IPL Countdown: 5 lesser known records across all seasons

The twelfth edition of the biggest T20 league in the world is less than a month away with the all-important World Cup scheduled to follow the IPL. Every season of the league has seen numerous stalwarts piling up records while many youngsters entering the record books, several records being broken and a handful of new ones created.

Over the years IPL has been a spectator to a number of unique records, which most people are unaware of. As we near the twelfth season of the IPL, we look at five such lesser-known records.

---

#5 Mustafizur Rahman is the only non-Indian to win the Emerging Player award

Breaking into the limelight with his match-winning spells against India in 2015, the teen sensation from Bangladesh was picked by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for the 2016 season. Known for his deceptive off-cutters, Mustafizur Rahman made life tough for the batsmen, bowling in tandem with Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The pair formed a formidable death bowling combination which eventually played a huge role in SRH winning the trophy in 2016.

The left-arm pacer picked 17 wickets from 16 games at a miserly 6.90 runs per over. Though the wickets column does not look overly impressive, the impact which he had was commendable.

#4 Pragyan Ojha is the only spinner to win the Purple Cap

Pragyan Ojha

The coveted Purple Cap which is won by the highest wicket-taker in the season has been won by fast-bowlers every single time, except for one season when left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha grabbed the most number of wickets. The former Indian international had a dream season in 2010 when he picked 21 wickets from 16 games at an economy of 6.5 and a superb strike rate of 15.48.

The then-defending champions Deccan Chargers were on course for their second consecutive title but finished at the third place after losing to the eventual champions Chennai Super Kings in the eliminator. Ojha was at the peak of his form helping his side to reach the top 4. This happened to be the only time a spinner won the Purple Cap.

#3 Manish Pandey and Paul Valthaty are the only uncapped Indian centurions

Manish Pandey

The 2009 IPL in South Africa saw RCB scripting a brilliant turnaround, winning 5 of their last 6 league games. In the last league game against Deccan Chargers, a young Manish Pandey, who had been warming the bench till then, scripted history by becoming the first Indian to score a century in the IPL.

He also became the first uncapped Indian as well as the youngest player to score a hundred in the IPL. His unbeaten 114 came off 73 balls and included 10 fours and 4 sixes and helped RCB win the game by 12 runs.

Paul Valthaty

Chasing a total of 189 at Chandigarh in the third edition of the IPL, KXIP were handed over an unexpected win against the eventual winners CSK courtesy a blitzkrieg 120* by the newbie Paul Valthaty.

A name unheard of until then played the innings of his life and became an overnight sensation. His match-winning knock came off 63 balls and included 19 fours and 2 sixes. Valthaty became the second uncapped Indian to score a century in the IPL. To this day, he along with Pandey remains the only uncapped Indian to hit a hundred in the IPL.

#2 Anil Kumble is the only player to win the Man of the Match in a losing cause in a final

Anil Kumble

The man with the most international wickets for India was at his absolute best in the second season held in South Africa. Starting the season with a five-wicket haul against Rajasthan Royals, Anil Kumble was handed over the captaincy midway of the tournament. The veteran led with vigor and scripted a dramatic turnaround to take his side to the finals.

The final against Deccan Chargers saw the RCB skipper open the bowling. Kumble sent back his counterpart Adam Gilchrist, castling him on the third ball of the innings. He later picked the key wickets of Andrew Symonds, Rohit Sharma, and Venugopal Rao to finish with figures of 4/16 from his full quota. Deccan Chargers were restricted to 143/6 courtesy Kumble's magic with the ball. But the batting did not click for RCB as DC's bowlers were fantastic as a unit.

For his magnificent effort with the ball, Kumble won the Man of the Match award in the final despite being on the losing side and it remains the only such instance till date.

#1 Yuvraj Singh is the only player to score a half-century and pick a hat-trick in the same match

Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh, Man of the Tournament in India's victorious campaign in the 2011 World Cup, has a magnificent T20I career. However, the IPL is a stage where Yuvraj has flattered to deceive every single season and has played for five different teams so far. Yet to set the stage on fire in IPL, Yuvraj has one unique record to his name though.

Yuvraj is the only man to score a fifty and pick a hat-trick in the same IPL match. In the second season which was held in South Africa, Yuvraj achieved the rare feat against the Royal Challengers Bangalore at Durban. The then KXIP skipper picked a hat-trick in the first innings, ending his quota with figures 3/22. Chasing 145, the skipper led from the front with the bat, scoring 50 off 34 balls including 3 fours and 4 sixes. However, he could not take his side over the finishing line and KXIP lost by 8 runs.

Coincidentally it was the same ground where Yuvraj smashed Stuart Broad for 6 sixes in an over and recorded the fastest international fifty.

Follow Sportskeeda for all the updates on IPL 2019 schedule, news, points table, live scores, orange cap, purple cap and fantasy tips.