18 unforgettable moments of the IPL. A league that has enthralled, entertained and changed the way the world looks at franchise cricket.

18 April 2008. The success of the ICC World T20 six months ago gave birth to the inaugural edition of the INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE. And what a landmark decision by the BCCI to club entertainment and cricket was met by a thunderous response by the fans. 

Over the years, despite competition from the BBL, PSL, the hundred and recently the SA T20, the IPL has given the viewers, entertainment, entertainment and more entertainment. It is a mighty difficult job to list down 18 moments as it has already completed 18 years. Yet, PitchPoint lists down 18 unforgettable moments of the IPL. 

18 : Rohit Sharma, Mumbai Indians and a hat-trick (MI vs DC IPL 2009)

2009 was an absolutely banger of a year for the Deccan Chargers. Led by an absolute gentleman in Adam Gilchrist, they went on to clinch the trophy as they pipped RCB in the final. There were many moments that year that stood out for them, like the captain going bonkers in the semi final or RP Singh running through batting line ups for fun. But one stand out moment involved a young Rohit Sharma. 

Playing against the Mumbai Indians and defending a partly score of 145, Rohit picked up the wickets of Harbhajan Singh, JP Duminy and Abhishek Nayar as he picked up an unimaginable 4/6 in 2 overs, that included a hat trick. The cherry on the cake was that it was against a team he later was to captain and win 5 titles with.

17 : RCB…. DD …and a thrilling tie ( RCB VS DD, IPL 2013)

Before 200 was the new norm in the IPL, we often had a set of thrilling games and the game between RCB and Delhi Daredevils(earlier name) played one of those cracking games at the chinnaswamy as we had the first ties of the IPL, sending a packed chinnaswamy into frenzy.

Put into bat first, the Daredevils scored a partly 152 with cameos from Sehwag, Jayawardane, Warner and Irrfan Pathan. It was a score that any team would have fancied chasing, but RCB despite a Kohli cameo choked at the wrong time and were stopped at 152 as well. 

In the super over, scored 15 runs and restricted the Daredevils to 11 giving RCB 2 crucial points. Even though the game didn’t do any good to either of the teams, it was one good game of that edition's IPL.

16 : Dwayne Bravo snatches victory from the jaws of defeat. (MI VS CSK IPL 2018).

Again, like the international games, the Wankhede stadium has produced IPL classics. And especially when it is MI vs CSK. This time though, the setting was more personal when a team returned after a 2 year ban and there was a keen anticipation amongst the fans

CSK played their opening game at the Wankhede amidst a sea of yellow. They put the Mumbai Indians into bat first and restricted them to a modest score of 165. In return, they were in tatters as Hardik Pandya and Mayank Markande restricted them to 117/8 at the end of the 17th over. 

With 50 to get off the last 3 overs, the only thing that stood between the two teams was Dwayne Bravo. And that Dwayne Bravo snatched the game from the home team.  He scored a whirlwind 68 off 30 balls with 3 fours and 7 sixes. And even though he was dismissed, Kedar Jadhav applied the finishing touches as the men in blue were left high and dry and once again lost an opening game in the IPL. 

15 : Anil Kumble subjects RR to an unwanted humiliation ( IPL 2009)

Anil Kumble was a champion test bowler for India is a fact that everyone knows. But he produced one of the most riveting spells in the IPL, very few people know. And he did in South Africa and the Rajasthan Royals were the poor victims. 

Batting first, RCB scored a modest 133/8, as Dimitri Mascharnehas, Shane Warne and Munaf Patel were the key wreckers in chief. Rahul Dravid held one end and scored 66 runs, which eventually was the difference. 

But the actual drama followed in the run chase. Anil Kumble took an unreal 5/5 as they wrapped up the Royals for just 58 runs, the lowest score till RCB were shot out for 49 in 2017. 

14 : IPL’s oldest warhorse etches his name in history books (IPL 2014)

Exactly 4 seasons after Anil Kumble bagged that miraculously outstanding 5 wicket haul, it was Pravin Tambe’s turn to etch his name in record books in the IPL.

Tambe, who debuted at 40, became the oldest leg spinner to bag a hattrick in the tournament. After the Royals posted a mid 170 on the board at the then Motera stadium in Ahmedabad, KKR were on course chasing it before Tambe ran riot in the final over. 

