IPL 2019: Top 5 moments from Week 1

The first week is done and dusted, with eight matches played thus far. All teams have played two matches each and barring Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals, all the other teams have registered wins and are up and running. Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders have had a strong start to the tournament as they’ve won both their games and are comfortably sitting on top of the IPL table.

It’s been quite a ride in the first week with some glaring performances with both bat and ball. Also, there were quite a few controversies that hit the IPL as early as the first week. There were moments that stood out in this first week. Hence, let’s look back at five of the top moments from week one.

Note – Time period considered for the first week is Saturday (23rd March) to Friday (29th March)

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#5 Bumrah vs Kohli

The entire build-up to this Indian Premier League (IPL) was surrounding the best v the best. Star Sports (the official broadcaster) had a promo with arguably the best bowler in the world at present - Jasprit Bumrah - sending a warning to the best batsman in the world, Virat Kohli who gleefully accepted the challenge.

And when the two faced off, it was nothing short of brilliant. Both Kohli and Bumrah didn’t have the best of starts to this IPL, but they were back to their best when their two teams squared off. When Kohli arrived at the crease, it was Bumrah who was operating in first over.

Kohli defended the first ball before he stroked three consecutive boundaries to gain the upper hand. The first one was a pull to past mid-on, the next one was an outside-edge that ran away and third was a sublime drive caressed through the cover-point. Like he’s done in the previous years, Kohli continued to gain the advantage over Bumrah.

But the 25-year-old pacer had the last laugh. He came back at a critical time and got rid off a well-set Kohli.

He bowled a very good short ball to his Indian captain who could just get a top-edge and was out caught. It was just the second time Bumrah has dismissed Kohli in IPL cricket. The first time was on Bumrah’s debut when Kohli became the Gujarat pacer’s maiden IPL wicket.

Hence, the first round of this battle of the best v the best went to Bumrah.

#4 Pant’s frenetic knock ends with an injury scare to Bumrah

Image Courtesy: IPT20/BCCI

An entire nation skipped a heartbeat when Jasprit Bumrah clutched his shoulder on the final delivery of Delhi Capitals’ innings. India’s premier pacer had hurt his shoulder on his follow through and left the ground in pain. He didn’t even bat in that game and all of India was concerned as the World Cup is just two months away.

However, Bumrah was fully fit and raring to go in a couple of days. He played the game against RCB and was back to his brutal best as he picked up 3/20 to win Mumbai the game.

However, the game that Bumrah was injured, there was a certain Rishabh Pant smashing him all over the Wankhede stadium. Bumrah wasn’t the only one at the receiving end. Every Mumbai bowler was taken to the cleaners as Pant smashed a frenetic 78 off 27 balls which included seven fours and seven sixes.

#3 KXIP pay big for no-ball to Russell

Image Courtesy: IPT20/BCCI

Two games for KKR and in both games, Andre Russell made a huge impact and eventually, won the player of the match award in both games. However, he had his fair share of luck in the second game against Kings XI Punjab.

He didn’t get off to the best of starts and was out bowled off his sixth delivery. However, it was called a no-ball as only three fielders were inside the 30-yard circle. Quite absurd, isn't it?

Russell was batting on just 3 at that moment. Mohammed Shami had bowled an excellent yorker which went through the defences of Russell and knocked him over. But he got a lucky reprieve. That was the moment the game turned on its head as the big-hitting all-rounder made KXIP pay. He scored 48 off 17 deliveries as he took the game away from Punjab in the last three overs.

He came back and picked up a couple of wickets with the ball, including the big one of Chris Gayle. Hence, that no-ball was a huge moment.

Russell is among the players in race for the Orange and Purple caps as well.

#2 The no-ball that wasn’t called

Another no-ball incident enters the list of the top five moments. But this time, it is one that wasn’t called and RCB were at the receiving end of it. RCB and MI were engrossed in an intense battle. Jasprit Bumrah’s fabulous death bowling and AB de Villiers’ brilliance had kept both teams in the game.

With 22 needed off the last two overs, Bumrah conceded just five runs in the penultimate over. Lasith Malinga bowled the final over. After conceding a six off the first ball, he came back really well. With seven needed off the final delivery, the veteran Sri Lankan pacer nailed the yorker as Shivam Dube could just get a single.

The Mumbai Indians players were ecstatic. However, a huge controversy broke out as soon as the players shook hands. Replays showed Malinga had clearly overstepped on the final delivery and the umpire (S Ravi) didn’t spot it. Virat Kohli was fuming and was clearly very unhappy with the decision. “We are playing at the IPL level and not playing club cricket. The umpires should have had their eyes open. That is a ridiculous call (last ball),” he said in the post-match presentation.

Rohit Sharma also criticized the umpiring and said that these mistakes might cost the teams big time. “These kinds of mistakes are not good for the game of cricket, it's pretty simple, the over before that. Bumrah bowled a ball which wasn't a wide ball. Those are game-changers,” Rohit Sharma was quoted saying.

#1 Ashwin Mankading Buttler

Image Courtesy: IPT20/BCCI

This was by far the biggest moment and talking point of the week. It was the first of its kind in the IPL but both men involved Jos Buttler and Ravichandran Ashwin had some history with it. The Mankading incident broke out for the first time in IPL history as it led to a massive outrage on social media and in the cricketing community.

When RR were chasing 185 in the fourth game of this IPL, Jos Buttler was their key man. He was batting on 67 when KXIP skipper Ashwin decided to Mankad in the 13th over. Buttler wandered outside his crease when Ashwin was in his delivery stride and the off-spinner took advantage. He looked very animated when he caught Buttler short of his ground.

Ashwin felt that the incident was very instinctive and he was well within his rights and rules to affect such a dismissal. Buttler was very unhappy with Ashwin’s act as he walked back fuming as well.