IPL: Greatest performances in must-win matches

The Indian Premier League has hosted over 600 games in its decorated history. There have been games of all kinds, ranging from resounding victories to nail-biting finishes. It's primarily the latter that are etched in most of our memories. Also etched in our memories are games in the league stage that are effectively must-wins. The league stage sees every team play 14 games against the other seven teams, and the four teams who accumulate the most points qualify for the knockout stages. Many a times, the last league games turn out to be must-wins, effectively virtual quarterfinals, for some teams. These games, unlike the nail-biting finishes, are exciting from the very first ball owing to the repercussions of the game.

The prestige of qualifying for the playoffs makes these games very important, and the pressure on the cricketers is very high. Let's take a look at some players who put on incredible performances in these must-win games.

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#5 Virat Kohli vs. Chennai Super Kings (2013)

Virat Kohli has produced numerous matching-winning performances in high pressure situations

The Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Chennai Super Kings have one of the fiercest rivalries in the IPL. The two teams clashing generally produces an intense, well-contested match. The 70th match of IPL 2013 saw the two teams face each either in their last league game. What made the game more special was that it was a must-win for the Royal Challengers Bangalore to stay in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs.

The Chennai Super Kings had already qualified and eventually ended as table toppers. The Royal Challengers Bangalore had to win to stay in the hunt, although their fate then rested in the hands of the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The game was a rain-curtailed one and was reduced to a mere eight overs a side. The Chennai Super Kings had a clear advantage batting second on a flat pitch. Despite the heavy rains persisting for hours, a large crowd at the Chinnaswamy stayed back to watch the game. The home team ensured that it was worth the wait.

Virat Kohli smashed 56 runs in just 29 balls to help his team post an intimidating total of 106 in their 8 overs. The Chennai Super Kings fell 24 runs short in their chase, which saw the Royal Challengers Bangalore doing their job right and putting pressure on the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Unfortunately for the team from Bangalore, the Sunrisers won their last league game to take the Royal Challengers Bangalore's spot in the playoffs. This doesn't take away Virat Kohli's special performance in a high-pressure must-win game against their rivals in a rain-curtailed game. The captain led his team from the front to help them pull off a memorable victory.

#4 Mitchell McClenaghan vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad (2015)

McClenaghan has proven his wicket-taking abilities time and again with the Mumbai Indians

Having lost five of their first six games, the Mumbai Indians seemed to be down and out. Qualifying for the playoffs, leave alone winning the title, seemed nothing short of a miracle. Miracles do happen and the Mumbai Indians demonstrated it in spectacular fashion. They won six out of the next seven games, which left them with 14 points in their 13 games.

Their last league game was against the Sunrisers Hyderabad and it was set to be a humdinger of a contest. The match was the very last league game and the equation was simple - the winner would go through to the playoffs. It was virtually a quarterfinal.

Warner's decision to bat first was a straightforward one given the sheen on the pitch, but it all fell apart rather horribly. Mumbai's spearheads McClenaghan and Malinga took apart the Sunrisers Hyderabad batting rather comfortably. McClenaghan got the crucial wicket of in-form David Warner with his very first ball. He finished with figures of 4-0-16-3 which earned him the man of the match award.

What makes this big match performance by McClenaghan even more special is the fact that Mumbai Indians then went on to miraculously win their second IPL title.

#3 AB de Villiers vs. Gujarat Lions (2016)

AB de Villiers has produced a handful of memorable IPL knocks

After playing 12 games in IPL 2016, the Royal Challengers Bangalore had notched up just 8 points. Their only way of making it to the playoffs was straightforward but improbable - win their remaining four matches. Their first game out of these four was against the Gujarat Lions, who ended the league as table toppers.

The Royal Challengers batted first and were struggling at 19-1 in 3.5 overs. What followed was the biggest partnership in IPL history. The reliable duo of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers added 229 runs to the board and took the Royal Challengers Bangalore to an incredible total of 248. In response, the Gujarat Lions could notch up just 104 runs, which was lesser than either Kohli or AB's runs

AB's innings was unforgettable. He showed exactly why he's popularly known as 'Mr.360'. He hit 10 fours and 12 sixes in his 52-ball 129.

#2 MS Dhoni vs. Kings XI Punjab (2010)

Dhoni re-consolidated his tag of best finisher against Punjab in 2010

This was a special innings by a special player. The Chennai Super Kings played the Kings XI Punjab in their final league game and the repercussions were straightforward - a win and they would be through to the playoffs and a loss would see them bow out of the competition.

The Kings XI batted first and they posted a humongous total of 192 on the board thanks to a special 99 run partnership between Shaun Marsh and Irfan Pathan. Chennai got off to a horrid start, slumping to 27/2 in 4 overs. Reliable batsmen Raina and Badrinath got them back into the game, until Raina lost his wicket in the tenth over. Badrinath hit a fine half century but lost his wicket in the 17th over. The Chennai Super Kings needed 45 runs in 20 balls to make it to the playoff for a third year running and it was all up to captain cool, MS Dhoni.

Dhoni batted sensibly to bring his team within touching distance, needing 16 runs of the final over. Dhoni started the over with a boundary, followed by two runs. He then hit two majestic sixes to finish the game with two balls to spare.

Dhoni has won matches way bigger than this. But as he admitted in the press conference, it was an emotional moment for him to win this one. What makes this innings even more special is that the Chennai Super Kings then went on to win their maiden title. Also, in hindsight, this innings was pivotal in ensuring that the Chennai Super Kings could create their obnoxious record of having qualified for the playoffs every single time they've played.

#1 Corey Anderson vs. Rajasthan Royals (2014)

Corey Anderson helped Mumbai achieve the impossible against Rajasthan in 2014

This was a match of epic proportions. The defending champions, the Mumbai Indians, had a herculean task lined up for them in the last league game of IPL 2014. They faced the Rajasthan Royals in a virtual quarterfinal, although the tips were scaled massively in Rajasthan's favor owing to their superior net run rate.

The Mumbai Indians, who won the toss and opted to field, had to chase over Rajasthan's target in 14.3 overs. Sublime batting by youngsters Sanju Samson and Karun Nair saw the Rajasthan Royals post a target of 190.

Getting 190 in 14.3 overs was an improbable ask, and the Rajasthan Royals would have been extremely confident of making the playoffs. The Mumbai Indians had other ideas.

The convoluted drama at the end of it all made it a match impossible to forget. When the scores were tied after 14.3 overs, it looked like the Rajasthan Royals had survived a mighty scare. However, after a lot of confusion and discussion, it was understood that the Mumbai Indians could still go through if they could hit a boundary off the next ball. Aditya Tare deposited a generous full toss by Faulkner out of the park to miraculously take the Mumbai Indians through to the semi final.

The man of the match deservedly went to Corey Anderson, who after flopping all season, produced one of IPL's greatest knocks. He hit 95 of just 44 balls, smashing 9 fours and 6 sixes in the process. He smashed the ball all over the park and gave the Royals a night to forget.