Dismissing Ryan Ten Doeschate, and Manish Pandey, Pravin Tambe, who grew up in the lanes of  Mumbai finally lived his dream as the crowd cheered for him louder than ever. The impact of the hattrick was so much that a Bollywood film was made to state a fact that age is no bar to achieve one’s dream.

13 : A sizzling Tendulkar ton in vain as the Kochi Tuskers silence a jam packed Wankhede ( IPL 2011)

Fresh from a famous ODI World Cup win on his home turf, Sachin Tendulkar wasn’t done yet. He had got the orange cap a year before but a century in the world’s most glamorous league beckoned as he showed the world that there was still a lot of cricket left in him.

A 100 off just 66 balls ensured that the Wankhede didn’t stop screaming, but that was just until half time as the Kochi Tuskers had other ideas as it established the Wankhede as a chasing ground.

Brendon McCullum came out all guns blazing as he smashed the likes of Malinga, Munaf Patel and Harbhajan Singh to all parts of the ground and script a memorable win for the Tuskers. 

But the highlight of the day was a flawless 100 by the god of cricket as he showed the world that age was just a number as some of the shots that he played rewinded the clock in fine fashion.

12 : Rinku Singh is Ahmedabad’s new king (IPL 2023)

One of the greatest IPL games ever, this game, though a bit back on the list, has its own charm. And this one came at the new Narendra Modi Stadium where Rinku Singh pulled off a heist that even movies cannot think off. 

Batting first, the Gujarat Titans scored 204, another above par score and KKR were on course until they stumbled as Nitish Rana and Venkatesh Iyer were dismissed at the wrong time. Then the equation: 30 off 6, which became 29 off 5 as Rinku Singh took strike against Yash Dayal.

But what happened next, was nothing short of a modern marvel. Rinku smashed all the 5 deliveries into the stands as Yash Dayal was sent into trauma as KKR pulled off a win for the ages and breached the fortress that was Ahmedabad.

11 : Albie Morkel ends Virat Kohli’ IPL career…. As a bowler (IPL 2012)

CSK and RCB have always had fascinating contests in the IPL. Be it on field or off it, their fans ensure that like the players, their rivalry never dies down. One such magnificent contest was the game at Chepauk in 2012.

Led by Daniel Vettori, RCB batted first and scored a massive 205 runs, with half centuries from Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli. Doug Bollinger was the pick of the bowlers as he picked up an impressive 3/24 and CSK were to chase a steep target to keep their home record intact. 

Faf Du Plessis scored a terrific 71 and cameos from MS Dhoni and Dwayne Bravo kept them in the hunt, but the game was threatening to drift away from CSK at a pretty quick rate, until Vettori decided to dig RCB’s grave.

With 43 needed of the last two, Virat Kohli was given the ball. His first over went at 8 runs, but Albie Morkel ensured that his second over had to be taken to the cleaners. He conceded 28 runs of it and the remainder of the runs were polished off by Bravo to give CSK an absolutely mad win at the chepauk.

10 : Blistering Bisla stops CSK from a hattrick of titles (IPL 2012)

The Chennai Super Kings were on a roll in the knock out stages of the IPL. They hammered the Mumbai Indians, hammered the Delhi Daredevils even more and were all set to be the first team to complete a hat trick of IPL titles. 

Batting first, they scored 190 runs, as Suresh Raina, Micheal Hussey and Murali Vijay played important knocks to take them there. Their chances of winning increased as Ben Hilfenhaus dismissed Gautam Gambhir in the second over. But Manvinder Singh Bisla was the unlikely hero as he stepped up on the biggest occasion. 

With crucial knocks from Jacques Kallis, Shakib Al Hasan and those two boundaries from Manoj Tiwari, KKR, riding on Bisla’s magnificent 89 stunned the Chepauk crowd and lifted their maiden IPL title.  One of the most thrilling sights was Shah Rukh Khan dancing in the stands as KKR scripted history.

9 : Mumbai Indians pull off a riveting final ( MI vs RPSG, IPL 2017)

In what was considered a spicy Maharashtra derby, the Mumbai Indians had been beaten three times by the Rising Pune Super Giants in the league stages and the first qualifier. So naturally, the final was the best match to give it back to them.

