IPL 2020 Exclusive: Most Exciting Moments from Week 1

KL Rahul’s hundred and super-over tussle, the highlight, as we look at the most exciting moments from week 1 of IPL 2020.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, IPL 2020 came as a breath of fresh air for all the cricket fans across the globe. After getting postponed from Mar-May season to Sep-Nov season, IPL finally saw the day of light on Sep 19 in slightly unfamiliar fields of UAE. 

The Week 1 of IPL 2020 was full of exciting and stunning moments. We saw some surprising team selections, unconventional batting-order, a super-over, surprising captaincy decisions, and some fabulous display of batting and bowling on the field. 

Delhi Capitals ended the week 1 winning 2 from 2, while Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders went winless losing 1 each. But, which were the most exciting moments of IPL 2020 from week 1? Let’s have a look. 

#5: Rajasthan Royals Dominate Chennai Super Kings 

On a  batting-friendly wicket of Sharjah unlike Abu Dhabi and Dubai, we witnessed a break-taking batting performance by Sanju Samson and Rajasthan Royals against CSK. Batting first, RR lost Yashasvi Jaiswal early, but the man that came in next, Sanju Samson looked in ominous mood that day.

He watched a few balls initially, but post that it was all Sanju Samson show. It felt as if whatever ball he was trying to hit, was meant to go in the stands. He didn’t spare any bowler as he smashed Chawla, Jadeja, Chahar, and Curran mercilessly. He fell for a well compiled 74(32) with 9 flawless sixes, but should have carried on given the way he was timing the ball. 

Rajasthan Royals ended their innings with Jofra Archer smashing 4 stunning Sixes against Lungi Ngidi, and helping end RR’s innings at 216-7. In reply, Chennai Super Kings lacked intend in the chase, and even though they got 200, they accelerated when the match was already gone.

#4: MS Dhoni’s Surprising Decisions 

The main talking point of week 1 of IPL 2020 was certainly the surprising decisions of MS Dhoni. CSK played 3 matches, but there were nervy moments in first two of them, and CSK’s captain, MS Dhoni decisions are partly responsible to it.

In the first match, when CSK lost Ambati Rayudu in the 16th over, and 42 runs were needed in the last 4 overs. But, MS Dhoni sends a left-hander Jadeja instead of him walking in to bat. Jadeja didn’t last long, and fell in the 18th over with 29 runs needed. After that, we were expecting MS to come-in, but no, he sends another left-hander, Sam Curran to tackle Krunal. While the decision did pay-off, it got everyone talking about MS Dhoni shying away from responsibilities.

In the next match against RR, we saw another surprising decision by MS Dhoni. With 102 required from last 6 overs, and MS Dhoni walking-in, any normal person would expect MS Dhoni to tee-off from ball 1. But, no, MS Dhoni doesn’t make any intent to hit for the first 12 balls. It was only in the last over when the match was already lost, MS Dhoni hits 3 Sixes to Curran; thus making a mockery of the chase. 

#3: Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Dramatic Collapse

One of the most shocking events in the 7 match campaign of IPL 2020 so far was Sunrisers Hyderabad’s dramatic collapse chasing 164 against RCB in the third match of IPL 2020.

Chasing 164, SRH were going good at 121-2 at the end of 15 overs, and set Jonny Bairstow at the crease. With 43 needed off last 5 overs, and 8 wickets in hand, 10/10 times you would bet on batting team to win it. But no, we were in for a dramatic collapse.

Against the bowling of RCB, which is considered poor in death Overs, SRH lost 8 wickets for 32 runs, thus bundling out for 153. The dramatic collapse exposed a major weakness in SRH’s batting, and that is their flawed middle-order.

#2: The Super-over Tussle

In only the second match, we witnessed the first Super-over of the competition, and that too out of an unimaginable position. With 1 needed off 3 balls, and you have Mayank Agarwal at the Striker’s end batting on 89(59), you would expect this is Kings XI Punjab’s game to lose. 

Stoinis, who was bowling the last over managed to sneak-in a dot ball on very next ball. Mayank Agarwal, who got a juicy full-toss on the penultimate ball, could have hit it anywhere on the ground, but only managed to hit in straight at deep cover’s hand. With 1 needed off 1 ball, Stoinis once again produced a wicket, and the match went into a super-over. 

The super-over was a disaster for Kings XI Punjab as not only did they get the players wrong, but also got all-out inside three balls managing 2 runs. An easy super-over win for Delhi Capitals in the end. But, the question still remains, why wasn’t the set Mayank Agarwal sent out to bat..? 

#1: KL Rahul’s Freakish Century:

The most exciting moment of the week was surely KL Rahul’s freakish century. KXIP needed a boost in their batting after their heart-wrenching loss against Delhi Capitals, and KL Rahul did exactly that by playing a captain’s knock. 

Batting first, KXIP were going decent at 100-1 at the end of 12 overs with KL Rahul reaching his fifty off 36 balls. He still didn’t accelerate the peddle as RCB bowlers kept it tight. With the score reading157-3 at the end of 18 overs, you would say RCB were going good, but, they weren’t aware of what was coming.

Then came the freakish KL Rahul show where he humiliated the death bowling of RCB. He then smashed 42 runs from the 9 balls he faced including 5 Sixes and 3 fours; thus taking his individual tally to 132*(69) and team’s tally to 206-3. He broke three records in the process as he became the first wicket-keeper in IPL to smash two hundreds, and registered the highest score by an Indian and by a captain in IPL.

So, that completes the most exciting moments from week 1 of IPL 2020.

IPL 2020 Stats || Sep 26:

• Orange Cap: 173 Runs – Faf du Plessis (CSK)
• Purple Cap: 5 Wickets – Kagiso Rabada (DC)
• Highest Individual Score: 132* (69) – KL Rahul (KXIP)
• Best Bowling Innings: 3-15 (Mohammed Shami (KXIP)

Thanks for reading! Which of the above-mentioned exciting moments did you like the most? Please, let’s know in the comments. 

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