SK Flashback: A gutsy Rohit Sharma's innings to Deccan Chargers' rescue

Terrorism and politics had both found its way to the IPL in the very second year of its existence. The 26/11 attacks, the unfortunate incidents with Sri Lankan team in Pakistan, and the General Election of India had made it very difficult for the league to feature in the space of time it'd proclaimed for itself. The BCCI was reluctant to postpone the tournament and the five-phased elections were highly unlikely to alter their dates. Thus, the South African phase of IPL came into being.

The BCCI were appreciated for their efforts of globalising the cricket while South Africa benefitted a business worth over $100 million.

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The backdrop of the match

One out of 11 matches won - that's how the KKR team were faring in the 2009 IPL. Until Gambhir graced the team with his captaincy in 2011, the team had had the worst three years of the IPL despite Brendon McCullum's fiery start against RCB in the first ever match of the league.

Contrastingly, they were up against Deccan Chargers, who were racing towards the trophy. The team led by a shrewd captain, Adam Gilchrist, hadn't lost their momentum despite facing two close losses in the previous matches. They had to win two out of three matches to make it to the semi-finals and couldn't have asked for a better opponent to thrash than the parched KKR.

Slow-motioned KKR innings to a time-lapsed climax

After being put to bat, KKR were off to a sluggish start, going at a run rate of 5. In the 4th over, McCullum smashed a big one over the mid-wicket just before he was dropped by Gibbs at point. Another life, he would've thought, but a short ball from Ryan Harris in the next over sent him back after a mistimed pull shot.

Sourav Ganguly and Brad Hodge began their partnership, a very slow-paced one. Clearly, KKR were digging the last spot of the table as deep as they could. Right before the end of 7th over, Gilchrist made an aggressive appeal of Ganguly obstructing the field. The big screens replayed the Indian legend almost deliberately hanging his left arm to obstruct the ball at the non-strikers end. After a long chat with the umpires, the match continued without any action being taken against him.

Ten overs through the game and the Knight Riders were still at the same run rate with 50 runs on the board. Ganguly tried pushing some balls to the boundary but was out to Rohit Sharma's bowling while trying to clear the long-off. Yes, Rohit Sharma, the Mumbai lad who had picked up a hat-trick for the Chargers.

Two Aussies were out in the middle - Brad Hodge and David Hussey. Despite a slow start, Hodge seemed stable. He bashed a couple of boundaries in the following overs. The KKR were dependant on the duo to fill in more runs after reaching the 100-run mark in the 16th over. Two runs to reach his half-century, Hodge mistimed a pull shot and the ball landed safely in Harris' hands.

118/3 in the 18th one and a tectonic 19th over commenced - the saga of RP Singh and no-balls. The first ball of the over was a full toss, above Hussey's waist and the umpire extended his arm signalling a no-ball. The third of the over was a waist-high full toss, which was smashed to the boundary by Hussey, and a no-ball was called yet again. According to the rules, after a second no-ball for height, RP Singh wasn't allowed to bowl anymore.

Harmeet Singh continued the over for him and was thrashed mercilessly by the Aussie batsman in the five balls he bowled - 2 sixes and a four with a couple of quickies. 146/3 at the end of 19th over.

The last over was alternated by a six and wicket by both the batsmen in the middle and the grand total finally reached a decent 160 in the end.

Rohit Sharma - the 'knight' of the Chargers

The key for the Chargers was a mettlesome start from the captain. Additionally, if Gibbs gained form, the match would've finished earlier than expected. If not wholly that, something similar was on the cards that day. The duo were off to a great start, very balanced with boundaries and running-between-the-wickets. A partnership of 50 was struck even before the 6th over had ended.

However, things slowed down from there and the captain was out as Laxmi Ratan Shukla clung on to a brilliant grab at deep square leg. The required run rate was spiking but Gibbs followed suit and was out within 3 overs of his captain's wicket. The total looked formidable now.

With Murali Karthik on fire, conceding only 6 runs in 3 overs, Tirumalasetti Suman and Andrew Symonds were in the middle. Suman had begun finding boundaries but a sharp throw from Hodge sent the batsman back with 45 runs left to win in 22 balls. The Australian all-rounder was scalped the same way, by a brilliant effort from Mashrafe Mortaza.The Bangladeshi quick was finally given a chance to play and he picked the wicket of Symonds. With this, KKR were looking likely to register their 2nd win in the tournament.

The last few balls of the game and Rohit Sharma, with his poor streak of performances, was on the ground with Venugopal Rao. With 21 required off the last over, Mortaza was to carry on the proceedings. A no-ball, wide, boundaries, and everything wrong with the KKR team conveniently shifted the match to Deccan Chargers' favour in the final over.

The first ball, a full toss on the middle, and Sharma sends it off to the boundary line. There were only 3 fielders in the ring and the umpire had extended his arm again. The bowler backed himself and gave only 2 runs in the next two balls until he bowled a juicy full toss in the next one. It was sent 115m away by Sharma and the requirement was reduced to 8 off 3 balls. The next one was hurled away from the batsman, very well outside off, and was called a wide. After running a quick couple in the next, 5 was needed off 2. Sharma relished the next two balls by the Bangladesi for a four and a six and logged a thrilling victory.

KKR's inability had struck them again. This was a good fight at least, although given away in the last over. In an IPL season that'd seen nail-biting close encounters, another was added to the list as Rohit Sharma's undaunted innings got the Chargers a step closer to their semi-finals dream.