The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 in its first round of all ten franchises has provided the fans a gala time. The defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) kept their 16-year-old record intact of not losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at home.
Punjab Kings (PBKS), quite impressively began their campaign with a vital victory over Delhi Capitals (DC). However, the ‘Stop the press’ news was the return of their captain, and India’s beloved Rishabh Pant into competitive cricket after that freakish accident through IPL 2024.
#TATAIPL 2024 is well and truly underway! 🙌
How did your favourite team’s first game of the season go? 🤔
🥳 or 😢? pic.twitter.com/0cq82lGcO2
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 24, 2024
The Eden Gardens was the witness of a narrow and exciting encounter between the Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The Royals, even with their back on the wall, came back in winning tracks.
The biggest story of the week in IPL 2024 was the game between Gujrat Titans (GT) and Mumbai Indians (MI). The Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai bottled their easy chase over the Titans, who showed immense faith and resilience to enjoy the victory for different reasons.
Let’s take a look at the top four moments of the first week in IPL 2024:
Mumbai bottled the chase from a commanding position to keep opening record intact in IPL 2024
Chasing 169 on a ground with so much dew against a team, full of inexperienced bowling unit was never going to be a tough ask. Not for Mumbai Indians for sure. With the batting resources they possess, it was just a matter of time.
At 121/3 in 14 overs, the only question was when and with how many wickets? For the Titans, the only thing they could think is faith and trying to execute their plans. Rashid Khan, the man who has been doing the job for so many years, gave away just five runs in the 15th over.
Mohit Sharma kept on going with his fabulous spell from the middle overs to the death phase. Just four runs came in the 16th over with the vital scalp of Dewald Brevis. Rashid then increased the required run rate with a three-run 17th over.
Spencer Johnson, already going for 17-runs in his opening over in the IPL 2024, was smacked for a six from Tilak Verma. The let-handed denied a single in the last over of Rashid with Tim David standing on the other end. Johnson after that six sent back Verma to end the over on wasting eight runs.
Umesh Yadav, not famous for his death over bowling, digested a six and a boundary from away captain Pandya. But the moment on the third ball, he dismissed the all-rounder, Titans packed the moment and the game with a 6-run victory.
Harshit Rana and holding nerve in his incredible last over to grab IPL center stage
In a game where 412-runs were scored in 40 overs, with a difference of 4-runs between the two sides, there was a display of an incredible last over. Andre Russell with his muscle power propelled the Knights to over 200-run mark thanks to his unbeaten 25-ball 64-run knock.
Till 16-overs, the probability of a purple victory was perhaps over 90%. Then came three successive overs of 16, 21 and 26-runs. Shahbaz Ahmed, already on 16 of four balls was batting in a video game. On the other end, it was Heinrich Klassen, who powered himself to 56 in 26 balls.
The onus of bowling the last over was a toss up between Russell and young Harshit Rana. The later raised his hand up. A six and single stretched the equation to six required in four balls. Tough?
A slower ball found the long-on fielder on the third delivery to get the vital scalp of Shahbaz. Marco Jansen took a single in the fourth ball. The onus was back on Klassen, who went with his all power to find the third man Suyash Sharma, grabbing a fabulous catch running backwards.
Pat Cummins walked out and missed the first ball. The young boy from Delhi carried Kolkata to a famous 4-run win, from an unimaginable position.
KKR vs SRH, IPL 2024: कौन हैं कोलकाता की जीत की कहानी लिखने वाले हर्षित राणा? आखिरी 5 गेंदों में पलट दिया मैच #IPL2024WithSportsTak https://t.co/DF42xdkr9W pic.twitter.com/HhxNnrrGhx
— Sports Tak (@sports_tak) March 24, 2024
RCB lost three wickets for 1 run after perfect start in IPL 2024
It was the season opener of the 17th edition of the IPL 2024. It was the Southern derby. From the old battles of Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni to the new history of Faf du Plessis and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Both of these were the reason behind CSK’s IPL 2021 victory.
Bengaluru went off to a great start with 41-run opening partnership in the first four and half overs. Chennai bowlers were struggling so much with their line and lengths. There came Mustafizur Rahman. He went for a boundary over covers. The last few months hadn’t been decent for Fizz, who was out of Bangladesh’s side and found injuries his all-time pals.
He drew the first blood with a slower delivery that Faf smashed straight into the hands of the fielder. Three balls later, with the special delivery of left-arm pacers angle to the right-handed Rajat Patidar, Rahman found the outside edge of the batter. On the very next over, Deepak Chahar sent back Glenn Maxwell on a golden duck. From 41/1, the ‘Play Bold’ army slipped to 42/3 and from that moment it was the game of catching up.
IPL 2024 to ‘clear the air’ in Dhoni’s probable farewell, Hardik’s comeback, Virat’s chase
The return of Rishabh Pant in IPL 2024 after more than 2-years
The only news that made not only India happy, but blossomed a smile in the whole world. The images of Pant after his freakish car accident in December 2022 put a wave of shock among the cricket fans.
There have been many treatment, stories of is recovery, words of him describing the incident, and limitless rehabs. Ultimately the time came in IPL 2024. With a standing ovation from the whole crowd in Mullanpur, Rishabh Pant walked into the middle.
It took him hardly any time to adjust the speed of the competitive cricket. No matter how many hours you spend practicing, or middling the ball from the machine, the real-time zone of facing a bowler is a different story altogether.
The first boundary, where in his own style he flicked the ball for a boundary showed he hasn’t lost the mozo of his game. It was a good 13-ball 18-run knock at the end. The keeping was another point to watch out for. The reflexes have been sharp and the squats felt in a decent shape too. The only thing to see is how he recovers after an intense day game under the scorching heat.
The IPL 2024 carnage moves into its second week with more moments to capture for the spectators of the game.
Author: That mAd wrIter
Someone who loves how Steve Smith from being Australia's future Shane Warne has become present Don Bradman, gets inspired by Anderson's longevity, gets awed with Kohli's drive and Southee's bowling action. Never gets excited with stats and records, and believes in instincts, and always questions spinners bowling with the new ball.
