Imagine it’s 2012. Your summer holidays have just started. The sun is pouring down heat outside and you are inside the house, making a cold drink to sip while watching the IPL on your TV. You have worn a CSK jersey and are waiting for Dhoni to come on the crease. You have discussions of who will win the IPL with your friend but you both support different teams. Gully cricket is played with more enthusiasm than ever after everybody saw Gayle breaking records yesterday. Wearing the cricket jersey of their favorite team, everybody plays cricket when the clock strikes 5. Nostalgic, isn’t it? All of us grew up watching IPL. The league has come around again for the 14th time. The tournament gave us many memories over these many years.
Here are some of the unforgettable ones:
- Shane Watson continues to bat with an injured knee:
In 2019, during the CSK vs MI finals, Watson hurt his knee while diving during the game. He scored 80 runs in 59 balls before dismissal. CSK lost the match in the end. His knee was bleeding during the play, to that he commented – A bit of blood was not gonna stop me. The already celebrated player earned more respect among his fans.
- Gayle mode on.
A score of 175 runs in 66 balls which included 17 sixes, remember that? Yes! It’s the RCB vs Pune Warriors match on the 23rd of April 2012 that saw this shower of runs by Chris Gayle. Breaking multiple records that day, Gayle led his team to victory.
- Ganguly celebratory run.
Saurav Ganguly is well known for his celebrations. One such moment was seen in 2012 when Pune Warriors was in a match against Delhi Daredevils, Ganguly knocked out the stumps of Kevin Pieterson in his first ball since IPL 2010. He proceeded with a celebratory run across the field. The audience in the stadium was excited to witness this moment.
- Pollard’s catch drop hat-trick.
In a match against CSK, Pollard dropped 3 consecutive catches of Michael Hussey. Often it is referred to as Pollard’s forgettable hat-trick. This incident, however, didn’t manage to waver the Mumbai Indians’ path to victory.
- David Hussey’s catch
In the last over of Delhi’s innings against KKR, 2010, Paul Collingwood hit the ball aiming for a six which gave us one of the best catches ever. The ball was caught by David Hussey, while being inside the boundary, he tossed the ball, the momentum made him go outside the boundary, while the ball was still in the air he came back in and caught the ball. He received the best catch award for that stunning catch.
These are just a few of the many memorable moments from the league and tons of them are yet to come. With the bat and ball season here, make your cold drinks, get your IPL jersey out and prepare yourself to enjoy the tournament.