IPL: Top 5 batting performances in the IPL playoffs

Hodge's 54 kept the Royals in the tournament
Hodge's 54 kept the Royals in the tournament

This year's IPL has already progressed to its playoff stage. The first qualifier will be between two of the best teams in the tournament, Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The match will be played at the Wankhede Stadium.

The playoff stage has been in the IPL since its fourth edition after the semi-finals were scrapped off following season-3.

So far, a total of 21 matches have been at the playoff stage. In these 21 matches, there have been numerous brilliant performances with the bat which have mesmerized the crowd.

So without any further ado, let's take a look at the top 5 batting performances in the IPL playoffs.

#5. Brad Hodge vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2013

This was the eliminator of IPL 2013 and the teams playing were Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals at Delhi.

The Sunrisers won the toss and elected to bat first. Some fine bowling from the Royals restricted them to a modest total of 132/7.

In reply, Rajasthan Royals began well with skipper Rahul Dravid hitting three early boundaries. However, he was dismissed at the end of the second over.

Shane Watson and Ajinkya Rahane batted well and the Royals were in a decent position at 50/1.

However, Watson's dismissal triggered a collapse in the RR batting as they were soon 57/5. At this stage, Sanju Samson and Brad Hodge were at the crease.

Samson batted calmly while Hodge played a couple of big shots. The duo added 45 runs for the 6th wicket before Samson was dismissed by Steyn.

Hodge, assisted by James Faulkner kept, the Royals alive and they needed 10 runs to win from the final over. The final over was bowled by Darren Sammy who conceded just 15 runs from his three overs and picked up two wickets.

In the first ball, Hodge pelted a short delivery from Sammy over backward square-leg for a six and RR needed 6 from 5.

The next ball was fuller from Sammy but Hodge connected well and hit the ball over long on for another six and the Royals won the match. After hitting the six, Hodge celebrated by doing Sammy's "rock the baby" celebration.

Hodge ended the match with 54 from 29 deliveries. This innings rightfully got him the Man of the Match award but most importantly, kept Rajasthan Royals in the competition.

#4. AB de Villiers vs Gujarat Lions, 2016

ABD's 79 took RCB to their third IPL final
ABD's 79 took RCB to their third IPL final

This was the first qualifier of IPL 2016. The venue was the M Chinaswamy Stadium at Bangalore and Royal Challengers Bangalore were up against new franchise Gujarat Lions.

RCB skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and put the Lions to bat first. Gujarat Lions lost the wickets of Aaron Finch, Brendon McCullum and skipper Suresh Raina in quick succession and were 9/3.

However, a 41-ball 73 from Dwayne Smith took the Lions to a par total of 158 in their 20 overs.

In reply, RCB were off to a much disastrous start as they were 29/5 thanks to Dhawal Kulkarni who got the big wickets of Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli.

At this stage, AB de Villiers was on the crease alongside Stuart Binny. The pair added 39 runs before Binny perished.

Iqbal Abdullah joined ABD at the crease. De Villers was batting well and soon, Abdullah joined the party by playing some fine shots. The pair brought the momentum back for RCB and the match was slipping away from the Lions.

De Villiers was on a rampage and went on to score 79 from 47 deliveries as RCB won the match with two overs to spare.

The Royal Challengers were thus through to the final and De Villiers was undoubtedly declared the Man of the Match.

#3. Murali Vijay vs Delhi Daredevils, 2012

Vijay's century took CSK to their third successive IPL final
Vijay's century took CSK to their third successive IPL final

It was the second qualifier of IPL 2012. Table-toppers Delhi Daredevils were up against Chennai Super Kings at Chennai.

The Daredevils won the toss and Virender Sehwag put CSK to bat first. Murali Vijay opened the innings along with Michael Hussey. Vijay had not been in the best of form in the tournament, scoring just 181 runs in 12 matches.

Vijay began by scoring two boundaries in the first two deliveries. Vijay began to smash the DD bowlers all across the ground. He sailed to his fifty. The two-time defending champions were in a commanding position at the time.

Vijay received some fine assistance from Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, and Dwayne Bravo in the form of cameos as he continued to bat brilliantly.

Vijay reached his second IPL century and the 6th of the tournament. He went on to score 113 from 58 deliveries and was dismissed in the final ball of the innings. CSK's innings ended at 222/5.

In reply, Delhi Daredevils could only score 136 and the Super Kings were through to their 3rd successive IPL final and their 4th overall. Vijay was adjudged the Man of the Match for his brilliant knock.

#2. Virender Sehwag vs Chennai Super Kings, 2014

Sehwag's knock took KXIP to their maiden IPL final
Sehwag's knock took KXIP to their maiden IPL final

This was the second qualifier of IPL 2014. Chennai Super Kings were up against Kings XI Punjab at Mumbai to determine who would play the final against Kolkata Knight Riders at Bangalore.

CSK won the toss and decided to field first. Kings XI Punjab were off to a fine start thanks to Virender Sehwag's aggressive batting and Manan Vohra's occasional aggression. At the twilight of his career, Sehwag was effortlessly bashing the CSK bowlers.

Viru continued to smash the CSK bowlers after Vohra's dismissal and batted away to his second IPL hundred. He went on to score 122 from just 58 balls before being dismissed by fellow Delhiite Ashish Nehra. This was Sehwag's highest IPL score.

Punjab's innings ended at 226/6. In reply, CSK fell 24 runs short and KXIP were through to their first ever IPL final.

# 1. Suresh Raina vs Kings XI Punjab, 2014

Raina's majestic 87 went in vain sadly.
Sadly, Raina's majestic 87 went in vain.

This is the same match mentioned in the previous slide. KXIP scored 226/6 from their 20 overs thanks to Virender Sehwag's 122.

In reply, CSK lost Faf du Plessis early. Suresh Raina came in to bat and started to hit the big shots right from the beginning.

Raina was on a rampage and it took him just 16 deliveries to reach his half-century. Suddenly, it looked like CSK would script the record for the highest successful run chase in IPL history as Raina raced off to 87 from just 25 deliveries and their 100 came up at the end of the powerplay.

At this point, CSK's required run rate was just above 9 and Raina had a very strong chance of breaking Chris Gayle's record for the fastest T20 century.

However, in the very first ball of the 7th over, there was some misunderstanding between Raina and his partner Brendon McCullum and the former was run out.

Raina's departure triggered a fall in CSK's run rate and they eventually fell 24 runs short of the target.

Suresh Raina's 25-ball 87 may have come in a lost cause but there's no doubt that it is the finest innings in a playoff match and one of the finest in IPL history

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Edited by Amar Anand