Put into bat first, MI scored a meagre 129 runs, but were boosted by a quickfire cameo by Krunal Pandya as he scored 43 off 38. In the run chase, Pune were 100/3 at the end of 17 overs, but they decided that they just didn’t want to win. 

Manoj Tiwari struck a boundary off Mitch Johnson but he was dismissed off the next ball. Steve Smith too was caught by Ambati Rayudu, who was smartly placed by Rohit Sharma at deep point. Dan Christian and Washington Sundar tried, but the Mumbai Indians pipped their Maharashtrian rivals to pick up their third IPL trophy to become the most successful team at the end of the first decade.

8 : Big Ben is the boss of Bengaluru (RCB VS SRH, IPL 2016)

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru were clearly the favourites to win IPL 2016. Especially when they pulled off a miraculous win against the Gujarat Lions in the first qualifier riding on an AB De Villiers special. A maiden title  that too in front of their home crowd beckoned. But the Sun Risers Hyderabad had other ideas. 

Put into bat first, they made a massive 208 runs courtesy David Warner and Yuvraj Singh’s innings. But the most thunderous cameo came from Ben Cutting. He scored 39 off just 15 balls. The way he took down Chris Jordan and Shane Watson was a sight to behold as SRH finished well.

In the run chase, Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli kept RCB in the hunt, but Ben Cutting with the ball struck twice and choked RCB right at the death to send the chinnaswamy into stunned silence. A decade later, it still remains one of RCB’s most haunting losses at home. 

7 : Rajasthan Royals, the inaugural IPL winners. (RR VS CSK, IPL 2008)

Led by the charismatic Shane Warne, Rajasthan Royals were the team to beat in IPL 2008. They showed the other franchises as to how a “TEAM SPORT” is played as every player rose to the occasions in different situations and after swatting aside the Delhi Daredevils in the semi final, they were up against MS Dhoni’s Chennai super Kings, another consistent team in the tournament 

Riding on cameos from Suresh Raina, Parthiv Patel and Ms Dhoni, CSK scored a competitive 163/5 as Yusuf Pathan was the star with the ball as he picked up 3/22, but he knew that his job wasn’t done yet. 

He scored a blistering 56 with the bat as RR chased the score down off the last ball with Sohail Tanvir hitting the winning runs of Albie Morkel as the Royals were crowned maiden champions in front of a jam packed DY Patil Stadium.

6 : MI pip CSK in yet another unforgettable final (MI vs CSK, IPL 2019).

The Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings have always had a terrific rivalry in the IPL. But in 2019, the rivalry was fairly lopsided. CSK were beaten 3 times in the group stages and now the teams came face to face again in the final. 

Put into bat first, MI scored a mid 149 runs, only a few more than they did 2 finals ago, but this time, Kieron Pollard was the hero as he scored a quick fire 47. In response, Shane Watson kept CSK in the hunt as just 9 were needed in the final over. 

Lasith Malinga, who conceded 50 in his 3 overs bowled a sensational last over, particularly THAT slower delivery to dismiss Shardul thakur and give the Mumbai Indians their fourth IPL title, making it a mathematically apt one as they won in 2013, 2015,2017 and 2019. Watson, who was the hero in the 2018 final, was left heartbroken as he saw a consecutive title slip at the wrong moment.

5 : The Chinnaswamy plays host to yet another nerve biting final ( KKR vs KXIP, IPL 2014)

The Kings X1 Punjab had a dream run at the IPL in 2014. Maxwell, Miller, Sehwag and George Bailey, all had been in prime form right throughout the tournament. On the other hand, the Kolkata Knight Riders had been in awesome form as well as they scripted a thrilling turnaround and won 8 straight games and were now to play the final. 

CSK were walloped by Punjab and the Chinnaswamy now played hosts to the ultimate game. Electing to field first, KKR conceded 199 runs as Wriddhiman Saha scored one of the most sublime 100s and was supported by Manan Vohra and Bailey but KKR fancied themselves to chase this down. 

After Gambhir, Robin Uthappa and the middle order were dismissed, a young Manish Pandey, supported by Yusuf Pathan and an unlikely hero in Piyush chawla scripted a historic turnaround as the Knight Riders won the game with a ball to spare. Piyush Chawla’s taking down of Mitchell Johnson was the highlight as KKR added their second trophy and Gautam Gambhir’s record of not losing a final was kept intact.

