Some finals are about fireworks with the bat, but others? They’re a wicket-taking thrill ride from start to finish
Let’s face it—when we discuss IPL finals, we’re often captivated by the heroic chases, dramatic sixes, or last-ball finishes. However, the actual theatre sometimes lies not in the runs scored but in the wickets that tumble like dominoes. These were the nights when bowlers didn’t just show up—they turned the game on its head.
So, here’s a look back at some IPL finals where wickets fell thick and fast, and bowlers ruled the roost.
There’s something about Eden Gardens that brings out the drama. In the 2013 IPL final, it was a classic low-scoring thriller between the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings. MI posted a modest 148 for 9, but it proved to be just enough.
Credit: NDTV
Lasith Malinga didn’t even need to clean up the stumps. Mitchell Johnson and Harbhajan Singh brought CSK’s chase crashing down. Chennai, in reply, crumbled to 125 for 9. Even Dhoni’s unbeaten 63 couldn’t lift them. Between the two sides, 18 wickets fell—making it the most wicket-heavy final in IPL history.
Joburg’s chilly evening air was perfect for swing, and the bowlers seized their opportunity. In the second IPL final ever, the Deccan Chargers managed a shaky 143 for 6, but the defending champions didn’t exactly race ahead either.
Credit: ESPN
RCB, chasing 144, struggled to maintain their composure. Andrew Symonds and Pragyan Ojha spun a web, causing wickets to fall like a stack of cards in a breeze. From 75 for 4, Bangalore tumbled to 137 for 9. A narrow 6-run victory for Deccan, with 15 wickets marking a thrilling match.
The most nerve-wracking final in IPL history? Absolutely. Just 1 run separated the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings in the 2019 final. It wasn’t merely the scoreline that had us on edge—it was the continual loss of wickets.
Mumbai lost eight in the first innings, even as Kieron Pollard top-scored. CSK, chasing 150, began brightly, with Shane Watson performing well. However, when the pressure mounted, wickets began to tumble once more. Eventually, they finished at 148 for 7, just one run short of glory. A total of 15 wickets fell, but none was more critical than Malinga’s last-ball LBW to seal the title.
If 2016 was about attacking batsmanship, it was also about wickets that emerged just as the game drifted. Sunrisers Hyderabad defended 208 as Royal Challengers Bangalore stumbled after a strong start. Fourteen wickets fell, including crucial breakthroughs from Ben Cutting and Bhuvneshwar Kumar that secured the victory by eight runs.
Credit: ESPN
The 2017 final was even more of a nail-biter. Mumbai Indians barely managed 129/8, but they fought their way back into the game. Rising Pune Supergiant needed four from the last ball but couldn’t manage it. Fourteen wickets and one iconic 1-run win later, Mumbai claimed another title.
During the time Chennai Super Kings were chasing their maiden title, the 2010 final at DY Patil Stadium was anything but calm. CSK batted first and amassed 168/5. The Mumbai Indians lost their footing while chasing, with wickets falling at the worst possible moments.
Credit: ESPN
From 94/2 to 146/9, Mumbai disintegrated, and CSK secured their first championship. Shadab Jakati and Muralitharan maintained their grip, and 14 wickets fell during the match.
