Top 5 IPL performances that went in vain

The annual cricketing bonanza, the Indian Premier League (IPL), has seen its fair share of brilliant performances, several of which can’t be described by mere words. Ever since the inception of the IPL, players have, quite often, churned out performances that have taken their side home, even under situations of extreme pressure.

However, there have also been quite a few superb displays of talent by players, that haven’t quite managed to pull their team through to victory.

Here’s a look at the top 5 IPL performances that have been in vain:

5. Sunil Narine (KKR) vs KXIP

Sunil Narine has been KKR’s biggest trump card because of his “mystery-bowling”

Sunil Narine has been the most vital cog of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bowling attack ever since he was picked to play for them in the 2012 IPL. The Trinidadian has continued to justify his reputation as a “mystery bowler” thanks to his variations on his off-spinners, and his spectacular ability to disguise them perfectly. He was named the Player of the Tournament in the 2012 edition of the IPL for his 24 wickets at a miserly economy rate of 5.47.

His sublime bowling effort of 5-19 in 4 overs against the Kings XI Punjab in 2012 restricted Punjab to 134 runs. However, the batsmen failed to do their job and the Knight Riders failed to secure, what should have been, an easy victory. They fell short by just 2 runs in the end.

4. Yusuf Pathan (RR) vs MI

Yusuf Pathan’s whirlwind century announced his arrival to the world

Yusuf Pathan, the tall and sturdy right-handed batsman from Baroda was bought by the Rajasthan Royals in the very first season of the IPL. He went on to lead his team to victory in the finals of that very IPL, and was the Man of the Match for his great batting effort.

However, things just did not go the way of his team on the 2nd of March, 2010, as the Rajasthan Royals took on the Mumbai Indians at the Brabourne Stadium. Chasing an imposing target of 213, the Royals were tottering at 66-4, when Yusuf strode into the middle. He took the bowlers by the scruff of the neck, and scored the fastest century in IPL at that time. To the Royals’ utter dismay, Pathan was run out at 100 and the Royals fell 4 agonizing runs short of the target.

3. James Faulkner (RR) vs SRH

James Faulkner has been the go-to death bowler for the Rajasthan Royals

The Aussie medium-pacer, also known for his useful contributions with the bat in the lower-middle order, has often delivered with the ball for the Rajasthan Royals and has steered them to victory numerous times. However, on the 17th of May, 2013, at the Sawai Mansingh stadium in Jaipur, his bowling figures of 5-16 in four overs, at a phenomenal economy rate of 4.00 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad came, quite surprisingly, in a losing cause.

His scalps, which included those of Shikhar Dhawan, Parthiv Patel, and Darren Sammy, were unfortunately not good enough to take the Royals home, as a poorly planned chase led to the men in blue falling short of the target by 23 runs.

2. Yuvraj Singh (RCB) vs RR

Yuvraj Singh has been a valuable T20 asset for every team he’s played in

For many years, Yuvraj Singh has been the poster-boy of Indian cricket. His aggression in batting is widely renowned and fans would definitely remember his six sixes in a single over against England at the T20 WC, 2007. His slow left-arm orthodox bowling is also useful in choking batsmen in the middle overs.

In possibly one of the best all-round displays in the history of the IPL, Yuvraj, playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), struck a blistering 38-ball 83, and took 4 wickets for 35 runs in his 4 overs at the M Chinnaswamy stadium, Bangalore, against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in 2014. However, as fate would have it, the RR batsmen were in top-notch form, and chased down the imposing target of 191 with 5 wickets in hand, thanks to quickfire 40s from Steven Smith and James Faulkner.

1. Suresh Raina (CSK) vs KXIP

Suresh Raina has been a mainstay of the CSK batting lineup and is yet to miss a game for his team.

Suresh Raina has been one of the most successful T20 batsmen of all time. He has the most number of runs in IPL history, and provides great strength to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) top-order. Coming in at one-down, Raina’s explosive, yet strokeful batting is a delight to watch. However, for the UP lad, the saying – Fortune favours the brave – couldn’t have been further from the truth on 30th May, 2014, in the IPL 2014 semifinal played at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai between CSK and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP).

After a magnificent century from Sehwag, CSK was set an imposing target of 227 with the additional pressure of a semi-final looming over the chase. After CSK lost Faf du Plessis in the second ball of their innings, Suresh Raina walked towards the crease and began bludgeoning the bowling attack.

Having scored 87 off just 25 deliveries, Raina looked well set to achieve the near-impossible feat of chasing a 200+ score in an Eliminator. In a bizarre and untimely turn of events, however, Raina was run out and this left CSK with an uphill task. Eventually, the batting order crumbled and KXIP celebrated a 24-run victory which took them to the final of the IPL.