Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
Kolkata Knight Riders emerged as the champions of the IPL for the first time in Gautam Gambhir's captaincy by defeating the previous two-time champions Chennai Super Kings. KKR defeated the then defending champions, CSK at their home ground, M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on May 27, 2012. Manvinder Bisla and Jacques Kallis helped KKR to chase the target of 191 runs in a thrilling final.
Coming to bat first after winning the toss, CSK got to a great start as Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay put up an opening partnership of 87 runs for the first wicket in 10.2 overs. Hussey got out after scoring 54 runs off 43 balls while Vijay scored 42(32) runs. After that, Suresh Raina took charge of the innings and turned out to be top scorer for CSK with 73 runs off 38 balls, hitting three fours and five sixes. Skipper MS Dhoni also gave finishing touches with 14*(9) runs as CSK ended up posting 190 for the loss of three wickets in their 20 overs. For KKR, Shakib al Hasan, Jacques Kallis and Rajat Bhatia scalped a wicket each.
KKR defeated CSK in thrilling final chasing the target in last over
Chasing the winning target in a final, KKR lost their skipper Gautam Gambhir in the very first over of the innings. After that, Manvinder Bisla and Jacques Kallis put up a partnership of 136 runs for the second wicket. Bisla got out after scoring 89 runs off 48 balls, hitting eight fours and five sixes. After that, KKR started losing wickets again but Kallis was taking the innings further from the other end.
However, Kallis also got out in the 19th over after scoring 69(49) runs, hitting seven fours and a six. The match went down to the last over with KKR needing nine runs to win. After the two singles on the first two deliveries, the equation was now seven runs required off the last four balls. After that, Manoj Tiwary smashed back-to-back boundaries as KKR clinched a thirlling victory to lift their maiden IPL title. After that, KKR went on to win two more IPL titles in 2014 and 2024.
