Top surprising moments in the history of the IPL

Ever since it’s inception in 2008, the Indian Premier League has grown in stature and is now one of the biggest, if not the biggest domestic cricket league in the world. Players from all around the globe have enjoyed playing and being part of this lucrative tournament. The fans have loved this mega event and it keeps getting bigger and better every passing year.
Over the past eleven seasons, the IPL has given us everything, from close finishes to individual brilliance to game changing bowling spells to match winning knocks to heated arguments. The list keeps going on and on. The Indian Premier League has also witnessed some surprising moments which made the fans go “Woooooooah, what just happened?”.

Here are the top 5 surprising moments in the history of the Indian Premier League.

5. Mumbai chased down 190 inside 15 overs.
It was the last round robin match in IPL 7 and both Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians came into the game knowing that a win would seal their place in the playoffs. While Rajasthan just needed a win, Mumbai’s task was slightly tougher as they required a big win to qualify. Put into bat, Rajasthan racked up 189 runs, thanks to a phenomenal 47 ball 74 by Sanju Samson and a quickfire 27 ball 50 by Karun Nair. Mumbai then realised that they needed to chase down the stiff target in 14.4 overs to qualify.
The road seemed tough but Corey Anderson had other ideas. He came in and blasted an unbeaten 44 ball 95 to give the Mumbai crowd hope. All of a sudden, wickets kept tumbling and Mumbai found themselves requiring a boundary off the next ball to not only win the game but also book their spot in the final four. In walked Aditya Tare, who kept his cool and pulled one of the most memorable strokes of his career with a huge six over fine leg to seal the deal for Mumbai. Everyone was left awestruck and dumbfounded and couldn’t believe their eyes.

4. RCB skittled out for the lowest IPL total ever.
In one of the most dramatic games in the history of the IPL which saw a star studded RCB unit crumble at the Eden Gardens to register the lowest ever IPL total in the history of the tournament, left everyone wondering what just happened. Nobody could believe their eyes but all the KKR fans at the Eden roared in delight.
Chasing a modest 132, set up by KKR, it seemed as if the batting heavy RCB outfit would romp home but what unfolded, left everyone surprised. The RCB skipper fell for a duck and right after his dismissal, wickets kept tumbling like nine pins and in just 9.3 overs they were bundled out for a paltry 49 with none of the RCB batsman reaching double digits. KKR won the encounter by a massive 82 runs and left all RCB fans stunned. With that, RCB held the record for the highest (263-5 vs Pune Warriors in 2013)) and lowest (49 all out vs KKR in 2017) totals in the history of the IPL.

3. Rohit Sharma’s hat-trick.
When we talk about Rohit Sharma, his sublime batting comes to mind but on 6th May, 2009, it was Rohit Sharma the bowler which left a long lasting memory in the minds of all cricket lovers.
Defending a modest 145, Mumbai Indians seemed to run away way with an easy win but then came the twist. Deccan Chargers skipper, Adam Gilchrist, tossed the ball to part timer Rohit in the 16th over. This move shocked all cricket fans but little did they know that this surprising move will soon turn out to be a masterstroke. In his fifth and sixth delivery, Rohit dismissed Abhishek Nayar and Harbhajan Singh which tilted the game in Deccan’s favour. The crowd went wild. Gilchrist gave Rohit another over and in his first delivery he found the edge of the in-form JP Duminy to complete a stunning hat-trick. He finished with impressive figures of 4 for 6 in 2 overs and helped his side to a 19 run win.

2. Gilchrist taking a wicket.
The Mumbai vs Punjab game at the HPCA ground in Dharamsala will be remembered for one surprising moment that occurred. It was a dead rubber as table toppers Mumbai had already booked their place in the play-offs while Punjab didn’t have a chance at all.
It turned out to be a one-sided contest as Punjab, who made 183 runs were calling all the shots. Mumbai never seemed to be in the game and were staring down the barrel. 19 overs were done and when the game was beyond Mumbai’s reach, the Punjab skipper surprised everyone. Playing in his last competitive match, Adam Gilchrist decided to bowl. He took off his wicketkeeping gloves and pads; handed them to Praveen Kumar and took his mark at the bowling end. This was once in a lifetime moment and all the fans at the stadium began chanting “Gilly, Gilly”. The Australian great bowled off-spin to another off spinner Harbhajan Singh, who tried to hoick him for a six but completely mistimed his shot and it fell straight into Gurkeerat’s hands who was stationed at long on. As soon as the catch was completed, Gilchrist bought out his dancing shoes and began doing the “Gangnam style” along with few of his teammates. It was his first ever wicket in his illustrious career and Gilchrist danced like there was no tomorrow. It was a moment which can never be forgotten by anyone.

1. Zaheer Khan comes out to bat at number 3.
The match between Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore had nothing special in it and it was just another normal game where Deccan Chargers, after being put into bat, finished on an impressive 175 on the back of a splendid 35 ball 61 by little known Bharat Chipli. Zaheer Khan was RCB’s best bowler with three scalps.
While chasing 176, RCB started poorly and despite a valiant effort by Virat Kohli, who scored a brilliant 71, they never got going and eventually fell short by 33 runs. What surprised everyone in this game was the decision made by the then RCB captain, Daniel Vettori, who shockingly sent Zaheer Khan in to bat at number 3. Yes, you read correctly - NUMBER 3! The ploy did not work as the Indian left-arm seamer was dismissed by Dale Steyn for a three ball duck. Later on, Daniel Vettori revealed that it was a team tactic to send Zaheer at three which obviously backfired.