SK flashback: When KKR defeated the CSK in their den to claim their maiden title
Year - 2012.
When IPL was just a more-than-successful attempt by Indians at a cricket league and wasn't marred by any legal intervention. The last year before the IPL was spot-free in the world's view. The year when CSK were the ideal contenders for the trophy again, third time in a row. But, then came the purple brigade marching over their opposition's dream in their own backyard.
The backdrop of the finals
The Chepauk was painted yellow, the crowd chanting Dhoni's name. The gain in form of Murali Vijay alongside Dwayne Bravo, Albie Morkel, and Ravichandran Ashwin, had boosted the defending champion's confidence. Despite all the pressure, the team had maintained their temperament appreciably well. On the other hand were the KKR team, who smoothly glided their way into the finals with Sunil Narine's bowling being one of the key reasons. After a terrible start to the IPL, the team had gained its momentum from 2011 under Gambhir's captaincy. And it was the same man the team was eyeing to lead the team to their first ever IPL title.
Both had their own set of positives that they were rearing on - CSK had defeated KKR thrice in their previous five battles. This time, they were sealing their fate in their own home. However, the last game the two teams played at the same venue, Gambhir's 63 had steered KKR to a 5-wicket win against the hosts.
The batting marathon begins
A confident Dhoni won the toss and chose to bat. Once Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay walked down the pavilion, there was no looking back. After 10.1 overs of firing all around the ground, Shakib Al Hasan took a flying catch to dismiss Vijay, who fell 8 short of a half-century. While KKR would've liked to believe that the wicket of Vijay pulled the game towards their side, Raina's plan differed their hopes.
For 7 overs after Raina walked in, there were only 6 dot balls with over 8 boundaries. The Chinna Thala exploited every bowler who came at him. The partnership cost KKR dearly until Michael Hussey got out at 17.1 overs after scoring his second IPL half-century. The damage was done, CSK were rampaging at 160. Dhoni walked in and added to the opposition's miseries as the fiery Raina and his captain put 30 more runs to the board in 3 overs.
Chepauk was screaming. A total of 190 was nowhere feasible for KKR, they thought. Bret Lee and Narine walked in as the lead of pace and spin attack of KKR but had an economy above 9 in the end. The over bowled by Yusuf Pathan went for 17 runs, a great mishap in the hope of a breakthrough. In fact, apart from Rajat Bhatia, all their bowlers had an economy over 8.
The Bisla-Kallis rampage
The likeliness of KKR winning was decreasing by the second. The scoreboard and the crowd were building extra pressure on the debut finalists like there wasn't enough pressure already. It didn't help the situation when Gambhir was out at the end of first over with only 3 runs on the board. Probably, a bunch of KKR fans would've switched off their TV right at that moment.
It was early in the game and both Bisla and Kallis wanted to turn this over. They began their batting at their own rhythm. Boundaries started flowing in. Dhoni was trying everything to break their partnership and it nearly did work at one point but, Hilfenhaus dropped Bisla off Ashwin's bowling at 5.5 overs.
In his second chance, Bisla put so many balls beyond the boundary that Hilfenhaus had a lot to regret. Both the batsmen took their chances at punishing the CSK bowlers. A flood of fours and sixes followed until Bisla was finally dismissed in the 15th over by Morkel. The Super Kings were looking to jump back into the game with 52 runs to defend in 32 balls. Although the saga between the boundaries and Kallis continued, CSK found some solace in sending back two batsmen including the dangerous Yusuf Pathan in the next two overs. An over after that, even Kallis was gone off Hilfenhaus' bowling. It was a huge breakthrough for CSK.
Now there were two unsettled batsmen trying to score 16 runs off 7 balls. Hilfenhaus was gleaming with joy until he bowled the next ball. Shakib hit the ball up in the air, Vijay caught it and started celebrating too before they saw the umpire extend his right arm. It was a no-ball!
Within the third ball of next over, both Shakib and Tiwary had hit a boundary each. They ran a couple of runs and had to win 3 runs off 3 balls. A super-over was in the sight before Tiwary pulled a four towards backward square leg. KKR had won! Two all-rounders gathered all they had to finish the match Kallis and Bisla had began.
The KKR broke out in celebrations. All of them running towards the center, rejoicing. They were lifting each other in the air with the glitters all over them. After mildly choking in between, the purple brigade had pulled the game to their side. A tremendous run chase finally rendered KKR their maiden IPL title.
