IPL will take place in the UAE from September 19.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) will take place in the UAE and franchises have reached Dubai as players have to follow the mandatory 7-day quarantine.
Beginning on September 19, with Mumbai Indians' taking on Chennai Super Kings (CSK), players will be looking to create a mark in this unique IPL season.
In the earlier seasons, fans have witnessed several marvellous batting performances, starting from the very first match back in 2008. Brendon McCullum from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) clan ran havoc on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) en route his 158* off 78 balls.
Since then there have been 56 more instances of batsmen reaching the 3-figure mark. However, there are only four times when a batsman missed the feat by a single run.
Here are the four instances when batsman - twice unbeaten and twice dismissed - were stranded on 99:
1. IPL 2013: Virat Kohli (99) vs DD
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Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli had become the second batsman to hold the record to be stranded on 99 but also became the first man to be dismissed on 99 in an IPL game.
The match was at his home ground in Delhi against the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). Kohli played a match-winning knock of 99 off 58 balls which included 10 fours and 4 sixes.
Kohli had single-handedly pushed the score to 183 after the openers had fallen cheaply and the Bengaluru side managed to beat Delhi in a close encounter by 4 runs.
2. IPL 2013: Suresh Raina (99*) vs SRH
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Chinna Thala Suresh Raina has been instrumental for his side Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Raina became the first batsman to miss a century by a run in the IPL against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
CSK were put in to bat first and they got off to a steady start. When Raina came in at 45/1, he joined Hussey to stitch a partnership of 133.
Remaining unbeaten in the innings, Raina hit 11 fours and 3 sixes, which included a four off the last ball of the innings.
Raina was crowned Man of the Match for his 99 runs off 52 balls helping CSK post a massive 223 and win the game by 77 runs.
3. IPL 2019: Prithvi Shaw (99) vs KKR
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Prithvi Shaw, who was playing his second season in the IPL, was at his absolute best during his knock of 99 off 55 balls.
It was the only instance when a batsman fell short off hundred by 1 run while chasing. Delhi Capitals (DC) were opening and the 19-year old played brilliant innings in the chase for 186. However, he got out with 12 runs still required to win.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fought back to end the game in a dramatic tie and Delhi managed to win it in the super overs.
Shaw's innings was almost a lone battle for Delhi for which he got the player of the match award.
4. IPL 2019: Chris Gayle (99*) vs RCB
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Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) Chis Gayle remained unbeaten on 99 at Mohali in 2019 when he played against his former franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
Gayle, despite not getting enough support from the other end, almost single-handedly took the score to 173. His 60-ball knock was pretty much what the situation demanded which included 10 fours and 5 sixes.
This also happens to be the only instance when a batsman scoring 99 ended up on the losing side as RCB managed to chase the target thanks to Kohli, AB de Villiers and Marcus Stoinis contributing with the bat.
5. IPL 2020 and foreign players
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The availability of England and Australia players for IPL 2020 was under a cloud for the last few days. Both teams are gearing up to face each other in three ODIs and three T20Is which begins on September 4 and ends on September 16.
However, according to the BCCI bio-bubble protocol, there was a mandatory seven-day quarantine period for the players who were arriving to the UAE and they had indicated that they would not relax the protocol.
This meant that England and Australia players would miss some games of the IPL. However, that situation has now been resolved apparently if statements by Rajasthan Royals COO (Chief Operating Officer) Jake Lush McCrum are to be believed.
Speaking to the media, McCrum said that the BCCI was planning to relax the quarantine protocol for the English and Australia players.
“The BCCI protocols have actually been updated in the last few days and I`m pleased to say our English and Australian stars playing in the series pre IPL should be available for our first IPL match. Either way, we have a quality squad with the depth to manage any situation,” McCrum said.
