The seventh edition of the Indian Premier League has almost reached its end, with the final due to take place between the Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab on Sunday at Bangalore.
This season, unlike previous editions, has been relatively free from controversy, apart from a couple of ugly altercations on the field and some horrendous umpiring. There have been no catastrophic, headline-grabbing scandals this time: no allegations of spot-fixing, molestation, or Bollywood superstars brawling with security guards.
This edition has been rich in terms of eye-popping individual and team performances, with fans witnessing some exhilarating action on the field. So, while the IPL circus prepares to put up its last show of the year in Bangalore, here is Scroll.in's list of five key moments that defined this seventh season:
1. The rise of Glenn Maxwell
Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was bought by the Mumbai Indians for $1 million last year, but ended up playing just three matches all season, scoring 36 runs. Thus, it wasn't a surprise when Mumbai decided against bidding for him this season.
However, the Kings XI Punjab franchise still considered him a piñata waiting to be cracked open and purchased him for a million dollars again. Only this time, Maxwell got a place in the starting line-up for Punjab's very first match of the season and the rest, as they say, is history.
Maxwell proved to one and all why he was the million-dollar baby as he blitzed his way to scores of 95, 89 and 95 in his first three matches. By the halfway stage of the tournament, he had notched up 435 runs in just seven matches at an average of 62.14 and a phenomenal strike rate of 181.16, even as Mumbai failed to pick themselves off the bottom of the table.
Soon, Maxwell's number 32 jersey was the most popular one sold in the country and he earned various monikers such as Glenndeep Singh Maxwell from the Punjab faithful, who adopted him as their own son.
Maxwell cooled down as the tournament progressed and his last eight matches have yielded just 117 runs. But he has laid his mark on this tournament and should not be discounted from playing a match-winning knock in the final on Sunday.
2. The Kieron Pollard-Mitchell Starc scuffle
Mumbai Indians' Trinidadian all-rounder Kieron Pollard has achieved almost a superhuman status over five seasons in the IPL with his acrobatics in the field and lustful blows with the bat. However, rather unfortunately, it wasn't his cricket that made headlines this season. During a game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pollard was involved in an ugly scuffle with counterpart Mitchell Starc. The Australian had had a few words for Pollard when the latter failed to connect an attempted scoop over the wicketkeeper. Pollard had casually brushed Starc away with a flippant wave of his hand. The incident should have ended there, but on the very next ball, Pollard walked away from his stance just as Starc was about to bowl. The Australian, not pleased with the delayed withdrawal, went ahead with the delivery and flung the ball towards Pollard who had walked away toward the leg umpire. Pollard, clearly incensed, then waved his bat at Starc and almost threw it at him, before letting it slip from his hand. This was followed by a heated argument involving the two protagonists, the umpires and RCB skipper, Virat Kohli. Unfortunately for the sport, the two players got away with just fines for the brawl and escaped match bans. 3. Aditya Tare does a Dhoni
When it comes to hitting sixes on the last ball to seal games, no one can usurp the memory of Indian captain MS Dhoni's immortal six at the Wankhede in April 2011 that ended a 28-year wait for India to win the World Cup. The six holds a special place among fans of Indian cricket and it would take quite something to match it.
The Mumbai Indians' wicketkeeper-batsman Aditya Tare came close to it last Sunday. He probably had no intention of stealing Dhoni's thunder, but what he pulled off, again at the Wankhede in front of the home crowd, pitted him right against the Indian skipper.
The Mumbai Indians were chasing a seemingly impossible target of 189 in just 14.3 overs, or 87 balls, to snatch the last available place in the playoffs. The Rajasthan Royals had posted a formidable target on the board, one that was difficult to achieve in 20 overs, leave alone 14.3.
However, the Mumbai Indians had come a long way in the tournament after languishing at the bottom not too long ago after losing their first five games on the trot. The defending champions had revived their season in the second half and against all odds were still in contention for the playoffs. They weren't going to let go so easily.
Mumbai set about achieving their target from the very first over and before you knew it, with each passing over, the target was seeming more and more achievable. All-rounder Corey Anderson, who had come into their squad with a big reputation, had flopped all season but had come good when it mattered and was unbeaten on 94 when the 15th over began.
In 14.3 overs, Mumbai had just lost their fifth wicket and were tied with Rajasthan's score, which meant that they would need a boundary off the next ball to win on net run-rate calculations. In the midst of all the excitement and chaos around, perhaps the only person to cut a relaxed, nonchalant figure was the incoming batsman, Tare.
