IPL 2018: Five times tailenders won the match for their team

#2 Sunil Narine: KKR v KXIP, 2015

This was before Narine's batting exploits were discovered

Considering the fact they have featured on this list thrice, you can definitely say that the KKR tailenders are specialists in finishing off an IPL match. This time around, the Men in Purple and Golden set a record with the chase, as they became the first team to win an IPL match with a one-wicket margin.

What’s funny to note is that the two batsmen who managed to survive at the end of the game were both stranded on zero, despite winning the match for their team.

The hosts were pursuing a hefty target of 184 at the Eden Gardens and their nemesis, yet again, were KXIP.

Gambhir and Co. had lost their way through the chase and were reduced to 171/7 at the end of 18 overs. Sandeep Sharma, George Bailey’s go-to bowler, leaked just five runs in the penultimate over, giving Anureet Singh eight runs to play with for the last over.

He bowled five deliveries in the over, each more thrilling than the previous: after getting a single off the second delivery, Brad Hogg capitulated to a run-out on the very next ball. Chawla smacked a powerful six off the third delivery, only to return to the pavilion after the fourth ball.

After the unfolding of these exhilarating events, KKR required one run off the last two deliveries with two new batsmen (their last batsmen) on the crease. Sunil Narine, whose batting prowess was undiscovered till then, got a leg bye of the fifth delivery and thus, completed the chase for his side in a unique manner.