A high-stakes clash, a costly run-out, and a rare flash of fury from Sachin Tendulkar
Cricket fans have witnessed Sachin Tendulkar, the 'God of Cricket', perform many feats—lifting his bat to celebrate a century, departing the field with quiet dignity, and smiling even amidst defeat.
Yet, the 2010 IPL final presented a strikingly different spectacle. In an unexpected twist, the usually composed Tendulkar momentarily lost his cool, bringing his bat down onto the ground in sheer frustration.
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The final showdown of the 2010 IPL brought two giants face to face—MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings and Sachin Tendulkar's Mumbai Indians. Played at DY Patil Stadium on 25 April, CSK won the toss and chose to bat first. What followed was a masterclass in game management.
Openers Murali Vijay and Matthew Hayden laid the foundation before Suresh Raina stepped in and tilted the contest. With a brilliant unbeaten 57 off just 35 balls, Raina powered CSK to a solid 168/5. Mumbai's bowlers tried to hold things together—Fernando grabbed two wickets, and Harbhajan kept things tight—but CSK had done enough.
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Mumbai's chase began on a shaky note. Shikhar Dhawan fell for a duck, caught behind off Doug Bollinger. However, Tendulkar, batting with a protective bandage on his hand, looked calm and in control. He formed a helpful partnership with Abhishek Nayar. MI were 67/1 at the halfway mark, with the run rate manageable and wickets in hand.
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Then came the moment.
Nayar nudged a ball off Suresh Raina towards short square leg. He called for a quick single, but Tendulkar didn't budge. MS Dhoni, as alert as ever, pounced on the ball and hit the stumps with a direct throw. Nayar was well short. Run out. MI had lost their rhythm.
And that's when Tendulkar lost his cool. He slammed his bat into the ground—an image that signalled the tide had turned.
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What followed was a collapse. Harbhajan Singh fell LBW to Raina. Tendulkar, now under pressure to anchor and accelerate, tried to up the pace—but fell to Shadab Jakati after scoring 48 off 45 balls. With his dismissal at 99/4, MI's hopes began to fade.
Pollard's late blitz—27 off just 10 balls—offered a glimmer of hope. But it came too late. By the time he was dismissed by Albie Morkel, the game had already slipped through MI's fingers.
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Mumbai Indians finished at 146/9, losing the final by 22 runs. CSK's bowlers had done their job: Jakati claimed two wickets, Muralitharan bowled with discipline, and Dhoni marshalled his team like a seasoned general.
This victory awarded CSK their maiden IPL title. For Mumbai, it was heartbreak—intensified by the rare sight of their captain's visible frustration.
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Over the years, the 2010 final has faded into the broader tapestry of IPL history. But the image of Tendulkar—his bat thudding into the pitch—remains vivid. It wasn't just a show of emotion; it was the moment when the match turned. It revealed how much the title meant to him.
