There have been several impressive individual innings in the IPL. However, only a few innings in the Indian Premier League can be considered as being able to alter the outcome of the matches under intense pressure situations. Be it difficult chase of runs or a saving effort in knock-out game situations, such innings have always come when the team has been in desperate need of runs after almost being on the brink of losing a very crucial match. The top five most amazing innings played by the players in IPL games under extreme pressure are those that combine aggressive batting and match-changing qualities.
The importance of such knocks comes from the fact that these have all taken place in difficult situations for the respective teams. Either being played in a final or during a knock-out phase of a match, each of these innings was marked with the batter being under tremendous pressure and still managing to dominate the proceedings through their intelligent batting techniques.
1. Shane Watson - 117* vs SRH, IPL 2018 Final
Shane Watson delivered one of the greatest final performances in IPL history for Chennai Super Kings. Chasing 179 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Watson started with 10 straight dot balls. The pressure grew quickly in a title clash. However, he stayed patient and waited for loose deliveries. Soon, the match changed completely. Watson smashed 117 not out from 57 balls with 11 fours and 8 sixes. Despite playing with a bleeding knee, he guided CSK to victory with nine balls left. The innings sealed CSK’s comeback title after a two-year suspension and silenced critics who doubted the experienced squad.
2. Suresh Raina - 87 vs KXIP, IPL 2014 Qualifier 2
In this knockout game between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab, the task of chasing 227 runs proved difficult for the former. It only got harder when captain Faf du Plessis was dismissed in the beginning. This set the stage for Suresh Raina to contribute with an unforgettable inning. Raina managed to score 87 runs off 25 deliveries at an impressive strike rate of 348. He scored 12 fours and 6 sixes and got the total to reach 100 in the Power Play overs. Although CSK eventually lost the match, Raina’s fearless counterattack changed how teams viewed big playoff chases in the IPL.
3. Rajat Patidar - 112* vs LSG, IPL 2022 Eliminator
RCB Bengaluru were battling it out in a knockout eliminator between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants with the scorecard showing 55/3, when it was Rajat Patidar’s time to shine. The situation was very tense since defeat would have meant instant elimination. However, Patidar rose up to the occasion with a perfect unbeaten 112 runs in just 54 balls. It took Patidar just 49 balls to reach 100 runs. His innings rescued RCB from collapse and powered them to a winning total.
4. Kieron Pollard - 87* vs CSK, IPL 2021
In one of the IPL’s biggest rivalries, Mumbai Indians chased 219 against Chennai Super Kings. Mumbai were under pressure at 81/3 with the required rate climbing sharply. Then Kieron Pollard changed the game. Pollard smashed 87 not out from 34 balls, hitting 8 sixes and 6 fours. He also picked up 2/12 earlier in the match. With 16 needed in the final over, Pollard held his nerve and completed Mumbai’s highest successful chase on the last ball. The innings revived MI’s confidence during a difficult season.
5. Rinku Singh - 48* vs Gujarat Titans, IPL 2023
KKR seemed to be struggling in their run chase of 205 against Gujarat Titans. With Rashid Khan getting a hat-trick, KKR required just 28 runs in 5 balls. But things were over for them. It is here that Rinku Singh scripted one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the Indian Premier League. He hit five successive sixes to finish with an unbeaten 48 in just 21 deliveries. The innings made KKR believe that anything can happen in cricket. KKR won by three wickets on the final delivery.
