Year Wise Player Of The Match In IPL Final History

Chennai Super Kings registered a comprehensive 27-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders in the final of IPL 2021 on Friday to lift their fourth IPL title. CSK made an early exit last year and came back strongly to finish second at the end of the league stage.

They beat Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 1 to book their place in the finals. After being asked to bat first, Chennai Super Kings posted a mammoth 192-run total, thanks to significant contributions from all the batsmen in top-four.

Kolkata Knight Riders openers gave them a great start and were very much in the game till the first half of the innings. However, Shardul Thakur’s arrival in the 11^th overturned the game on its head. Thakur sent both Venkatesh Iyer and Nitish Rana in a single over and wickets kept falling at regular intervals after that. KKR, in the end, fell 27 runs short of the target.

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Faf du Plessis earned the Player of the Match award for his stellar knock of 86 runs off 59 balls, including 7 fours and 3 sixes. Playing a match-winning knock under pressure in a big final is never an easy task. A lot of players succumb to the pressure of big games.

But some excel in pressure situations and help their team win matches. Over the years, we have seen some top knocks in big games such as an IPL final and they get rewarded with the Player of the Match award. Here’s a look at who all got the Player of the Match award across 14 editions of the tournament.

Year Wise Player Of The Match In IPL Final History

1. 2008 IPL Final- Yusuf Pathan

Led by Shane Warne, Rajasthan Royals took everyone by surprise after winning the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League in 2008. Rajasthan Royals met Chennai Super Kings in the final. A collective batting effort helped CSK post a 163-run total in the first innings.

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Rajasthan Royals chased it down and thereby won the first edition of IPL. Yusuf Pathan played a scintillating knock of 56 runs off 39 balls in the second innings and kept the hopes alive for RR. Shane Warne, in the end, hit the winning runs on the final ball to script history for RR. Yusuf Pathan earned the Player of the Match award for his match-winning knock.

2. Anil Kumble – 2009 IPL Final

It was one of the rare finals when a player of the losing side received the Player of the Match award. But such was the impact of Anil Kumble in that game for RCB. The Indian leg spinner ran through Deccan Chargers’ batting unit, picking 4 wickets for just 16 runs in 4 overs. Courtesy of his spell, Deccan Chargers were restricted to 143 runs in the first innings.

Unfortunately, RCB couldn’t chase it down as they fell short of 6 runs of the target. Nevertheless, Anil Kumble earned the Player of the Match award for his exceptional spell.

3. Suresh Raina- 2010 IPL Final

Suresh Raina has been the prolific run-scorer for Chennai Super Kings in IPL. He has singlehandedly won CSK a number of games in the cash-rich tournament. His unbeaten 57-run knock off 35 balls against Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2010 final is counted as one of the best knocks in his IPL career.

Batting first, CSK didn’t get a great start as they lost both the openers without making much of a contribution. CSK needed someone to up the ante and Suresh Raina yet again came to their rescue. In a matter of a few overs, he shifted the momentum and brought CSK back into the game. Thanks to his knock, CSK managed to reach a competitive score of 168 runs at the end of the first innings.

Mumbai Indians fell 22 runs short of the target, which led to CSK winning their maiden IPL title. Suresh Raina was awarded the Player of the Match for his exceptional knock under pressure.

4. Murali Vijay- 2011 IPL Final

Murali Vijay, arguably, played the best knock of his IPL career in the 2011 final against Royal Challengers Bangalore. CSK batted first and Murali Vijay and Michael Hussey opened the batting for the team. Vijay got going right from the onset of his innings and he put on an exhibition of sixes at MA Chidambaram Stadium.

He played a sensational knock of 95 runs off just 52 balls, helping the side post a mammoth 205-run total in the first innings. Royal Challengers Bangalore, in reply, could only manage 147 runs. Thanks to Vijay’s stellar knock, Chennai Super Kings won their second consecutive IPL title.

5. Manvinder Bisla- 2012 IPL final

Chennai Super Kings could have won their third consecutive IPL title in 2012 had Manvinder Bisla not played a sensational 89-run knock in the final for KKR. Riding on a brilliant opening partnership from Murali Vijay and Michael Hussey, Chennai Super Kings notched 190 runs in the first innings.

Despite that, Kolkata Knight Riders chased down the score with two balls to spare. Manvinder Bisla gave the side a rollicking start to the innings. Gautam Gambhir got out in the very first over but Bisla stitched a match-winning 136-run partnership with Jacques Kallis for the second wicket to keep KKR in the game. Bisla smashed 89 runs off just 48 balls, including 8 fours and 5 sixes, while Kallis scored 69 runs off 49 deliveries. The duo’s contribution helped KKR clinch their maiden IPL title.

Manvinder Bisla earned the Player of the Match award for his valuable contribution.

6. Kieron Pollard- 2013 IPL final

The 2013 IPL final was played between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. Mumbai Indians batted first and found themselves in all sorts of trouble at 52 for 4 inside the first 10 overs. They needed someone to take them a competitive score and Kieron Pollard came to their rescue. The West Indies played some daunting shots en-route to his unbeaten 60 off 32 balls, including 7 fours and 3 sixes. His knock propelled his side to a 148-run total in the first innings. Chennai Super Kings failed to chase down the score and Pollard was awarded the Player of the Match award.

