Stats: Most expensive final overs in IPL history
Be it 50-overs or 20-overs format, the final over of an innings is often said to be the most crucial as teams can obtain or lose momentum depending on which way the action goes. While a solid finish to the proceedings helps the batting side go into the break with positive energy, a controlled performance in those six deliveries leaves the bowling side in a better frame of mind.
In the Indian Premier League (IPL), the case is no different. During either innings, the final over plays a key role in shifting the fortunes of both teams. A poor bowling effort in the first can go a long way in unsettling the mood in the camp while a shoddy display in the second let's slip the game to the opponent.
Even though Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) eventually won a cliff-hanger at the MCA Stadium, Ashok Dinda’s horror show in the final over ensured that their batsmen had to chase much more than what they would have anticipated.
By giving away 30 runs in the last over, the right-armer earned an ignominious record for himself in the popular Twenty20 tournament. During the course of his woeful performance against Mumbai Indians, Dinda sent down the most expensive final over in IPL history.
Before the last over began, Mumbai was stationed at 154. However, all-rounder Hardik Pandya cashed in on some wayward bowling from Dinda to push the team total to 184. A hat-trick of sixes was followed by a boundary. Then, yet another maximum proved to be the icing on the cake. A wide and leg-bye later, the 33-year old broke the record for the worst final over in IPL.
The damage done was so intricate that it took a special knock from skipper Steven Smith to get RPS over the line in a thrilling final over finish. Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar even mocked Dinda in the post-match show for turning the contest into a thrilling one.
It was not the first time that he had conceded an enormous amount of runs in the final over of a game. In fact, three of the six most expensive last overs in IPL belong to him. With his Pune shocker, he overtook part-time off-spinner David Hussey’s 27-run fiasco against Mumbai Indians in the 2013 season. Jharkhand pacer Rahul Shukla had also conceded 27 runs in the final over of a group fixture against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the 2014 edition.
Dinda twice gave away 26 runs in the last over. The first one was in the 2011 season against Pune Warriors while the other occasion came against RCB in the 2013 edition. Bangladesh seamer Mashrafe Mortaza, who had recently announced his retirement from T20Is, also conceded 26 runs against Deccan Chargers in 2009 when the IPL was held in South Africa.
Here’s the table listing the worst final overs in IPL history.
| Bowler | Runs Conceded | Team | Opposition | Batsman with most runs | Venue | Season |
| Ashok Dinda | 30 | Rising Pune Supergiant | Mumbai Indians | Hardik Pandya | MCA Stadium, Pune | 2017 |
| David Hussey | 27 | Kings XI Punjab | Mumbai Indians | Rohit Sharma | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 2013 |
| Rahul Shukla | 27 | Delhi Daredevils | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Yuvraj Singh | M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore | 2014 |
| Mashrafe Mortaza | 26 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Deccan Chargers | Rohit Sharma | New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg | 2009 |
| Ashok Dinda | 26 | Delhi Daredevils | Pune Warriors | Yuvraj Singh | Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai | 2011 |
| Ashok Dinda | 26 | Pune Warriors | Royal Challengers Bangalore | AB de Villiers | Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium, Pune | 2013 |
(*Note: All Statistics are as of 6th April 2017 at the end of the Rising Pune Supergiant-Mumbai Indians game)