He walked out to the middle vigorously chewing gum. As the rest of the people on the ground ran helter-skelter confirming the calculations, he just watched the drama unfold with a face that would put a quality poker player to shame. A team-mate from the dugout who ran out to inform him of the target was greeted by a casual nod. Finally, the field was set and spread around the ropes and the game was back on track. Rajasthan bowler James Faulkner ran in and bowled a full-toss on leg stump. Crack.
Tare was running toward his dugout with his shirt pulled up to cover his face and arms wide open, not very different from a football celebration. Shane Watson, the Rajasthan skipper, was close to tears. Rahul Dravid, the Royals' mentor and unarguably the calmest cricketer ever to have played the game, has tossed his cap away in disgust.
The ball had gone sailing into the stands beyond square-leg, almost magnetically pulled in by the Wankhede crowd. Tare had hit another last-ball six at the venue, which might not have won the World Cup, but was nowhere less important to him and his team.
Mumbai were through to the playoffs, when not five matches ago, anyone would have scoffed at such a suggestion.
4. The second coming of Robin Uthappa
A year ago, Robin Uthappa, playing for the now-defunct Pune Warriors, was but a speck in the background as RCB's Chris Gayle smashed a record-breaking 175 not out. Uthappa himself was a handy player at the top of the order for Pune, who provided them with aggressive starts.
He ended the season as the 12th-highest runscorer, with 434 runs in 16 matches at 27.12. However, he was no Gayle and more importantly was not a match-winner. An inconsistent performanc with the bat and a visibly unfit body had ensured he remained far away from the spotlight.
A year later, a lot has changed for him. This season's Uthappa is a leaner and fitter version. He is no longer in the background this year – not by a long way.
Uthappa has made noticeable changes to his batting style and his stance. The earlier closed and upright stance is replaced with a crouching one at the point of delivery, which has made him a lot more flexible while going for his shots. Ever since this Uthappa 2.0 has been unleashed, he hasn't been able to stop scoring runs.
Uthappa started the season slowly and steadily, after being played out of his preferred openers' slot by Kolkata Knight Riders, who soon realised they were underutilising his talent lower down the order. Once he was put back as opener, all hell broke loose on the opposition.
Going into Sunday's final, Uthappa is the season's leading run-scorer with 655 runs in 15 matches at an average of 46.8 and strike rate of 137.6. His last 10 scores read: 47, 65, 47, 46, 80, 40, 67, 83 not out, 41 and 42.
Uthappa's spectacular form in the second half of the season has ensured that KKR won their last eight matches on the trot, which boosted them to second on the points table and easily beat Kings XI Punjab in the qualifier to reach their second final in three years. It would be safe to say that their fortunes on the big day would depend on how their star batsman plays.
Uthappa's exploits in the IPL have also earned him a call-up to the Indian squad that will tour Bangladesh in June. He last played for the national team back in 2012.
5. The return of Virender Sehwag
Coming into the second qualifier of the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab on Friday, Virender Sehwag was not in any conversation leading up to the game.
The match was being touted as the final before the final, as both these teams had arguably been the strongest in the league stage. While Punjab finished on top of the table, Chennai were relegated to third towards the end following a run of three straight defeats in their last three games of the league stage.
Everyone was expecting the "Maxwell Show" when Punjab were put in to bat by Chennai. After a poor last few games, this was supposed to be Maxwell's comeback match. But then out walked Sehwag, who last played for India in March 2013 and had had an average IPL season, scoring 326 runs in 16 matches at an average of just 21.8.
Sehwag had got a couple of starts, a half-century and a few 20s and 30s here and there, and that's probably what most expected. The once-famed hand-eye coordination and lightning reflexes that made Sehwag one of the most dangerous batsmen in the world in his prime, were considered long gone.There wasn't much he could do, except perhaps connect a couple of boundaries and provide a launchpad for Maxwell, right?
Sehwag had other plans.
The 35-year-old broadcasted 'The vintage Sehwag show' at the Wankhede Stadium as he blazed his way to the season's only second century. His 122 from 58 balls led Punjab to an imposing total of 226, which turned out to be a target too far to achieve for Chennai. By doing so, he had managed to push Maxwell out of the limelight, at least for the time being.
Sehwag had been left out of both Indian squads announced prior to the game – for tours of Bangladesh and England. He probably won't play a match for India again. But he took everyone back 10 years on Friday evening with his histrionics.
However, perhaps the best moment of the match came in a chat with commentator Ramiz Raja at the end of Punjab's innings, when Sehwag revealed that his son had complained to him that he wasn't scoring enough runs and his schoolmates were teasing him because of it. "You just wait, buddy," he had replied.
