Spanning 15 riveting seasons, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has cemented itself as world cricket’s premier T20 franchise tournament. With ten elite teams featuring the greatest players on the planet, the competition has birthed countless classic matches over its storied history of ipl. These 10 contests represent the finest the IPL has had to offer thanks to their iconic performances, nail-biting finishes and the incredible exploits of players like Yusuf Pathan, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. let’s talks about the best ipl ever.
Brendon McCullum Announces Himself
In the opening match of the inaugural 2008 IPL, Kolkata Knight Rider’s captain Brendon McCullum announced himself and the league in the best possible fashion. Facing Royal Challengers Bangalore, the Kiwi ace smashed 158 runs off just 73 balls including 10 fours and 13 towering sixes to lead KKR to 222/3 – the highest T20 score in history at the time. It was a sign of things to come as McCullum’s blazing 58-ball century lit the fuse that saw T20 cricket explode in popularity around the globe while setting the tone for the IPL’s success.
Yusuf Pathan’s 29-Ball Blitz
Against Mumbai in 2010 while chasing 214 for victory, Rajasthan Royals looked down and out before Yusuf Pathan intervened. Smashing an outrageous 72 off just 29 balls, Pathan’s blistering knock included taking 24 runs off Kieron Pollard in one over. He brought up the fastest century in IPL history at the time, reaching his ton in a mere 37 deliveries, as Rajasthan sealed the second-highest successful run chase the tournament has ever witnessed.
Dhoni’s Legendary Finishing
The 2010 IPL semi-final between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab was a see-sawing affair that went down to the final delivery with CSK needing 16 runs from the last over. But captain cool MS Dhoni had other ideas, smashing two sixes off the last two balls from Irfan Pathan to incredibly tie the match. His nerveless finishing defined his reputation as the league’s premier finisher. CSK prevailed in the Super Over thanks largely to Suresh Raina’s boundary barrage.
When AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli Collide
The 2019 contest between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings pitted two IPL titans against one another. After Virat Kohli’s 59, the match came down to the last over with RCB needing 26 runs. Up stepped AB de Villiers who fittingly smashed the winning runs with a ball to spare – sealing an instant all-time classic. Withrocking the Chinnaswamy Stadium, their electrifying battle showcased the IPL’s premier talents.
Ambati Rayudu’s Heroics
The 2018 IPL Final is considered one of the best matches ever for its thrilling climax between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad. With 62 needed off 24 balls, CSK were up against it before Ambati Rayudu unleashed a match-winning assault. Smashing Rashid Khan for a four and six, Rayudu turned the tide dramatically. Shane Watson then sealed glory with a run off the final ball to complete CSK’s fairytale comeback story in their first season back from suspension.
Chris Jordan Excels In Super Over
The 2022 league clash between Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad delivered a dramatic Super Over finish. Chasing just 153, Hyderabad collapsed from 122-4 to leave the scores tied after 20 overs of original play. In the one-over eliminator, English T20 specialist Chris Jordan held his nerve excellently under pressure to restrict SRH to just seven runs. Arshdeep Singh then joined Jordan to seal a famous PBKS victory on the final ball to cap a see-sawing contest.
Suresh Raina and Albie Morkel Combine
In 2019, Chennai Super Kings took on arch rivals Mumbai Indians in yet another blockbuster clash. Quinton de Kock’s 65 set a competitive 170 for CSK to chase. Albie Morkel took key wickets before Kieron Pollard’s six left MI needing just 2 runs off the final ball. Enter Suresh Raina whose direct hit astonishingly ran Pollard out to win an iconic game by just 1 run – sparking manic celebrations inside a raucous stadium.
Yusuf Pathan Powers Rajasthan Royals
The inaugural 2008 IPL season showcased the tournament at its exhilarating best. The final race was down to Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals and MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings. Batting first, Yusuf Pathan propelled Rajasthan to 164/7 with all-rounder Shane Watson chipping in. Watson then turned the game with 3/22 before incredibly holding his nerve to defend nine runs in the dramatic final over to secure Rajasthan a fairy tale victory against the odds.
Gambhir Steers KKR to Glory
Chasing 200 for victory in the 2014 IPL final, Kolkata Knight Riders looked sunk at 65/3 before Gautam Gambhir stroked a masterful 45. Even then, they needed 22 runs off the last two overs against Kings XI Punjab. Wickets tumbled but Piyush Chawla scrambled a run off the final ball to complete an incredible three wicket heist. As the dust settled on a final for the ages, KKR had silenced even their own delirious home fans with one of the tournament’s greatest ever victory charges.
Dhoni vs Kohli Goes Down To The Wire
2019 pitted IPL superstars MS Dhoni against Virat Kohli. After electing to bowl first, RCB had Chennai Super Kings reeling at 39/6 before captain courageous Dhoni smashed an incredible 84* from 48 balls to lift his team to 161/7 – one of T20 cricket’s truly great rescue acts. In response, Kohli’s 59 took Bangalore to the cusp of victory before Dhoni ran out his opposing skipper. RCB still needed 26 from 24 balls but AB de Villiers smashed 24 off 11 balls before, fittingly, hitting the winning runs off the penultimate ball to seal an instant all-time IPL classic.
Last Ball Super Over Thriller
The 2022 league clash between Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad delivered a dramatic Super Over finish. Needing 21 off 15 balls, Hyderabad collapsed before forcing a tie to bring about the eliminator. There, English pace aces Chris Jordan and Arshdeep Singh starred with the ball – restricting SRH to just 7 runs to pull off a famous win on the final ball and cap a seesawing match in IPL history. this is one of the game last balls that turned the match.
Conclusion
These electric performances, come-from-behind victories and unbelievably tense finishes epitomize the IPL’s unique appeal. With batting fireworks, bowling magic and high stakes drama galore, contests like these have propelled the IPL to become cricket’s most successful T20 league. For sheer entertainment value and edge-of-your-seat excitement, they don’t come much better than these all-time classics written by the supreme talents on display like Dhoni, Kohli, de Villiers and company.