3 Greatest knocks in IPL history

The IPL auctions are around the corner, and all the franchises would be eager to grab the best available players on D-day. The trading window is set to close on 14 November, and there have been some big trades including the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Trent Boult.

The IPL has gone from strength to strength over the years, and we have witnessed some mind-boggling performances from different individuals in the past 12 seasons. The tournament has seen its fair shares of drama and controversies too, but they've largely been overshadowed by the brilliance of the players.

T20 is a batsman's game, and the IPL is no different. We have witnessed a lot of truly exceptional batting performances in these 12 years, which is why it is very difficult to pick just three of them.

There are bound to be disagreements over this list, but given the impact that they created, I believe these are the three greatest knocks in IPL history.

3. Brendon McCullum - 158 off 73 deliveries against RCB, IPL 2008

Back in 2008, no one knew the magnitude of the impact IPL would have on Indian and world cricket. That is why, this innings from Brendon McCullum will definitely rank among the greatest in history. It was the first ever match of the IPL, and this knock played a major role in defining the tournament.

Playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders, McCullum was at his brutal best as he blazed his way to the first ever century in the IPL. It was carnage from the former Kiwi skipper, and the RCB bowlers had literally no answers to his onslaught. The second highest score in the innings was 20, which goes to show just how extraordinary McCullum's effort was.

The scintillating knock was studded with 10 fours and 13 sixes, and it helped KKR rack up a mammoth 222/3 in 20 overs. The target was way too high for RCB as they were bundled out for just 82 runs in the 16th over, giving KKR a huge win by 140 runs.