Greatest Knocks in IPL History | Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum, AB de Villers, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli

At the end of 2007 ICC T20 cricket world cup T20 cricket format reached wider audiences around the world. Then the very next year the BCCI introduced the Indian premier league that is none other than IPL. There was a reason for starting this prestigious league.

But mainly in order to encourage the thousands of young talents around India this league was started. We can proudly say that the reason to start the IPL is fulfilled. Yes many young talents like Jasprit bumrah, Rishabh pant, Hardik Pandya and so many players got their National call after their successful journey in the IPL.

A total of 14 IPL series have been played successfully from 2008 to last year. Rajasthan Royals won the maiden IPL trophy, and that was their only IPL trophy they had won till now. The most successful Mumbai Indians have won five trophies so far. secondly Chennai super kings are with four trophies,and thirdly Kolkata knight riders are with two trophies.Deccan Chargers and Sunrisers Hyderabad each have one trophy respectively.

There are so many best knocks in the IPL history. But today in this article we are going to discuss the greatest knocks in the IPL right from the 2008 to till now.

1.Brendon McCullum 158*(73) against RCB in April18,2008

Brendon McCullum smoked the RCB bowlers in the inaugural match of the inaugural IPL league. No one expected this kind of batting from him in the very first match. RCB won the toss and elected to field. The Kolkata team scored mammoth 222 runs for 3 wickets at the end of 20 overs.

Brendon McCullum alone scored 158 runs from just 73 deliveries.He hit 13 sixes and 10 fours in this innings and remained not out. Brendon McCullum is the first ever player in IPL history to score a century in the first match of the IPL. By his brilliant effort at the end of the match Kolkata knight riders won by 140 runs. And Brendon McCullum is currently the head coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders respectively.

2.Chris Gayle 175*(66) against Pune warriors India in April 23,2013

The evening will not be forgotten by every Indian. We know Chris Gayle who has the ability to score big sixes anywhere else in the world.But in particular he played like that was his last innings in his cricket career.

Pune warriors India won the toss and elected to field first. Royal challengers Bangalore Scored a mammoth total of 263 for 5 wickets.And don't forget this was the highest team score till now.In that innings Chris Gayle alone scored 175* runs from just 66 deliveries with 17 sixes and 13 boundaries respectively. He also bowled one over against Pune warriors India and surprisingly he picked up two wickets. At the end, Bangalore won by 130 runs.

In the IPL history by this innings, Chris Gayle holds the record of highest individual score till now. Chris Gayle also holds the record of most sixes (357 sixes) in the IPL history till now.

3.AB De Villiers 79*(47) against Gujarat lions in May 24, 2016

No one can forget this Carnage from AB de Villiers. He single handedly won the match for his team on that night. This match was the first qualifier match of the 2016 IPL. RCB won the toss and elected to field first. Gujarat lions scored 158 runs and set the target of 159 for RCB.

Everyone decided RCB is going to win this match easily. But Kulkarni bowled a brilliant spell on that night. He brilliantly picked the wickets of RCB top order Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. At the end of 10 overs, RCB struggled with just 70/6.

RCB needed another 89 runs from 60 deliveries to qualify for the finals, with only four wickets remaining in their hand. Everyone thought RCB was going to lose the game. But de Villiers had other ideas. By keeping Iqbal Abdulla on the non-strike, he chased the target for RCB. By the brilliant effort from de Villiers RCB reached the target at 18.2 overs.He scored 79* runs off just 47 deliveries with five sixes and five boundaries remained not out on that match.

4.Suresh Raina 87(25) against kings XI Punjab in May 30,2014

This was the 2nd qualifier match. Chennai super kings won the toss and elected to field first. Virendra Sehwag scored 122 runs off just 58 deliveries with 12 boundaries and 8 sixes. by his brilliant knock Punjab scored 226/6 at the end of 20 overs.

Now Chennai had to score 227 to reach the final match of that edition. Although openers Smith and Faf went for a single digit. Suresh Raina smoked every Punjab bowler by his extraordinary knock. Raina scored a half century in just 16 deliveries. And by the end of 6 overs Suresh Raina alone scored 87 off 25 deliveries with twelve boundaries and six sixes. Chennai team's score also reached 100/2.

