IPL 2015: 16 most memorable batting moments

1.  When Brendon McCullum manhandled the Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowling attack  

Brendon McCullum was fresh from a remarkable World Cup campaign and  once again gave a testament of his aggressive batting at the top when he took apart one of the best bowling sides in the competition. McCullum demolished the SRH bowling attack with an unbeaten hundred from 56 deliveries. He hit seven boundaries and nine long sixes as his side CSK won the contest by 45 runs.

2.  Harbhajan Singh scores an inspiring fifty against Kings XI Punjab

Mumbai Indians (MI) were set a target of 178 and when Harbhajan came in to bat, they were 59 for six in the 14th over. Thereon, Harbhajan played one of the most inspiring knocks – scoring a fifty from just 19-balls – and got MI back in the seemingly impossible chase. Harbhajan’s 64 off 24 kept them in the game, where it looked they would get bowled out within hundred. Eventually MI fell 18 short but the knock lifted up the whole team.

3.  McCullum-Smith make a mockery of Mumbai Indians’ bowling attack

Chasing 184 isn’t an easy task in Twenty20 but for the CSK openers it was like a walk in the park. Dwayne Smith and McCullum got 90 runs in the first six Powerplay overs and their 100 partnership came up from just 41-balls. Smith scored 62 from 30, while McCullum got a 20-ball 46. It was a comfortable chase for CSK, as they won it with 20-balls to spare.

4.  David Warner’s assault on the Kolkata Knight Riders’ bowling attack

David Warner is one of the best batsmen across formats and in a rain affected encounter against KKR, the Australian pocket dynamite launched an attack on the bowlers and got a good assistance from his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan. Warner scored 91 from 55-balls, helping SRH to a total of 176. His dominating knock saw SRH clinch the match by 16 runs via Duckworth Lewis (D/L) method.

5.  Shreyas Iyer impresses against Mumbai Indians

Shreyas Iyer 83 Mumbai lad Shreyas Iyer was picked up Delhi Daredevils (DD) in the auction for a whopping Rs 2.6 crores. Iyer justified his price tag when he played a superb knock against MI at Feroz Shah Kotla. Iyer scored 83 off 56 balls, an innings packed with seven boundaries and five sixes. He matched his skipper JP Duminy stroke for stroke in the 154 run partnership for the second wicket and helped his team post a gigantic total of 190. MI fell short of 37 runs while chasing.

6.  A Mandeep Singh special downs KKR

In the 33rd match between RCB and KKR, RCB were chasing 112 in a rain curtailed match of 10 overs. Things had begun to look tough for RCB but Mandeep remained composed, backed himself and sealed it for his side in style. His 45 not out from 18 deliveries, won him the man-of-them-match. RCB needed 13 runs from the final over and Mandeep helped RCB cross the line with ease.

7.  Ajinkya Rahane’s unblemished strokeplay against Delhi Daredevils

Rajasthan Royals (RR) had a dream start to the tournament with five consecutive wins in the opening games of the tournament. Ajinkya Rahane was one of the most pivotal reasons behind RR’ success. Rahane scored 91 not out off 54 deliveries against DD in the 36th game of the tournament to steer his team in a dominating position. Rahane’s was a classy knock which saw RR win the game by 14 runs.

8.  When the Gayle-storm consumed the Eleven Kings from Punjab

Chris Gayle is acknowledged as the most dangerous batsmen in the game’s shortest format. One such example of his brutality with the bat was witnessed in the 40th match of the IPL between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and KXIP. Gayle scored 117 off 57 balls, an innings that contained seven boundaries and 12 sixes. This knock helped RCB post 226 runs as they registered their biggest IPL win 138 runs.

9.  Eoin Morgan launches an attack on Rajasthan Royals

English cricketer Eoin Morgan is for his prowess in the limited-overs format. His form wasn’t that great but against RR at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, Morgan scored 63 off 28 deliveries and provided the much needed impetus to SRH innings as they posted a mammoth score of 201. SRH won the thrilling encounter by a margin of seven runs.

10. Andre Russell scores the fastest fifty of the tournament against Kings XI Punjab Andre Russell

Andre Russell was later adjudged the most valuable player of the tournament. The Jamaican had a tremendous impact and he proved to be KKR’s main man this season. He played another game-changing knock against KXIP. KKR were chasing a target of 184 and almost started to stagnate before Russell turned it around with his match winning knock of 51 off 21 deliveries. He completed his fifty from 19-balls. KKR successfully chased down the target in the final over.

11.  An AB de Villiers spectacle at Wankhede Stadium

AB de Villiers, while batting first for RCB smashed a scintillating 133 not out off 59 deliveries against MI in the 46th match of the tournament in Mumbai. His innings included 19 boundaries and four sixes. His innings was a pristine exhibition of timing and improvisation. RCB posted 235 runs in their 20 overs won the contest by 39 runs.

12.  When David Miller kept KXIP’s ship floating in troubled waters David Miller

KXIP were in an enviable position in last year’s edition but failed to replicate the same in this year’s edition. Miller was the lone ranger for KXIP as he kept fighting alone in most of the matches. In the 48th game between KXIP and SRH, Miller fought hard to carry his team over the line with his tenacious knock of 89 not out off 44 deliveries, while chasing a target of 186. He trampled the SRH bowlers as he struck nine gigantic sixes and two fours. KXIP lost the game by five runs but Miller’s knock gave the KXIP fans a reason to cheer for.

13.  Wriddhiman Saha attacks Royal Challengers Bangalore bowlers Saha

Wriddhimann Saha scored a brilliant hundred in the IPL final of previous year. In a rain curtailed 10-over match. KXIP sent Saha as the opener and he had a daunting task of facing the dangerous Mitchell Starc. Saha attacked Starc from the word fo and played a blistering cameo which proved to be decisive in the end.He hit five fours and one six for his 12 balls 31, which provided his side a dream start. KXIP won the game by 22 runs and his knock proved to be the differentiator.

14.  Kohli-Gayle carnage against Sunrisers Hyderabad

In a rain curtailed 52nd match between RCB vs SRH, RCB were chasing 81 runs in six overs (D/L method). Gayle fired with all his guns from the very first over and scored 35 runs off 10 deliveries to provide RCB the desirable start. Kohli anchored the innings and scored unbeaten 44 runs off 19 deliveries to pull off a dramatic penultimate ball victory in what proved to be a decisive game for them.

15.  Shane Watson’s bludgeons the Knights from Kolkata

Shane Watson is a match-winner on his day. His batting revolves around timing and strong hitting. The right-hander exhibited such class when he struck an unbeaten 104 from 59 deliveries in a must win game for both the side. Watson smashed nine boundaries and five sixes in the do-or-die battle to help RR post 199. RR managed to win the match by nine runs.

16.  Rohit – Simmons stand which led to the Mumbai Indians title triumph

Rohit Sharma and Lendl Simmons exhibited brilliant form throughout the tournament. Often we have seen in the past that players who perform well throughout the tournament flounder in the grand finale. Both these men made their form count and despite of losing an early wicket, they counterattacked. On the big day, the duo added 119-run stand for the second wicket against the formidable attack of CSK.  Simmons scored 68 off 45 deliveries with the help of eight boundaries and three sixes, whereas Rohit took the attack on the opposition with his match winning knock of 50 off just 26 deliveries. Rohit was awarded the man-of-the-match. MI clinched the title as they successfully defended a mammoth target of by 41 runs.