Mumbai Indians (MI) have a history of plucking last-gasp victories from the jaws of certain defeat, a habit which manifested itself in an enthralling final over in Kolkata nine years ago.
The thirteenth edition of the VIVO IPL kicks off in Mumbai on March 29 when defending champions Mumbai Indians take on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Wankhede Stadium. To celebrate, Will Cracknell has looked back at ten of the greatest matches in the competition’s history, from incredible displays of hitting to nail-biting finishes.
2011, Match 70: Mumbai Indians (178-5, 20 overs) beat Kolkata Knight Riders (175-7, 20 overs) by five wickets
Seemingly down and out when Kieron Pollard‘s leg stump was uprooted with 40 runs required off 15, MI snaffled the unlikeliest of wins thanks to some inspired James Franklin hitting.
Requiring 21 from the final over, the New Zealander smashed Lakshmipathy Balaji for four consecutive fours before Ambati Rayudu launched the last ball – a leg-stump full toss – into a stunned Eden Gardens crowd to book MI’s place in the eliminator.
Cue Rajasthan celebrations and Mumbai calculations. RR were – in fact – not yet through. MI, it transpired, could still qualify with a boundary from James Faulkner’s next ball.
Enter Tare, who sparked astonishing scenes inside the Wankhede as he clubbed his first ball over square leg to drag MI from the brink and into the last four.
