam Style' dance himself. An emotional Kings XI Punjab team then hauled their skipper on their shoulders for a lap around the Dharamsala stadium. Despite their 50-run win over eventual champions, Mumbai, Kings XI failed to make it to the playoffs. A bemused Gilchrist in the post match celebration remarked: "Harbhajan took my wicket many many times so I just wanted to mimic his reaction."
5. 'He's only a boy'
The format of IPL is such that it can throw up strange contests. To quote a boxing metaphor, only in the IPL can a cruiser-weight take on a heavyweight. The final of the second edition of the tournament between the now-defunct Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore witnessed one such incident that pitted a relative unknown Manish Pandey against a seasoned veteran Andrew Symonds. Pandey, who had shot into limelight just a few matches prior to the final by becoming the first Indian to score an IPL hundred, also against the Chargers, was identified as one of the key men capable of leading Royal Challengers' chase of 143. As Pandey walked out to open the batting, Symonds followed the young batsman all the way to the pitch, muttering away looking to psyche him out of the game.
Symonds' antics prompted Harsha Bhogle on air to exclaim "Symonds should pick on someone his own size. He's (Pandey) only a boy." Symonds's tirade continued well into the first over of the chase as Pandey drove the first delivery he faced towards Symonds at cover. Symonds's sledge worked as Pandey made only 4 runs off 8 balls before falling to Pragyan Ohja. The Chargers then went on to claim a memorable win to clinch the IPL 2009 title.
6. Ecstasy to despair in two seconds
An early lesson for an exceptional cricketer that the sport he plies his trade in, is indeed about glorious uncertainties. © BCCI
Contests between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers, called the 'South Indian Derby', have produced many-a-moment to savour but none as memorable as their clash at Chepauk in 2013. Despite losing early wickets, fifties from Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers had pushed Royal Challengers' total to 166, a competitive one further enhanced by Super Kings losing their openers inside four overs. Suresh Raina, S Badrinath and MS Dhoni then scored brisk 30s to keep the chase within reach before Ravindra Jadeja took centre stage. Chennai needed 16 off the final over bowled by RP Singh. Jadeja picked up a boundary off the first with an outside edge to third-man before launching a length ball over long-on for a six. 6 off 4. The next three balls yielded two singles and a double, meaning Jadeja had to score 2 off the final ball to secure a win. RP's last ball was short and outside off, Jadeja went for the cut and edged it straight into the hands of the third-man fielder. A beaming Kohli ran in to celebrate with his team only to see the umpire signalling a no-ball for RP had overstepped by a mile. Kohli's ecstasy had turned to despair in a split-second and CSK had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
7. A last-ball six and unforeseen reactions
Rajasthan Royals should have played the playoffs in 2014 season. They didn't. From being firmly in the driver's seat with three matches to go, the Shane Watson-led side inexplicably found a way to slip down to fifth spot. They had multiple chances to make the cut even in their final league game at the Wankhede stadium but somehow let it all slip. Their rivals to the playoff berth, Mumbai Indians needed to chase down an improbable 190 in 14.3 overs to go through at Royals' expense. Easy for Royals, one would think. Except, Mumbai Indians weren't going to lie down and get rolled over, not in front of their home fans. Led by a belligerent Corey Anderson (95 off 44), Mumbai gnawed large chunks of the total away until they required 9 off 3 balls (for qualification) in an over to be bowled by death-overs specialist - James Faulkner.
The left-armer, after restricting Anderson to just a single, served up a juicy full-toss to Ambati Rayudu who swatted it away for a six. Rayudu then ran himself out off the third ball while attempting a second run meaning that the scores were tied as of ball 14.3. After calculations, it was understood that Mumbai needed to score a boundary off the next ball to get their NRR above that of Royals. Aditya Tare, facing his first ball, was offered a generous full toss on leg-stump which he duly belted behind backward square for a six, sparking wild celebrations. Amidst the hullabaloo of the Mumbai players was the sight of a visibly disappointed Royals mentor, Rahul Dravid who threw his cap in disgust before swiftly regaining his composure.
