IPL 2015's best moments that won't fade away

AB de Villiers

There was a lot of excitement, plenty of fun, a good amount of adrenaline, an array of tactics, a variety of weird hairdos, some crazy camera angles, a bunch of controversies and above all a healthy dose of quality cricket. IPL 8 was one of the most closely contested editions of the tournament, and it was never short of memorable moments at any juncture.

Some of those moments – innings, shots, catches and fielding – will stay in memory for a while, just the way the Axe Signature deodorants don’t fade away. Here, we pick five memorable moments from the 2015 edition of the IPL:

The sprightly run from the old man

This year Brad Hogg became the oldest player to play a game in the IPL, but not for a moment did he look rusty. Showing off his supreme fitness levels, Hogg gave us one of the moments of this IPL with his sprightly celebration.

Brimming with confidence after a good return in the previous game, Hogg came on to bowl against Chennai Super Kings in the fifth over – well inside the power-play. He was bowling to Brendon McCullum, who had smashed 32 in just 12 balls with three fours and three sixes. The very first ball, Hogg trapped the Kiwi LBW with a flat delivery in front of the stumps, and broke into his characteristic run.

The 44-year-old Aussie went on to register figures of 4-29 in the game, showing how old is gold even in the most adrenaline-packed cricket tournament in the world.

The genius of AB de Villiers

The moment happened not during the game but after it. Mumbai Indians, after their four initial losses, went on an amazing winning streak that was interrupted only a couple of times, one of those courtesy AB de Villiers’ genius. The great man scored a century in just 47 balls, with a slog swept off a fast bowler over deep midwicket. He finished unbeaten on 133 in just 59 balls, taking RCB to 235 for one.

But when asked about his breathtaking innings, De Villiers nonchalantly said he didn’t think that was his best innings. That confidence blended with his matter-of-fact frankness from a usually modest man was a moment to relish.

The relay catch to beat all relay catches

It was easily one of the catches of the tournament, and it was shown over and over again. And yet, you can never really tire of watching it. Yes, the IPL saw some brilliant catches this year, especially from two West Indians, Dwayne Bravo and Lendl Simmons, who have made leaping and holding on to sensational catches something of a specialty. This one though was a class apart for the sheer impossibility of what was pulled off by Tim Southee and Karun Nair during Rajasthan Royals’ match against Kings XI Punjab.

George Bailey might have thought he had hit a six off the last ball of the 19th over. Having it stopped from going for a six by a leaping Southee, who took the catch one-handed and flicked it back inside, was bad enough. But Nair, who was close by, dived to grab the ball inches above the ground, completing a catch that was both spectacular and hard to believe.

If ever a bowler got a gift from his fielders, this tag-team effort was it!

Bravo’s bravado

Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo is renowned for having a golden arm, and with good reason. Chasing 148 against CSK, RCB were cruising at 97 for three, thanks largely to the efforts of Virat Kohli who was in sublime touch and had added 63 with Dinesh Karthik. But one instance of superb presence of mind changed all that.

A full delivery from Bravo was defended back to him by Kohli. Almost like a sharp reflex, Bravo caught the ball and threw it back to knock down the stumps and catch Kohli unawares and out of the crease. The RCB captain was dismissed for 48 and RCB lost by 24 runs, with Karthik falling the very next ball. Bravo’s moment of Calypso magic was the game-changer, sending the CSK fans into delirium.

Bhajji’s double strike

The eventual champions Mumbai Indians had many memorable moments on the field all through the season. Rohit Sharma’s slog swept six over mid-wicket, Hardik Pandya’s blitzkrieg 31-ball 61 and Kieron Pollard’s freight train celebration after bowling a tight last over to defeat the Kolkata Knight Riders were all classic moments in their journey from the bottom to the top.

But perhaps the most memorable of all was Harbhajan Singh’s double strike in two balls to dismiss stalwarts Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni in the game against CSK. Chasing 187, Dhoni’s men were going well at 86 for two after 10.1 overs, when Harbhajan got Raina caught and bowled. The very next ball, Dhoni was trapped in front of the stumps sweeping, dismissed for a golden duck.

Suddenly, CSK were 86 for four, and they were eventually bundled out for 162. That was also probably the most significant of the IPL’s memorable moments, coming as it did in the first qualifier that sent MI to their third final.