Five Best IPL 2020 Matches So Far

From Super Overs to tied Super-Overs to last ball humdingers to epic bottle-ups to some pretty outrageous ‘come from behind’ heists, we have seen it all in the ongoing edition of the IPL.

With more than half the tournament done-and-dusted, we thought why not go down memory lane and relive some of the most heart-pumping encounters that have witnessed so far.

Here’s a look at the five best IPL 2020 games so far:

Delhi Capitals vs Kings XI Punjab, Match 02, Dubai

Result: Match Tied (Delhi Capitals won in the Super-Over)

This game was the start of some of the freakiest matches that we have witnessed in the IPL thus far.

Batting first, Delhi Capitals looked certain for a proper mauling after Mohammed Shami’s brilliant spell with the new ball and some pretty ordinary batting had reduced them to 6-96 in 16.1 overs.

Then Marcus Stoinis happened. The burly Australian swashbuckler took the attack to KXIP bowlers to score a whirlwind 21-ball 53- 30 of those 53 came in the last six balls of the innings bowled by Chris Jordan.

Then, just like Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab too saw their top-order get blown away, leaving them reeling at 5-55 after 10 overs.

Mayank Agarwal (89 off 60 balls) then proceeded to play the innings of his life to lift Punjab out of the dead. Agarwal times his assault to perfection and when he smashed a six and a four of the first three balls of the final over, KXIP needed just 1 run to seal the deal.

But, not only was it Marcus Stoinis day, but it was also the start of KXIP’s ‘art of losing game’ masterclasses! Mayank Agarwal went for the glory shot, only to get holed out in the deep. Chris Jordan (Yep! The bowler who was smashed for 30 by Marcus Stoinis) got dismissed by Stoinis on the last ball of the 20th over, enforcing the game towards the ‘Super Over’.

With Kagiso Rabada in their tanks, Delhi Capitals were always going to start as favorites in the Super Over, and it was proved to the hilt when the Proteas bolter went bang-bang, dismissing KL Rahul and Nicholas Pooran within a space of 3 balls.

A target of 3 was never going to bother DC! And, it didn’t, as Rishabh Pant knocked off the runs on the second delivery to seal the deal.

As if the game didn’t have enough drama, it also saw itself get engulfed in a controversy after the on-field umpire adjudged that the second run ran by Chris Jordan on the 3rd ball of the 18th over was a short-run, when replays showed it clearly wasn’t.

Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 10th Match, Dubai

Result- Match Tied [RCB won the Super Over]

An ABD classic; a whirlwind heist by a youngster [Read- Ishan Kishan]; belligerence of Kieron Pollard; pinpoint accuracy by an Indian fast bowler in crunch moments against two of the best hitters in the world; a Bumrah-AB duel, and Virat Kohli redeeming himself by scoring the winning runs in the Super-Over after a poor outing in the main match; millions of twists and turns; contrasting but raw emotions; bare margins.

Seriously, what more can you ask from a cricket match. Fans and pundits were left pondering the same after witnessing the rollercoaster that was the Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore opening tussle in the 2020 IPL.

It had everything. It has AB de Villiers [55* off 24 balls] asserting his authority and telling everyone who’s the real boss against the current leading fast bowler in the world, Jasprit Bumrah, helping his side to post 3-201 in 20 overs.

It had a young Indian batsman- Ishan Kishan- along with Kieron Pollard insinuate an epic comeback after his side had been reduced to 4-78 in the 12th over. Kishan scored a 58-ball 99, an innings which included two fours and nine sixes, the last of which came on the 4th ball of the 20th over to take MI on the cusp of victory.

But, just like Mayank Agarwal, Kishan went for a glory shot to close the deal and succumbed. Pollard, who has smashed a breathtaking half-century-stroked a boundary on the last ball to take the game to yet another Super Over. Pollard and Hardik Pandya walked in to face the Super-Over but this time Navdeep Saini’s pinpoint accuracy ensured that the duo could not make use of the six balls, leaving just 8 runs for Jasprit Bumrah to defend, which AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli ensured that they did without any hiccups.

Rajasthan Royals v SunRisers Hyderabad, 26th match, Dubai

Result- RR won by 5 wickets

This was yet another game that once again testified the age-old saying that ‘it ain’t over until it’s over’. And, it was SunRisers Hyderabad, who learned that the hard way thanks to the duo of Riyan Parag and that guy, Rahul Tewatia.

Chasing 159, Rajasthan Royals looked dead and buried for all money after the cream of their batting was back in the hut with just 78 runs on the board. The duo initially took their time to get themselves in on what was a difficult track to bat on. While Parag managed just 11 runs off his first 13 balls, Tewatia scored 9 off the first 14 deliveries.