4 : RCB and Kohli’s 17 year drought comes to an end…. (RCB vs PBKS, IPL 2025)

2009, 2011 and 2016. Virat Kohli witnessed 3 IPL final heartbreaks LIVE.  Having proven his loyalty to one IPL franchise over the years itself was an achievement itself. But that achievement needed reward. The hard yards he put in needed the reward. The fans needed a reward for an agonising 17 year wait. And then IPL 2025 arrived. Having come so close in 2024, RCB didn’t miss out in 2025 as they peaked at the right time.

They achieved a rare double of losing every game at home and winning every game away as they brushed aside CSK, MI, SRH and PBKS, who they also beat in the final by convincing margins to eventually lift the trophy. Even though the events that followed were horrific with a stampede and the unfortunate deaths of 9 fans in the victory parade, RCB winning IPL 2025 was one of the defining moments of the tournament and their fans can proudly say that we enter the IPL 2026 as DEFENDING CHAMPIONS.

3 : Two teams, two super overs, ONE thrilling game of cricket ( MI vs Kxip 2020).

A game that rose above the generic IPL league games. A game that had the highs and lows of a typical commercial potboiler. A game that not only went down to the wire but broke the wire. This is number 3 on the list as it had not one but two super overs. 

The Mumbai Indians had a flawless IPL in 2020, but in this particular game, even they were pushed to the wire. Batting first, they put up a decent score of 176 runs on the board, courtesy a 50 from Quinton De Kock and cameos from Kieron Pollard and Krunal Pandya. 

In response, KL Rahul’s sublime knock kept Punjab in the hunt until Jasprit Bumrah arrived and crippled the chase somewhat. 9 were required off the final over and 2 were required off 1 when Chris Jordan was run out and the game ended in a tie. 

In the first super over Jasprit Bumrah conceded just 5 and an easy MI win was on the cards, but Mohammad Shami thought otherwise and also conceded just 5 to push the game in another super over.

Chris Jordan conceded 11 as a magnificent save by Mayank Agarwal on the boundary ensured that MI were restricted to a mere 11 runs. KL Rahul, Chris Gayle and Mayank Agarwal then finished the game, which went into the wee hours, but never fell short on thrills.

2 : One final, two days, and CSK make it 5-5 (CSK vs GT, 2023)

The chennai super kings had their fair shares of highs and lows in IPL 2023, but as every team does, they peaked at the right time. They beat the Gujarat Titans in the first qualifier and were now playing their 10th final. 

The Gujarat Titans too produced one peak performance after another and now they were playing their second consecutive final. They hammered the Rajasthan Royals in the 2022 edition and now they pushed CSK to the brink.

But we had another unwanted guest - RAIN. The final went to the reserve day and the Titans scored a massive 214 riding on a thundering 96 by Sai Sudarshan. In reply, CSK needed to score 171 in 15 overs to win their 5th title. 

Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway gave them a flying start before the chase stuttered and 44 were required of 20 balls. Shivam Dube then smashed Rashid Khan for consecutive sixes before Ambati Rayudu unleashed his pyrotechnics and scored 

With 13 needed off the final over, Mohit Sharma got 4 deliveries right, but Ravindra Jadeja, the old warhorse Ravindra Jadeja, smashed 10 off the last two to give CSK a record leveling 5th title. The picture of MS Dhoni and Jadeja embracing each other in a hug is one for the ages as they finally leveled their rivals, the Mumbai Indians in terms of titles. 

1 : The seed of BAZBALL is sown (RCB vs KKR, 2008)

Imagine being so GOATED that your name still tops the list every time the IPL is mentioned. Yes. Thats what Brendon McCullum, the current batting coach of the England cricket team did in the inaugural edition of the IPL.

When cricket met entertainment in 2008, there were thoughts about the future of this format as to whether it will keep the people enthralled. But McCullum squashed all those thoughts with a blistering 158 runs of just 73 balls. The knock had 13 sixes and it blew RCB away in their own den as the game of cricket was now looked at differently. 

The next highest score in the game was 20 by Ricky Ponting and RCB themselves were shot out for just 82 runs. Even though McCullum scored only 188 runs in the entire season, he opened the season with a knock that was impossible to overlook.