The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a platform of innovations and it offered players across the world a chance to share their expertise with each other.
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IPL is the oldest among the franchise-based cricket tournaments across the globe. Since IPL had come to effect in 2008, it brought many new things to the fans.
Now, this Twenty20 tournament is all set to step into its 11th edition. So, here we are going to discuss top five masterstrokes in IPL history.
Use of foreign stars
IPL Governing Council’s decision of using foreign stars in IPL offered Indian players to share the dressing room with overseas stars which enabled them to learn the tricks and apply them in matches.
Availability of foreign stars helps India to build a cosmopolitan culture that helped Indian cricketers to groom themselves and readied themselves for international cricket. Meanwhile, use of overseas stars also increased IPL’s glamour quotient.
Dishing out an evening soap opera for working clash
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s decision to hosts IPL matches in the evening enlarged the fans base.
Working class of India found a new platform to spend some quality time as IPL offered them to watch matches from the stadium in the evening.
This masterstroke also witnessed full-house in almost every match and proved to be a masterstroke as fans are back to enjoy the game.
Sunil Narine’s top order blitz
In 2017 IPL, when former Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir decided to elevate mystery spinner Narine as an opener it left everyone stunned.
This outrageous move proved to be a great idea as Narine went on to hold the record of the fastest century.
He slammed a 15 ball fifty against Kings XI Punjab to take everyone by surprise in IPL 2017. It shocked everyone, not least the KKR franchise with how well it worked for them!
Chris Gayle went unsold and fired for RCB as a replacement
In 2010 IPL, Chris Gayle was released from Kolkata Knight Riders franchise and went unsold in IPL auction.
But, Dirk Nannes’ injury forced RCB to sign a deal with RCB. This opportunity offered Gayle an opportunity to prove themselves and it seemed that he unleashed his anger at every delivery.
He scored 608 runs in 12 matches at an average of 67.55. He slammed two centuries and three half-centuries. This was just the beginning as he destroyed bowlers in the following seasons.
Shane Warne’s utilization of youngsters in 2008
In 2008 IPL, legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne played the role of captaincy cum a senior post player. Under his coaching, a bunch youngster like Yusuf Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja and Kamran Akmal played an important role and groomed themselves.
While Jadeja became India’s one of the most talented spinners while Yusuf Pathan slammed a 37 ball hundred to steer Royals to win their maiden IPL trophy.
It was Shane Warne’s cricketing wisdom and intent to work with youngsters which di a wonder in IPL.