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This season, unlike previous editions, has been relatively free from controversy, apart from a couple of ugly altercations on the field and some horrendous umpiring. There have been no catastrophic, headline-grabbing scandals this time: no allegations of spot-fixing, molestation, or Bollywood superstars brawling with security guards.
This edition has been rich in terms of eye-popping individual and team performances, with fans witnessing some exhilarating action on the field. So, while the IPL circus prepares to put up its last show of the year in Bangalore, here is Scroll.in's list of five key moments that defined this seventh season:
1. The rise of Glenn Maxwell
Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was bought by the Mumbai Indians for $1 million last year, but ended up playing just three matches all season, scoring 36 runs. Thus, it wasn't a surprise when Mumbai decided against bidding for him this season.
However, the Kings XI Punjab franchise still considered him a piñata waiting to be cracked open and purchased him for a million dollars again. Only this time, Maxwell got a place in the starting line-up for Punjab's very first match of the season and the rest, as they say, is history.
Maxwell proved to one and all why he was the million-dollar baby as he blitzed his way to scores of 95, 89 and 95 in his first three matches. By the halfway stage of the tournament, he had notched up 435 runs in just seven matches at an average of 62.14 and a phenomenal strike rate of 181.16, even as Mumbai failed to pick themselves off the bottom of the table.
Soon, Maxwell's number 32 jersey was the most popular one sold in the country and he earned various monikers such as Glenndeep Singh Maxwell from the Punjab faithful, who adopted him as their own son.
Maxwell cooled down as the tournament progressed and his last eight matches have yielded just 117 runs. But he has laid his mark on this tournament and should not be discounted from playing a match-winning knock in the final on Sunday.
2. The Kieron Pollard-Mitchell Starc scuffle
Mumbai Indians' Trinidadian all-rounder Kieron Pollard has achieved almost a superhuman status over five seasons in the IPL with his acrobatics in the field and lustful blows with the bat. However, rather unfortunately, it wasn't his cricket that made headlines this season. During a game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pollard was involved in an ugly scuffle with counterpart Mitchell Starc. The Australian had had a few words for Pollard when the latter failed to connect an attempted scoop over the wicketkeeper. Pollard had casually brushed Starc away with a flippant wave of his hand. The incident should have ended there, but on the very next ball, Pollard walked away from his stance just as Starc was about to bowl. The Australian, not pleased with the delayed withdrawal, went ahead with the delivery and flung the ball towards Pollard who had walked away toward the leg umpire. Pollard, clearly incensed, then waved his bat at Starc and almost threw it at him, before letting it slip from his hand. This was followed by a heated argument involving the two protagonists, the umpires and RCB skipper, Virat Kohli. Unfortunately for the sport, the two players got away with just fines for the brawl and escaped match bans. 3. Aditya Tare does a Dhoni
When it comes to hitting sixes on the last ball to seal games, no one can usurp the memory of Indian captain MS Dhoni's immortal six at the Wankhede in April 2011 that ended a 28-year wait for India to win the World Cup. The six holds a special place among fans of Indian cricket and it would take quite something to match it.
The Mumbai Indians' wicketkeeper-batsman Aditya Tare came close to it last Sunday. He probably had no intention of stealing Dhoni's thunder, but what he pulled off, again at the Wankhede in front of the home crowd, pitted him right against the Indian skipper.
The Mumbai Indians were chasing a seemingly impossible target of 189 in just 14.3 overs, or 87 balls, to snatch the last available place in the playoffs. The Rajasthan Royals had posted a formidable target on the board, one that was difficult to achieve in 20 overs, leave alone 14.3.
However, the Mumbai Indians had come a long way in the tournament after languishing at the bottom not too long ago after losing their first five games on the trot. The defending champions had revived their season in the second half and against all odds were still in contention for the playoffs. They weren't going to let go so easily.
Mumbai set about achieving their target from the very first over and before you knew it, with each passing over, the target was seeming more and more achievable. All-rounder Corey Anderson, who had come into their squad with a big reputation, had flopped all season but had come good when it mattered and was unbeaten on 94 when the 15th over began.
In 14.3 overs, Mumbai had just lost their fifth wicket and were tied with Rajasthan's score, which meant that they would need a boundary off the next ball to win on net run-rate calculations. In the midst of all the excitement and chaos around, perhaps the only person to cut a relaxed, nonchalant figure was the incoming batsman, Tare.
