It was brutal, breathtaking, and almost unbelievable—relive the night when an Indian power-hitter turned a lost cause into an IPL classic!
On 13th March 2010, the Indian Premier League commenced its third season at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium. The Rajasthan Royals, captained by Shane Warne, played against Sachin Tendulkar's Mumbai Indians in a highly anticipated match.
The Mumbai Indians batted first, with Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya establishing the tone. The genuine excitement stemmed from Saurabh Tiwary and Ambati Rayudu, who formed a 110-run partnership for the fourth wicket, propelling MI to a formidable 212/6 in 20 overs.
Credit: ESPNcricinfo
Chasing 213 proved challenging for Rajasthan, starting with Swapnil Asnodkar being run out without facing a ball. Quick wickets ensued, reducing them to 66 for 4 by the tenth over, as the required run rate escalated and Mumbai tightened their grip. And then, Yusuf Pathan walked in.
Credit: @vlp1994
What came next defied logic. Rajasthan needed 147 runs off 65 balls, a target even the strongest batters would struggle to achieve. But Pathan had other ideas.
His initial hits served as a warning. Then came an unbelievable barrage of 11 consecutive shots to the boundary (6, 6, 6, 6, 4, 4, 6, 4, 4, 4). It mattered not who bowled; the result remained the same.
The Mumbai fans, celebrating only moments earlier, were stunned as the ball continued to fly. Pathan was not merely swinging his bat but demolishing an entire bowling attack.
Credit: DNA
Pathan's innings was complete destruction. He was not merely hitting enormous shots but rewriting IPL history in real-time. Ball after ball, he found the gaps, cleared the ropes, and led the fielders on a futile chase.
He scored his century in just 37 balls, making it the fastest IPL century at the time. The Mumbai Indians, who had been cruising to victory, suddenly found themselves searching for solutions. Bowlers and fielders adjusted their positions, but nothing proved effective.
Pathan put together a 107-run partnership in fewer than eight overs against Paras Dogra! His innings featured 9 fours and 8 sixes, boasting a remarkable strike rate of 270.27.
Credit: TOI
Just as Rajasthan was on the verge of a spectacular victory, disaster struck. Pathan was run out for 100 off 37 balls in the 18th over, marking a devastating end to an unforgettable performance.
RR still required 40 runs from 14 balls, and despite Dogra's (41) valiant efforts, the Royals fell short by just 4 runs. While the Mumbai Indians clinched the match, Yusuf Pathan truly stole the show.
Credit: @mufaddal_vohra
Shane Warne, who had witnessed everything in cricket, was left astonished. He described Pathan's innings as one of the finest he had ever seen. Years later, even after scoring another remarkable innings—a 22-ball 72 for KKR—Pathan stated that the 37-ball century remained his best performance.
The IPL is renowned for its high-octane drama, but few instances have matched the sheer chaos of that night in 2010. Because sometimes it only takes one individual, one bat, and 37 balls to alter history.
