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The Indian Premier League (IPL) is the most prestigious T20 franchise league in the world, and sees the best players from all over the world play both with and against each other.
5 most iconic player battles in IPL history
We have seen international teammates face off in even contests between bat and ball that now have an added subtext. We have also seen the biggest international rivalries played with the same intensity in franchise clothing.
Over the years in the IPL, we have seen many such battles as close friends and fierce rivals look to get the wood over one another. Ahead of the 2020 edition of the IPL, we take a look at the 5 most iconic player battles in the history of the tournament.
#5 Harbhajan Singh vs Suresh Raina
Harbhajan Singh might be teammates with Suresh Raina at CSK at the moment but while the former was at the Mumbai Indians (MI), many a battle ensued between the 2011 World Cup winners.
With both players having been mainstays of their respective sides, Bhajji bowled to Raina in almost every MI vs CSK game. Harbhajan managed to dismiss the CSK vice-captain on 5 occasions, 3 times via a catch and twice stumped. Only Chris Gayle has been dismissed an equal number of times by the off-spinner.
Raina, on the other hand, experienced reasonable success against MI while Harbhajan was part of the side. With an average of 33.71 and strike rate of 145.08, the elegant southpaw scored 708 runs against the 4-time IPL champions.
This rivalry is currently restricted to the CSK nets, as Raina and Harbhajan attempt to bring MS Dhoni's side their 4th IPL title.
#4 Kieron Pollard vs Dwayne Bravo
West Indian all-rounders Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo have had many a battle in the IPL.
The Trinidadians' first notable encounter was in the Eliminator of the 2012 IPL between CSK and MI. With MI needing 188 to win and make it to Qualifier 2, Pollard was their last hope after a middle-order collapse, but holed out to Raina off Bravo's bowling.
The CSK talisman mocked Pollard immediately after the wicket by imitating the flight of a plane, indicating that he'd have to leave the tournament by taking the next flight home.
The rivalry also made an appearance while Bravo was at the Gujarat Lions, as he gently shoved Pollard on his way back to his bowling mark. Although both parties claimed that it was just banter, Bravo was fined 50% of his match fee.
Bravo and Pollard will go up against each other once again in the IPL, although they are currently teammates at Caribbean Premier League franchise Trinbago Knight Riders.
#3 AB de Villiers vs Dale Steyn
South African teammates AB de Villiers and Dale Steyn have great respect and admiration for one another, but that hasn't stopped them from going all in when playing each other in the IPL.
In the 2012 edition of the IPL, De Villiers hit Steyn for as many as 23 runs in an over, with his wide array of shots on full display. The Deccan Chargers quick could only stand and applaud as his national teammate dismantled him to take RCB to an unlikely last-over victory.
Two years later, in the 2014 IPL, the battle rekindled itself, with Steyn now sporting the orange and black of the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). De Villiers went one better this time, taking 24 runs off the penultimate over of the innings bowled by Steyn en route to a match-winning 89 off 41 balls.
However, Steyn has had his moments against De Villiers as well, and has dismissed him once in the IPL. The pair will attempt to bring RCB their first-ever title in the upcoming IPL.
#2 Chris Gayle vs Ravichandran Ashwin
With Chris Gayle never known to be comfortable against off-spinners, especially against the new ball, it is inevitable that he has had made a battle with the likes of Harbhajan Singh and even Suresh Raina at times in the IPL. But the rivalry that really stands out is his with former CSK spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
The key battle between the two came in the final of the 2011 IPL, in which RCB needed to score over 200 to chase down CSK's total. The Tamil Nadu bowler, who was opening the bowling, took only 3 balls to dismiss Gayle caught behind. He has dismissed the Universe Boss 4 times in the IPL, and Gayle has also taken Ashwin to the cleaners on occasions.
The pair were teammates at KXIP recently before Ashwin was traded to the Delhi Capitals, and they will rekindle their feud in the 2020 IPL.
#1 MS Dhoni vs Lasith Malinga
The greatest finisher the world has ever seen - MS Dhoni - and the greatest death bowler the world has ever seen - Lasith Malinga - are bound to have had numerous intense battles, the IPL is no different.
With MI vs CSK being the marquee clash of every IPL season, Dhoni and Malinga have faced off at the ends of innings in almost every game. The leading wicket-taker in IPL history has dismissed the CSK captain thrice, while conceding 107 runs.
The highlight of their rivalry came in 2012, when Dhoni pulled out the helicopter to a 145 kph-plus delivery and deposited it over mid-wicket. Malinga could only smile as he walked back to his mark, with the shot widely regarded as one of the best in the history of the IPL.
Malinga and Dhoni will once again lock horns in the 2020 edition of the IPL.
Also Read: 3 players who have won the MVP award twice in the IPL
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