IPL 2017: 5 greatest IPL matches
Isn’t it unbelievable that the Indian Premier League is into its 10th season? It seems like just yesterday that Brendon McCullum was clobbering the Royal Challengers Bangalore bowlers to every corner of the stadium. How time flies!
The very first match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium had given the promise that, if anything, the IPL was going to be entertaining. And boy has it lived up to the expectations. Yes, there were controversies that threatened to nullify the league altogether but the IPL never stopped being the spectacle that it currently is.
Extra Cover: IPL 2017: Top 5 last ball finishes
Over the years, we have seen some enthralling matches, some nail-biting finishes and some incredible performances. Here, we list the five most exciting or hard-fought matches that will remain etched in the memories of cricket aficionados forever.
#5 Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Match 1 IPL 2008
It was the very first match of the Indian Premier League and there were many fans who were apprehensive about the new league.
Royal Challengers Bangalore were hosting Kolkata Knight Riders and both teams boasted a number of high-profile players. However, a certain New Zealander, Brendon McCullum, had his mind set. Opening the innings for KKR, the wicket-keeper batsman scored an unbeaten 158 off just 73 balls.
KKR piled 222 runs on the board, courtesy of McCullum’s annihilation of the opposition bowlers. RCB were always going to fall short, but the immense pressure induced a collapse that saw them being bundled out for a paltry 82.
It wasn’t the most hotly contested match. In fact, it was a little too one-sided. But the crowd went home happy, despite the home team’s loss and it set the tone for the league in the years to come.