8. The Steyn Remover
From one genius to another - a wry smile and an applause. © BCCI
While it is well known that Dale Steyn isn't the same bowler with the white ball as he is with the red, his reputation of being a fast bowler extraordinaire precedes him against most opposition, even in IPL. Against friend, confidante and national teammate AB de Villiers however, Steyn's white-ball abilities have come a cropper. Twice. In the 2014 encounter between Royal Challengers and Sunrisers, de Villiers's calculated onslaught on his South African teammate helped his side pull off a stunning victory. With 28 required off the last 12 deliveries, Steyn stepped up to bowl the crucial 19th over to close the game out for Sunrisers. De Villiers was on 62 off 34 and was the last remaining hope for the Royal Challengers. He put on his Superman cape. First ball, slower off-cutter, lapped over square leg for six. Second ball, fuller, hit over sight-screen for six. A couple of singles and then a lofted off-drive for four followed by the most outrageous cricket shot - a shuffle outside off-stump and scoop over fine-leg for six. 24 runs off the over and the game was sealed. Such was the quality of de Villiers' improvisation that even Steyn couldn't stop himself from applauding his destroyer. At the end of the game, the two embraced mid-pitch creating a golden IPL moment.
9. MS, the man possessed
The third season of IPL saw perennial powerhouses Chennai Super Kings get off to a sluggish start in the tournament. At one stage of the tournament, the Chennai outfit slipped to four consecutive defeats, jeopardizing their semifinal aspirations. Their final league encounter, against Kings XI Punjab, at the picturesque Dharamsala stadium was a do-or-die affair. Kings XI, led by Shaun Marsh's belligerent 88, racked up a mammoth 192. Despite losing openers Murali Vijay and Matthew Hayden early, Super Kings kept the asking rate under check, thanks to quickfire innings from Suresh Raina and S Badrinath. A flurry of boundaries from the skipper Dhoni meant his side needed 16 off the last over to qualify for the semis. Irfan Pathan was handed the responsibility of bowling the crucial last over. He started with a wide full delivery that Dhoni muscled past the sweeper cover fielder for four.
Pathan should have had Dhoni off the next ball when he got his leading edge with a slower delivery but the ball didn't carry to the on-rushing long off fielder, Piyush Chawla. A fumble ensured Dhoni picked up two and retained strike. 10 off 4. The next ball, a length delivery, was ferociously dispatched out of the stadium. With four required off three, ice-man Dhoni launched another six over long-on to complete a thrilling win. Following the win, even as the rest of the Super Kings players marched onto the field in celebration, the cameras zoomed in on Dhoni, now resembling a boxer after a bout. The skipper was seen murmuring to himself and then delivered an uppercut to himself so as to pinch him awake from the trance. Unforgettable.
10. Yuvi does a Jonty
Mumbai Indians, the most expensive IPL franchise, got off to a slow start in the opening edition of the tournament, a predicament owed largely due to the untimely injury to Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan's suspension following 'slap-gate'. Their campaign gained momentum mid-way through the tournament under the stewardship of Shaun Pollock and at one point Mumbai were firm favourites to grab the final semifinal berth before they stumbled their way out of the reckoning, following three successive defeats. Going into their home game against Kings XI on a six-match winning streak, Mumbai looked set to chase down Punjab's 189 with Tendulkar leading the way with a sterling half-century. His run out with 30 to get off 3 overs turned the tide back in Punjab's favour who skittled through the Mumbai middle-order in rapid succession. Mumbai were seven down and needed 19 off the final over bowled by VRV Singh. Siddharth Chitnis slapped a waist high full toss (no ball) for six before getting a four of the next. The equation was reduced to a more comfortable 8 off 5 before the inexperienced Mumbai batsmen committed hara-kiri. Chitnis and Dilhara Fernando got run-out looking to pinch an extra run and last man Vikrant Yeligati walked in with 4 to get off 2. He got two off the penultimate ball to reduce the equation to 2 off 1. Yeligati then hit the last ball to mid-off and scampered for a single. Yuvraj Singh, the fielder, scooped on to the ball and flung himself at the stump ala Jonty Rhodes, effected the run-out and set out on a celebratory run around the Wankhede Stadium much to chagrin of the home fans.
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