The Indian Premier League, or IPL as it’s popularly known, is one of the biggest T20 cricket leagues in the world. Since its inception in 2008, IPL has taken the cricket world by storm. But believe it or not, there are still some unknown facts about IPL, this cash-rich tournament that may surprise even die-hard fans. So sit back, relax, and gear up for some interesting IPL revelations that not everyone might be aware of.
Dhoni has played the most IPL games
MS Dhoni holds the Record for most IPL matches played – 204 and counting. What’s even more amazing is that the CSK skipper has led his team to a record-breaking 4 titles. No other player comes close to matching Dhoni’s IPL longevity and success. While players like Virat Kohli are in the 190s, at 41 Dhoni is still going strong, leading CSK to yet another final in 2022. Truly a testament to Thala’s greatness and love for the Yellow Army.
The original IPL anthem composer wasn’t paid
Who composed the highly popular IPL anthem ‘Aaya Karo Dabangg’? Most will know the singers but fewer will know the unsung hero behind the upbeat composition – Pranav Ajay Malhotra. The then 19-year-old student had created the anthem on commission from the IPL authorities. However, he was never paid for his work since it became such a huge hit. It’s unfortunate how easily talent can get exploited in such big-money industries. Kudos to Pranav for not giving up on his dream.
Kolkata’s Eden Gardens has hosted the most IPL matches
Another interesting IPL factsThe iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata has been the favorite IPL venue by a mile. So far, this historic cricket ground has hosted a staggering 67 IPL matches since 2008 – the most by any stadium. The next best is Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai hosting 57 games. Home to the two-time champions KKR, Eden is revered as Mecca for cricket fanatics in Eastern India. No wonder the BCCI has looked to cash in on Kolkata’s raging passion for cricket and their men in purple and gold jerseys.
IPL trophies don’t have a standard design
Contrary to popular belief, there is no fixed or standard design for the IPL winner’s trophy. The designs seem to be created separately for each edition by the tournament organizers. Probably because they want to give that “new and fresh” feel every year. But this also means teams don’t have a consistent classic trophy to flaunt and celebrate their triumphs with like the other major cricket trophies. Maybe they should consider making it uniform and more prestigious going forward.
England was originally part of the IPL
Hard to believe but England was amongst the eight inaugural franchises when IPL launched in 2008. The England franchise was named ‘England Lions’ and went unsold in the auction that year. They eventually pulled out possibly due to ideological and economic reasons. With many English players now actively taking part, perhaps BCCI should ponder bringing England back as a dedicated franchise to add to the league’s global appeal. The Lions could make a roaring comeback!
The highest team batting score remains 200!
It’s been over a decade but no team has been able to surpass RCB’s monumental score of 205/4 against Pune Warriors in 2013. Even in the age of modern power-hitting specialists like Dhoni, Kohli, and Pollard – this record stands unbroken. Goes to show how perfectly the RCB top-order of Kohli, Gayle, and ABD clicked on their day to stamp an extraordinary batting effort in cricket’s shortest format. Wonder if we’ll ever see a team break the 200-run barrier and enter record books.
KKR holds the record for most sixes in an innings
In 2018, KKR hammered an incredible 62 sixes – a record that still stands – against the Delhi Daredevils. Andres Fletcher, Robin Uthappa, and Nitish Rana went berserk that night to smash the Daredevils bowlers all across the park en route to their mammoth score of 263. Hitting sixes has become common today, but smashing over 60 in a T20 innings is an unbelievable feat achieved only by KKR so far. Their captain Dinesh Karthik must be feeling proud of this bombshell batting display.
Punjab has seen most matches decided in Super Over
No other team has been taken to Super Over more times than Kings XI Punjab – a staggering 4 occasions. The first was in 2009 final defeat to Deccan Chargers followed by 3 matches in 2020 alone against DC, RCB, and SRH where they lost 2 and won 1. While it’s nice to see thrillers, KXIP fans sure wouldn’t want to endure this heartbreak route again. Their brittle middle-order has often pushed matches to Super Over deciding faith. Maybe it’s time for a revamp to avoid this unwanted record.
3 players have scored centuries
Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, and Brendon McCullum are the only batsmen to have smashed scintillating IPL hundreds so far. Gayle leads with a stunning unbeaten 175, followed by ABD’s memorable knock of 133*. And who can forget ‘Super Mac’s’ exhilarating 158 against RCB – fastest IPL century even today. With power-hitting evolving, many predict aggressive openers like Shaw or Pant could join this elite club soon. But for now, these three master blasters rule the roost alone in this illustrious list.
In conclusion, even among hardcore fans, less-known IPL facts are waiting to be discovered. Records are meant to be broken, but some may stand the test of time. As the world’s most popular T20 league progresses into its second decade, new feats and chapters are sure to unfold. But these 9 unknown facts provide a glimpse of the magic, excitement, and history IPL has weaved in Indian cricket so far.
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