With just 94 runs on the board after 15 overs, RR needed the duo to launch an assault in the last 5 to get anywhere close to the target. Ultimately, Parag went for a big hit in the 16th over, which was spilled by Priyam Garg. It proved to be a significant moment in the game as Riyan Parag smashed Khaleel for a six on the last delivery of the 16th over to break the shackles.

Rahul Tewatia joined the party by smashing Sandeep Sharma for a six on the first ball of the next over before Parag stroked two consecutive boundaries on the last two deliveries.

Even the great Rashid Khan wasn’t spared as Tewatia smashed the champion spinner for three consecutive boundaries- two reverse sweep and one past extra-cover. The rub of the green was certainly with RR and it was quite evident in the 18th over when the bails didn’t come off the grooves denying SRH a much-needed wicket.

Riyan Parag ultimately sealed the game with a six over cover-point and to further add salt to SRH’s already grave wounds, the youngster celebrated the heist with ‘Bihu Dance’

Kings XI Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals, 9th match, Sharjah

Result- Rajasthan Royals won by 4 wickets

A game where we saw the highest successful run-chase in this history of the IPL. But, you know what, the beauty of this match is, it will never be remembered about what the Rajasthan Royals achieved on that miraculous night in Sharjah.

The thing that will always be remembered about this game is how the Royals managed to achieve what they eventually did. It was a game where we as human beings got to learn a very valuable lesson, which is that one should never ever write off anyone, no matter how miserable their state is.

Chasing a record total of 223 posted by KXIP thanks largely to the centurion Mayank Agarwal and his 183-run-stand with KL Rahul, Rajasthan Royals were going great guns when the duo of Steve Smith and Sanju Samson were smashing it to all corners in the first 10 overs.

Then, Smith got out, and RR made a tactical punt by promoting Rahul Tewatia ahead of the likes of Robin Uthappa. Samson [85 off 42 balls] continued to tee off at the other end but with Tewatia struggling to get any sort of timing, the innings never got a sustained momentum.

Tewatia was struggling badly. Every dot ball he played or every mistimed stroke that came off his bat led to the invention of multiple new memes and trolls. Tewatia was being lambasted as were the Royals think-tank for their decision.

Matters became even worse when Samson refused to take singles. Eventually, the pressure got to Samson and he perished to Mohammed Shami.

With 51 needed off the last 18 balls, RR needed something special. What they got in return was something that no one in their right mind would have imagined. Something just snapped in Tewatia. After having managed just 8 runs off his first 19 balls, the southpaw went on to smash 6 sixes- 5 of which came in one Sheldon Cottrell over- in the next 8 balls to not only score his half-century but also pave way for a memorable heist.

From ‘Why Tewatia’ to ‘Oh Tewatia’, Rahul Tewatia’s redemption to complete. And, how!

Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab, 36th Match, Dubai

Result- Match Tied [KXIP won the Super Over]

Easily the best game of the IPL thus far and some would even say that it is the best ever game in the history of the cash-rich league.

And, they have solid reasons for that claim! After all, how many times do you get to see a game where you witness top-class batting, yorkers masterclass, brilliant wicketkeeping, some pretty outrageous pieces of fielding, and of-course back-to-back Super Overs.

After a 58-run-stand between Quinton de Kock and Krunal Pandya and late assault by the duo of Kieron Pollard (32* off 12 balls) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (24* off 12 balls), has led MI to 6-176 in 20 overs, KXIP’s run-chase was led by their skipper, KL Rahul, who stroked a beautiful 51-ball 77.

But Jasprit Bumrah returned in his final spell to knock over Rahul to bring another twist to the game. Post Rahul’s dismissal, Chris Jordan and Deepak Hooda nearly took their side home but a glaring error by the former while taking the second run on the last ball of the game- he ran in a curve instead of running straight- to force the game to another Super Over.

Jasprit Bumrah once again bowled a brilliant Super Over, where he dismissed both Pooran and Rahul at the cost of just 5 runs.

With just six runs to defend, it looked as good as over for KXIP. But Mohammed Shami’s yorker masterclass and a brilliant run-out of Quinton de Kock by KL Rahul ensured that it wasn’t, as the game went to yet another Super Over.

Chris Jordan was all over the place in the second Super Over but Mayank Agarwal’s brilliant save at the boundary on the very last delivery ensured that Jordan gave away just 11 runs.

And, this time KXIP didn’t bottle it. Chris Gayle smashed a six on the first ball by Trent Boult before Mayank finished off the proceedings with two successive boundaries.

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