Yusuf Pathan provided a much-needed impetus to the KKR chase with a quickfire 36 off 22 deliveries.
The 2014 Indian Premier League (IPL) final is etched in the memories of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fans. Under the bright lights of the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, KKR secured their second IPL title with a thrilling 3-wicket victory over the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), who were chasing a mammoth target of 200 runs. The triumph marked the culmination of a dominant run for KKR, who had won eight consecutive matches leading up to the finals.
KXIP’s innings began in disastrous fashion. Their famed top order, featuring the explosive duo of Virender Sehwag and Glenn Maxwell, failed to fire. Sehwag, known for his aggressive strokeplay, was dismissed cheaply by Umesh Yadav, leaving KXIP at 9/1. Skipper George Bailey, promoted to number 3 in a surprising move, lasted just two deliveries before holing out. The KKR bowling attack, spearheaded by Umesh Yadav and the spin duo of Sunil Narine and Piyush Chawla, exploited the early jitters, restricting KXIP to a meagre 32 runs after the Powerplay — the lowest score for any team in the IPL 2014 season at that stage.
Just when it seemed like KXIP were staring down the barrel of a humiliating total, a dramatic turnaround unfolded. Wriddhiman Saha, promoted up the order due to the early dismissals, played an unbelievable knock. He displayed exceptional composure against the KKR spinners, particularly Narine, whom he launched for 35 runs in just 18 deliveries, primarily through audacious leg-side flicks.
Kolkata Knight Riders lifting the 2014 Indian Premier League trophy
Manan Vohra, the other KXIP opener, provided admirable support, anchoring the innings with a well-paced 67. Together, they stitched a crucial 129-run partnership, completely shifting the momentum of the match. Vohra showcased his power-hitting prowess, launching sixes with disdain. The KXIP middle order, despite the absence of big contributions from Maxwell and David Miller, who were held back until later in the innings, managed to capitalize on the platform laid by Saha and Vohra. KXIP plundered a staggering 141 runs in their last ten overs, finishing with a massive total of 199 runs on the board.
Chasing a challenging target, KKR openers Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir started positively. Uthappa smashed the very first ball of the innings to the boundary, setting the tone for a potentially rapid chase. However, the KXIP spinners, Karanveer Singh and Axar Patel, applied the brakes, restricting the flow of runs. While boundaries were hard to come by, Gambhir and Manish Pandey ensured they rotated the strike effectively, keeping the required run rate in check. Their 53-run partnership laid a solid foundation for the chase before Gambhir’s dismissal triggered a mini-collapse. Suryakumar Yadav and Ryan ten Doeschate, known for their big-hitting abilities, fell cheaply, leaving KKR in a precarious position at 102/3 in the 12th over.
The onus of the chase then fell entirely on the young shoulders of Manish Pandey. With wickets falling at regular intervals, Pandey displayed remarkable composure and maturity. He picked his boundaries carefully, ensuring he didn’t throw his wicket away at a crucial juncture. He found an able ally in Yusuf Pathan, who provided a much-needed impetus with a quickfire 36 off 22 deliveries. Together, they added a crucial partnership before Pathan’s dismissal. The KKR innings entered a tense phase as wickets continued to tumble, but Pandey remained unfazed. He reached his fifty off just 32 balls, a knock filled with calculated aggression and smart shot selection.
With Pandey’s dismissal at 179/6 in the 18th over, the chase seemed to be slipping away from KKR’s grasp. Twenty-one runs were required off 18 balls, and the pressure mounted on the remaining batsmen — Piyush Chawla and Ryan ten Doeschate. However, Chawla, known more for his bowling prowess, rose to the occasion. He smashed a massive six off the penultimate over bowled by Mitchell Johnson, bringing the equation down to just five runs required off six balls. With a boundary off Parwinder Awana in the last over of the innings, Chawla created history as the KKR supporters began to jump in joy.