7. Manish Pandey- 2014 IPL Final

Kolkata Knight Riders appeared for their second IPL final in the 2014 edition against Punjab Kings. The latter batted first and posted a daunting 199-run total in an IPL final, thanks to a sensational century from Wriddhiman Saha. Kolkata Knight Riders, in reply, lost both the openers early into the chase. Manish Pandey and Yusuf Pathan then lead KKR’s recovery and added 69 runs for the third wicket.

Pathan got out after scoring 36 off 22 but Manish Pandey kept hitting boundaries at the other end. He played a match-winning 94-run knock off just 50 balls to help his side lift their second IPL title. Striking at 188, Pandey smashed seven fours and six sixes during his innings. He was awarded the Player of the Match for his performance.

8. Rohit Sharma- 2015 IPL Final

Skipper, Rohit Sharma scored a half-century off just 26 balls to help his team post a mammoth 202-run total in the 2015 IPL final between MI and CSK. It proved too much for CSK as the Yellow Army only managed 168 runs in the second innings. Mumbai Indians, as a result of that, won the game by 41 runs and also clinch their second IPL title.

Rohit Sharma won the Player of the Match award for the first time in an IPL final.

9. Ben Cutting- 2016 IPL Final

The 2016 IPL final between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad is counted amongst the best games in the history of the cash-rich tournament. After Warner and Dhawan gave a strong start, SRH needed someone to give the late flourish in the end.

It came off the bat of Ben Cutting, who smashed an unbeaten 39 off just 15 balls. His late assault helped the team post a formidable score of 208 runs in the first innings. Cutting then picked the important wickets of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul to put the brakes on RCB’s assault in the second innings.

His all-round contribution was significant in helping SRH win their first-ever IPL title. Ben Cutting was also handed the Player of the Match award for his all-round contribution.

10. Krunal Pandya- 2017 IPL Final

Krunal Pandya has been a vital asset for Mumbai Indians, over the years. He has provided a great balance to the unit, thanks to his all-round potential with both bat and ball. Krunal Pandya’s best performance in IPL came in the 2017 final against Rising Pune Supergiants.

Mumbai Indians were reeling at 56 for 4 in the first 10 overs. It was Krunal Pandya’s 47 off 38, who took MI to 129 runs in the end. His innings helped MI get to a reasonable score and it proved enough as Rising Pune Supergiants fell 1 run short of the target.

11. Shane Watson- 2018 IPL Final

Chennai Super Kings made a comeback in 2018 after 2-year ban over corruption charges. MS Dhoni-led franchise made a phenomenal comeback as they finished at the number two position at the end of the league stage. They played the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Wankhede Cricket Stadium. Sunrisers Hyderabad batted first and posted 178 runs in the first innings.

SRH bowlers proved ineffective in the second innings as Shane Watson took them to the cleaners. In a big game, the Australian batsman wreaked havoc on a great batting surface. He used up only 57 balls to score an unbeaten 117, including 11 fours and 8 sixes. His knock ensured CSK chased down the score in just 18.3 overs.

12. Jasprit Bumrah- 2019 IPL final

For the first time ever, a fast bowler won the Player of the Match award in an IPL final. Jasprit Bumrah was handed the award for his sensational performance for MI against CSK in the 2019 IPL final.

MI scored a below-par 149-run total in the first innings and needed early wickets to make a match out of it. Krunal Pandya got the first breakthrough in the 4^th over but needed quick wickets to take control. Shane Watson was scoring runs at an ideal scoring rate to make things hard for MI.

MI suddenly made their back into the contest in the latter half of the innings as CSK’s middle order made little contribution. Jasprit Bumrah bowled a sensational spell of four overs and picked crucial wickets of Ambati Rayudu and Dwayne Bravo at crucial stages in the game. He gave away just 14 runs in four overs and took two wickets as well.

13. Trent Boult- IPL 2020 Final

Mumbai Indians clinch their fifth IPL title after beating Delhi Capitals in the final of 2020 edition of IPL. Delhi Capitals were restricted to only 156 runs in the first innings, thanks to a sensational bowling performance from MI.

Trent Boult was brilliant both in the powerplay as well as in death overs. He sent back Marcus Stoinis and Ajinkya Rahane in his first two overs to leave DC reeling at 16 for 2 in 2.4 overs. Later, he picked the wicket of Shimron Hetmyer in the 18^th over to deny Delhi of a flourish in the end. Boult finished his spell with the figures of 3 for 30 in 4 overs and earned Player of the Match for his performance.

14. Faf du Plessis: IPL 2021 Final

Chennai Super Kings clinch their fourth IPL title on Friday after beating Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. After being asked to bat first, the Yellow Army notched a mammoth 192-run total in the first innings. Faf du Plessis starred for them with the bat as he played a sensational knock of 86 runs off 59 balls, including 7 fours and 3 sixes.

Kolkata Knight Riders, in reply, managed only 165 runs in the second innings and Faf du Plessis won the player of the Match for his match-defining knock.