Everyone thought the match was going to end in very few overs. But the very next ball Suresh Raina lost his wicket by the brilliant run out from George Bailey. Then the match turned toward Punjab. At the end Punjab won by 24 runs. Although Chennai lost in that match, Suresh Raina's extraordinary knock will be celebrated forever.

5. Rishabh Pant 57(36) against royal challengers Bangalore in april 8, 2017

This innings was something emotionally tough for the 19 years old Rishabh pant in 2017. Rishabh pant played in this particular match two days after his father's death.

Royal challengers Bangalore batted first and they scored 157 runs. Delhi capitals can't Chase the target they setted. But the 19 year old young Rishabh Pant scored a brilliant half century 2 days after his father's death. Everyone appreciated his commitment for the team, and he himself stated this innings was the toughest and most emotional innings in his IPL career.

6. MS Dhoni 54*(29) against kings 11 Punjab in april 18,2010

In that edition Chennai super kings played their last league match against Punjab. Chennai super kings need to win the match to qualify for the playoffs. Punjab kings batted at first and scored 192 runs.

Chennai super kings while chasing the target especially at 16.4 overs this code only 148/4. They badly needed 45 runs from 20 balls to qualify for the playoffs. Then the master in chasing named MS Dhoni helped CSK to reach the playoffs by his valiant knock. He scored 54* runs of 29 deliveries with 5 boundaries and two sixes. Not only they qualified for the playoffs that season they too won their maiden IPL trophy respectively.

7.Corey Anderson 95*(44) against Rajasthan royals in May 25,2014

In that season it was the Mumbai Indians last league match. Mumbai Indians will qualify to playoffs only if they win this match by huge difference. First Rajasthan royals scored 189/4 at the end of 20 overs.

Now Mumbai Indians had to chase this target within 14.3 overs. Everyone thought it was impossible but New Zealand all rounder Corey Anderson smashed every ball right from the start. He scored 95* runs from just 44 deliveries with 9 boundaries and six sixes. Although Mumbai Indians scored 189 at the end of 14.3 overs. Now the scores are Level.

Then the officials and umpires said Mumbai Indians need to hit a boundary or a six in the very next ball to qualify for the playoffs. Aditya tare hits a sixer and Mumbai Indians qualified for the finals.

8.Virat Kohli Masterclass in 2016

Virat Kohli can't forget this year for his lifetime. He was at his peak this year. In this particular edition he played 16 matches, where scored seven half centuries and four centuries. He scored a total of 973 runs at the end of the season. This is the most runs scored by a player in an IPL Season till now.

In this season after the match with Kolkata knight riders(16 May, 2016) , Kohli needed 9 stitches in his left hand due to the injury. After 48 hours of injury, Kohli played the match against Kings XI Punjab(18th May, 2016). In that match he scored 113 off just 50 deliveries. He scored his fourth century in that season with the stitched hand. That was such pure love and commitment.

9. Sachin Tendulkar 100(66) against Kochi tuskers Kerala in April 16 2011

This century is very very special for Sachin Tendulkar. Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar 100 centuries in his career ( ODI and test). Till this match he had no century in the 24 over format that means T20 cricket.

Sachin fulfilled this milestone too in this match too in the last ball of the innings. This match Sachin scored 100* out of 66 balls. After he scored a century the entire Wankhede stadium erupted.

10. Shane Watson - The Warrior

It was 12th May, 2019. The final between Chennai super kings and Mumbai Indians was played. Mumbai Indians batted 1st and scored 149/8. Chennai need to score 150 to lift their fourth IPL trophy. But the Chennai super kings lost that match by 1 run at the end. Mumbai Indians lifted their fourth trophy by this extraordinary win.

While Chasing Chennai super kings batsman Shane Watson scored 80 runs from 59 deliveries with eight boundaries and four sixes. Although he tried his level best for his team, CSK lost that match. At the end of the match everyone noticed the blood stains in the Shane Watson leg.