Indian Premier League is the biggest and most famous T20 league in the world that has unearthed many talented players over the years. It has produced countless memories and striking events that combine together to form the top moments in the Indian Premier League. Every cricketing youngster aims to get picked by an IPL franchise so that he can skip the gruelling waiting and turns directly to fast-track his career on the international path.
IPL has earned the status of almost being as significant as the ICC international cricketing events. When the tournament was first held in 2008, no one would have imagined the success and heights the Indian Premier League might scale. It has produced countless cricketing memories and thrilling sequences that have raised the level of standard in cricket.
Here are the top moments in Indian Premier League history:
1- Brendon McCullum’s 158
What set the cricketing fraternity gushing about the IPL was Brendon McCullum’s fiery century in the tournament’s first game during the inaugural season in 2008.
McCullum, who was playing as an opener for KKR in that game, scored the highest ever individual score in T20 at that time when he annihilated the RCB bowling unit.
The former Kiwi skipper must be credited as the flag-bearer of IPL because his blazing knock put the Indian Premier League on everyone’s radar.
2- Virat Kohli’s 973 runs in 2016
Virat Kohli mesmerised everyone with his incredible run in IPL 2016. He scored a record-breaking 973 runs, which included 4 centuries.
No other batter in IPL history has scored more runs in a season and centuries. Kohli was in the form of his life and took RCB to the finals but still failed to grasp the elusive title.
However, Virat Kohli’s dominance in that edition of IPL is perhaps the most dominant performance by a batsman in a single edition of a T20 tournament.
3- Chris Gayle’s 175*
Chris Gayle, the West Indian, was a force to reckon with in IPL. He scored the highest ever score in T20s, a record that still stands when he took apart the Rising Pune Supergiants bowler.
Gayle accumulated 175 runs in just 66 balls to help RCB post the highest ever score in IPL of 263 runs.
Chris Gayle hit 13 fours and 17 gigantic sixes in his destructive inning, which remains one of the top moments in Indian Premier League history.
4- Anil Kumble’s fifer for 5 runs
Anil Kumble bowled one of the most extraordinary spells in T20 history when he took apart Rajasthan Royals in Capetown to secure an easy win for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
His figures read 5 wickets for 5 runs in 3.1 overs. Kumble dismissed established batters like Yusuf Pathan and Ravindra Jadeja in his striking spell that helped RCB wrap up Rajasthan for only 58 runs.
5- Rajasthan Royals, the inaugural winners
Rajasthan Royals, led by the great leg-spinner Shane Warne created history when it became the first team to life the coveted IPL trophy.
Nobody gave them any chance against the Chennai Super Kings in the final, but Shane Warne’s team had the self-belief to overcome anything.
It will always remain one of the top moments in the Indian Premier League history due to Rajasthan’s miracle run in the inaugural edition.
Also read: 4 Teams Expected to Qualify For IPL 2022 Play-Offs