He walked out to the middle vigorously chewing gum. As the rest of the people on the ground ran helter-skelter confirming the calculations, he just watched the drama unfold with a face that would put a quality poker player to shame. A team-mate from the dugout who ran out to inform him of the target was greeted by a casual nod. Finally, the field was set and spread around the ropes and the game was back on track. Rajasthan bowler James Faulkner ran in and bowled a full-toss on leg stump. Crack.
Tare was running toward his dugout with his shirt pulled up to cover his face and arms wide open, not very different from a football celebration. Shane Watson, the Rajasthan skipper, was close to tears. Rahul Dravid, the Royals' mentor and unarguably the calmest cricketer ever to have played the game, has tossed his cap away in disgust.
The ball had gone sailing into the stands beyond square-leg, almost magnetically pulled in by the Wankhede crowd. Tare had hit another last-ball six at the venue, which might not have won the World Cup, but was nowhere less important to him and his team.
Mumbai were through to the playoffs, when not five matches ago, anyone would have scoffed at such a suggestion.
4. The second coming of Robin Uthappa
A year ago, Robin Uthappa, playing for the now-defunct Pune Warriors, was but a speck in the background as RCB's Chris Gayle smashed a record-breaking 175 not out. Uthappa himself was a handy player at the top of the order for Pune, who provided them with aggressive starts.
He ended the season as the 12th-highest runscorer, with 434 runs in 16 matches at 27.12. However, he was no Gayle and more importantly was not a match-winner. An inconsistent performanc with the bat and a visibly unfit body had ensured he remained far away from the spotlight.
A year later, a lot has changed for him. This season's Uthappa is a leaner and fitter version. He is no longer in the background this year – not by a long way.
Uthappa has made noticeable changes to his batting style and his stance. The earlier closed and upright stance is replaced with a crouching one at the point of delivery, which has made him a lot more flexible while going for his shots. Ever since this Uthappa 2.0 has been unleashed, he hasn't been able to stop scoring runs.
Uthappa started the season slowly and steadily, after being played out of his preferred openers' slot by Kolkata Knight Riders, who soon realised they were underutilising his talent lower down the order. Once he was put back as opener, all hell broke loose on the opposition.
Going into Sunday's final, Uthappa is the season's leading run-scorer with 655 runs in 15 matches at an average of 46.8 and strike rate of 137.6. His last 10 scores read: 47, 65, 47, 46, 80, 40, 67, 83 not out, 41 and 42.
Uthappa's spectacular form in the second half of the season has ensured that KKR won their last eight matches on the trot, which boosted them to second on the points table and easily beat Kings XI Punjab in the qualifier to reach their second final in three years. It would be safe to say that their fortunes on the big day would depend on how their star batsman plays.
Uthappa's exploits in the IPL have also earned him a call-up to the Indian squad that will tour Bangladesh in June. He last played for the national team back in 2012.
5. The return of Virender Sehwag
Coming into the second qualifier of the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab on Friday, Virender Sehwag was not in any conversation leading up to the game.
The match was being touted as the final before the final, as both these teams had arguably been the strongest in the league stage. While Punjab finished on top of the table, Chennai were relegated to third towards the end following a run of three straight defeats in their last three games of the league stage.
Everyone was expecting the "Maxwell Show" when Punjab were put in to bat by Chennai. After a poor last few games, this was supposed to be Maxwell's comeback match. But then out walked Sehwag, who last played for India in March 2013 and had had an average IPL season, scoring 326 runs in 16 matches at an average of just 21.8.
Sehwag had got a couple of starts, a half-century and a few 20s and 30s here and there, and that's probably what most expected. The once-famed hand-eye coordination and lightning reflexes that made Sehwag one of the most dangerous batsmen in the world in his prime, were considered long gone.There wasn't much he could do, except perhaps connect a couple of boundaries and provide a launchpad for Maxwell, right?
Sehwag had other plans.
The 35-year-old broadcasted 'The vintage Sehwag show' at the Wankhede Stadium as he blazed his way to the season's only second century. His 122 from 58 balls led Punjab to an imposing total of 226, which turned out to be a target too far to achieve for Chennai. By doing so, he had managed to push Maxwell out of the limelight, at least for the time being.
Sehwag had been left out of both Indian squads announced prior to the game – for tours of Bangladesh and England. He probably won't play a match for India again. But he took everyone back 10 years on Friday evening with his histrionics.
However, perhaps the best moment of the match came in a chat with commentator Ramiz Raja at the end of Punjab's innings, when Sehwag revealed that his son had complained to him that he wasn't scoring enough runs and his schoolmates were teasing him because of it. "You just wait, buddy," he had replied.
