IPL 2022 has progressed to the playoffs stage after almost two months of thrilling cricketing action at the group stage. The ten-team event has surprised everyone, with Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants being the two teams to qualify for the playoffs and Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians left in the dust at the bottom of the group stage. Some shocking moments in the sports extravaganza in this edition have further elevated the heights of rich cricketing action in India.
Here are the top 10 moments in IPL 2022:
1- David Miller’s hat-trick of sixes in qualifier 1
Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals faced each other in the 1st qualifier of IPL 2022. Rajasthan posted a massive total of 188 runs on the board, and Gujarat replied with an aggressive approach. However, due to an excellent 19th over from Obed McCoy, Gujarat Titans needed 16 runs off the last over to win the match and advance to the finals. David Miller took it upon himself to take his team to the final by depositing three consecutive sixes on the first three balls of the 20th over bowled by Prasidh Krishna.
2- Rahul Tewatia’s 12 off 2 to finish the game
Rahul Tewatia has done some miraculous things in his short but impactful career so far in the Indian Premier League. He again stole the spotlight in a group stage match for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022 by doing a wonderful finish for his team. GT needed 12 off the last 2 deliveries, and only two sixes could have guaranteed their victory. Tewatia did the exact same by unleashing two massive hits against Odean Smith to take his side home.
Also Read: IPL 2022, GT VS PBKS: Tewatia snatches Jittery game for GT
3- Tim David survives to end DC’s run at the tournament
Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians, the second last game at the group stage was virtually a quarterfinal which guaranteed Delhi a spot in the eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants if they had defeated Mumbai. However, Tim David did not let those dreams come true for the Capitals. He scored 34 off 11 to completely change the momentum of the game. Interestingly, David survived a DRS call earlier in the game when Rishabh Pant decided to not review a caught behind.
4- RCB RCB chants in DC vs MI clash
Delhi vs Mumbai was a T20 on which Royal Challengers Bangalore depended to qualify for the playoffs. RCB openly supported MI in the clash, and the fans of the team flocked in huge numbers at the Wankhede Stadium to cheer for Mumbai Indians against Delhi Capitals. However, the most glaring and exciting moment of the match was when the chants of RCB RCB erupted in the Wankhede to celebrate MI’s wickets and runs in the game.
Also Read: IPL 2022, MI VS DC: MI Wins, RCB qualifies for the playoffs
5- Umran Malik’s fifer
Umran Malik, the speedster from Kashmir, is an exciting young prospect. He has already breached the mark of 157km/ph to register the fastest ball in IPL history. On the back of his excellent performances, he is selected for the T20 series against South Africa. Malik made a resounding impact with his fierce bowling in a losing cause against Gujarat Titans. He dismissed five GT batters for picking up his maiden fifer in a match where every other bowler went for massive amounts of runs. He won the man of the match award for the game even though his fifer did not help his team win the game.
6- Evin Lewis’s insane catch to dismiss Rinku Singh
Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders faced each again in a record-breaking T20 at the group stage. Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul scripted history by becoming the first pair to play all 20 overs of an inning without being dismissed. De Kock registered the 3rd highest score in the history of IPL as LSG posted 210 runs. However, KKR chased valiantly, and Rinku Singh spearheaded the hot trail with his exploding knock in the final few overs. He almost snatched the victory for KKR, but an insane catch by Evin Lewis to dismiss him in the last over of the match turned the game on its head, and LSG defeated KKR by 2 runs.
7- Pat Cummins carnage against MI
Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians put on a classic in the tournament’s group stage. Mumbai Indians batted first to post an excellent score of 162 runs on the board on a sluggish and deteriorating pitch. In reply, KKR was struggling heavily, and everyone assumed that the match would end with MI’s victory. However, much to everyone’s surprise Pat Cummins had other plans as he blasted the joint-fastest half-century of the IPL in just 14 balls. He smashed Daniel Sams for 35 runs in an over and won the game single-handedly for his team.
Also Read: IPL 2022, KKR VS MI: Pat Cummins Steals the Thriller from MI
8- Dhoni’s last-ball four against Unadkat
Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians, the El Classico of IPL, was once again a nerve-wracking encounter in which both teams gave it their all. CSK required 16 off the last 4 balls with MS Dhoni on the crease. Dhoni came back to his vintage persona and hit Unadkat for 6, 4, 2, 4 in the last four balls of the match to register a massive victory.
9- Yuzvendra Chahal’s hat-trick against KKR
Yuzvendra Chahal turned the game on its head in a RR vs KKR clash. Rajasthan Royals posted 218 runs on the board, but KKR was chasing the target nonchalantly, with skipper Shreyas Iyer taking the lead. KKR was 178/4 at the end of the 17th over when Sanju Samson decided to hand the ball to his ace spinner Chahal for the 18th over. Chahal took a stunning hattrick to dismiss Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer and Shivam Mavi to secure the match for RR. He even dismissed Pat Cummins in the same over and finished with a fifer in the match.
10- Rashid Khan’s blazing cameo against Chennai Super Kings
Rashid Khan played an extremely crucial match against the four-time champions Chennai Super Kings to help his team chase the total comfortably in the end. GT required 48 runs off the last 3 overs. Rashid smashed Chris Jordan for 25 runs in the 18th over of the chase to change the entire scenario of the match. His explosive knock paved the way for David Miller to finish the match. He deposited three towering sixes in the 18th over to seal the match for his team.
Also Read: 9 Unforgettable Moments In Indian Cricket History
