The IPL-2011 season was on paper more competitive than the previous 3 seasons as the total number of teams was 10 including the newcomers like Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Pune Warriors. This IPL-2011 season also witnessed the defending champions claiming their title for the 2nd consecutive time.
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Chris Gayle’s 37 in one over
While chasing the small target of 125 runs against Kochi Tuskers Kerala, the Bengaluru opener Chris Gayle did something which is a rare sight on the cricket field. The RCB batter hit Kochi’s bowler P. Parameswaran for 37 runs in his very first over. That’s right 37, one more than the maximum runs possible in six balls of an over. The over went like 6, 6 (no ball), 4, 4, 6, 6, 4. Chris Gayle hit 4 sixes and 3 fours to finish an easy-looking run chase.
Lasith Malinga’s 5/13 against Delhi
The Sri Lankan legendary bowler Lasith Malinga just dismantled the top order of Delhi Daredevil in IPL-2010 as Sehwag’s led daredevils didn’t dare to do anything with the bat against Malinga as Delhi could only manage to set a 96-run target for the Mumbai Indians. Malinka took 5 wickets in that match and out of those 5 wickets, 4 were clean bowled with an unplayable yorker coming at over 140 kmph towards Delhi’s batter.
Paul Valthaty’s 120* in IPL-2011
This is one of the most underrated innings in the history of IPL which took place back in the IPL-2011 season. Before 13th April 2010, no cricket fan used to know Paul Valthaty. But, by midnight that day, the news headlines were chanting only his name. This short, Mumbai batter thumped the defending champions Chennai Super Kings all over the park and took Kings XI Punjab home while chasing 188 runs in Mohali. He went on to score a total of 463 runs at a strike rate of 137 in the tournament but his injuries didn’t allow him to be the next big thing in Indian cricket.
Sachin’s maiden IPL century in IPL-2011
Sachin’s got a few cricket landmarks that he hasn’t collected in his career yet, but the lack of a Twenty20 century was probably the one. Against the Kochi Tuskers on April 15th, Sachin Tendulkar went into god mode and showcased to the world that he too could play smash-bang cricket with the best of them. An unbeaten 100 meant that the Mumbai Indians set Kochi an imposing 184, but unfortunately, like so many Sachin centuries, it came in a losing effort and Kochi Tuskers Kerala chased down the total.
Bhajji’s 5/18 against Chennai in the IPL-2011 season
Mumbai vs Chennai was the most awaited and biggest clash of any IPL season, and the Mumbai Indians’ 164 runs total looked easily chasable seeing the pitch conditions. Until that is, Mr. Harbhajan Singh grabbed the ball. His 3 scalps in the 18th over of the match were the match-snatcher for Dhoni’s Super Kings, and the completion of a five-wicket haul was the icing on the cake for the Turbanator.
Chennai Super King’s title defense in IPL-2011
Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni decided to bat first after winning the toss. The opening pair of Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay created a storm by setting up a 159-run partnership in front of the home crowd. While Hussey scored 63 off 45 balls including 3 fours and 3 sixes, Vijay was in the form of his life and smashed 95 runs in just 52 balls including 4 fours and 6 sixes.
Coming in at No 3, Dhoni added 22 runs playing 13 balls. Dwayne Bravo smashed a six into the crowd in the last ball of Chennai’s batting innings to put up a mammoth 206-run target in front of the RCB.
In response, Bangalore’s batting attack of Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, and AB De Villiers was neutralized by the Ravichandran Ashwin-led bowling unit. They lost both of their openers in the first 3 overs. After them, Kohli ignited the hope but only for some time. Kohli had to go back to the pavilion after scoring 35 runs and RCB were six-man down in 11 overs.
After Kohli’s dismissal, Saurabh Tiwary registered 42 runs in 34 balls but could not take his side home. Ashwin scalped three wickets and Shadab Jakati got two wickets for Chennai and CSK clinched their 2nd title and became the first team to defend their title in the IPL-2011 season.