5 most entertaining playoffs matches in IPL history

The popularity of Indian Premier League (IPL) over the years is one that every Indian can be proud of. As the league is on the cusp of entering into its second decade, the fan following has increased by many folds in the last ten years. The inception of the league in 2008 was viewed with an objective to provide an entertainment package to the millions of fans.

Since then, each game in IPL has been a roller coaster ride, both for players and the viewers watching across the globe. A three-hour package that has all the drama, emotions, nail-biting finishes and ultimately some pure cricketing action is what makes the IPL, the world’s biggest T-20 carnival.

Today we take a look at some of those thrilling business end fixtures that folded to provide the fans with pure entertainment in the midst of some absorbing cricket that took place on the field.

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#5 Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2008 Final

It was this edition in 2008 that set the tone for the upcoming years. The season saw some cracking games before it concluded on 1 June in a final that saw Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings that was led by a guy brimming with confidence, battle it out for the trophy.

The contest was worthy of a final. Put into bat by Shane Warne, Chennai managed their way to 163 for five with Suresh Raina being the aggressor to lead the card with a blistering 43 off 30 deliveries.

The Royals didn’t have a great start but it was some middle-order contributions from Yusuf Pathan and Shane Watson that saw them inching towards the target. But that was not it, as the drama unfolded when Pathan was run out by Raina via a direct hit leaving them stranded with 18 required in the final two overs.

The penultimate over went for ten runs before the match reached the final over with eight runs being the difference between the two sides. However, Rajasthan required just a run of the final delivery when Sohail Tanvir stroked it for a boundary to take his side to victory.

The scenes were dramatic as the league had witnessed its first-time winners with much to be expected in the subsequent editions.

Result: Rajasthan Royals beat Chennai Super Kings by 3 wickets

#4 Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians, IPL 2013 Qualifier 2

A season which was more remembered for its spot-fixing scandal by the three players from Rajasthan even saw some of the riveting contests on the field. The Qualifier 2 had two of the strongest teams, Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians, take on each other in a contest that had at stake, a ticket to the final.

The match saw a delayed start due to the wet outfield but the stage was set for a cracker of a contest at the iconic Eden Gardens. Rajasthan and Dravid won the toss and elected to put runs on the board. It was a steady start before some lower order blitz from Dishant Yagnik and Stuart Binny propelled them to a competitive 165 for six in their twenty overs.

Chasing 166 to win, MI was off to a flier with an opening stand of 70 in no time before Aditya Tare fell at the mid-way stage with still 93 to get in the final ten overs. It didn’t sound a daunting task with who’s who to follow later in the line-up.

Though, RR bowlers came back strongly as they wreaked havoc in the middle-order that saw the Indians reeling on 141 for five with 25 still to get. In the end, it did seem a comfortable victory when Harbhajan smashed Watson for a boundary on the penultimate ball of the match to book a clash against Chennai in the final to be eventually crowned as the champions.

Result: Mumbai Indians beat Rajasthan Royals by 4 wickets

#3 Kolkata Knight Riders vs Kings XI Punjab, IPL 2014 Final

The season saw a resurgent Kings XI Punjab side as they banked on some of the power hitters and an influential figure in George Bailey, to reach the finals for the first time in IPL history. But it was a huge ask for the men in red to go past the experienced Kolkata in the final hurdle.

The final was a treat to watch as the two quality side went hard at each other at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in a sparkling atmosphere with much at stake.

The Kings were put into bat and the match was well set with Saha managing a century in the final with a handful contribution from Vohra to set the Knight Riders a daunting task of 200 to win the trophy for the second time.

Kolkata didn’t have a great start as Uthappa fell early but it was a top knock from the local boy Manish Pandey who along with Gautam Gambhir ensured a good score in the first six.

Though Punjab pulled it back but couldn’t stop Pandey as despite wickets crumbling at the other end, he kept playing his shots to pave his way through to a majestic 94.

It was a late hiccup when he was dismissed in 17th over with still 21 to get in the final three, but it was some last over heroics from Chawla to hit a four on the third ball of the last over that saw them home

.Result: Kolkata Knight Riders beat Kings XI Punjab by 3 wickets

#2 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings, IPL 2015 Qualifier 2

An all-important affair saw a southern derby between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings as they locked horns for the ticket to the final.

Having been put into bat, Challengers had a slow and sluggish start despite Gayle and Kohli being in the thick of things. It was courtesy some good bowling performance by the men in yellow that restricted the opposition to a modest 139 after some lower order contributions from the likes of Dinesh Karthik, David Wiese, and Sarfaraz Khan.

Chasing a paltry 140, CSK managed a decent start before Smith fell in the fourth over. The run rate was ever in control as Faf du Plessis and Mr. Cricket Mike Hussey steadied the ship.

They received a huge blow when the dynamic Suresh Raina bagged a duck as Yuzvendra Chahal bowled an economical spell taking two wickets. The chase became complicated when CSK lost quick wickets in the death overs.

However, requiring just five of the last over, it wasn’t a huge ask before the drama unfolded when Dhoni was caught behind in the third delivery with the scores level. In the end, it was Ashwin who took a single on the penultimate delivery to rule out any more suspense in the game.

Result: Chennai Super Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 3 wickets

#1 Mumbai Indians vs Rising Pune Supergiant, IPL 2017 Final

One of the most recent and by far the most exciting IPL matches ever witnessed came into being when Mumbai Indians battled it out against the Rising Pune Supergiant at Hyderabad in 2017. It was a battle of nerves that saw a topsy-turvy ride in the crunch moments before Mumbai Indians proved too good for the Steve Smith-led side.

Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat but it wasn’t the ideal start as they lost two early wickets even before the score reached the double figure mark. MI never looked certain for a big score as wickets continue to tumble till the very last. It was then a timely knock from Krunal Pandya that gave them a glimmer of hope to defend 129 in the second innings.

Chasing a modest total of 130, it was a precautionary start from Pune as Rahane and Smith stitched a partnership to take the score to 71 before the former was caught with 59 still to get.

The run making wasn’t easy as even Dhoni struggled to get going and they failed to tee off against the likes of Malinga and Bumrah in the death overs. With 11 required off the final over, Manoj Tiwary did hit a four of the first ball but two wickets on the next successive balls meant a victory for the Men in blue to be crowned Champions for the third time.

Result: Mumbai Indians beat Rising Pune Supergiant by 1 run