Which matches have had the closest finishes?


IPL 2023 Winner

The closest finishes in IPL history have provided some of the most thrilling and nail-biting moments. Here are a few of the most iconic matches where the result went down to the wire:

🏆 **1. Mumbai Indians (MI) vs. Rajasthan Royals (RR) – 1st May 2014

  • Result: Mumbai Indians won by 5 runs

  • Scorecard:

    • MI: 187/5 (20 overs)

    • RR: 182/6 (20 overs)

  • Why it's close:

    • Rajasthan needed 15 runs off the final over, with James Faulkner at the crease. He hit 2 fours and 1 six but ultimately fell short by 5 runs.

    • It was a heart-stopping finish with Faulkner and the last pair giving MI fans a major scare.

🏆 **2. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs. Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) – 12th May 2014

  • Result: KKR won by 1 run

  • Scorecard:

    • KKR: 150/7 (20 overs)

    • Punjab: 149/8 (20 overs)

  • Why it's close:

    • KKR set a modest total of 150, and Punjab almost pulled off an incredible chase. In the final over, Sandeep Sharma needed 2 runs to win but was dismissed off the penultimate ball, sealing a one-run win for KKR.

🏆 **3. Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) vs. Kolkata Knight Riders – 27th April 2013

  • Result: KKR won by 1 wicket

  • Scorecard:

    • Delhi Daredevils: 152/9 (20 overs)

    • Kolkata Knight Riders: 153/9 (19.5 overs)

  • Why it's close:

    • Kolkata needed 3 runs off the last ball with just 1 wicket remaining. Shahbaz Nadeem bowled a tight last ball, and Kallis managed to scramble for a single to win by 1 wicket. The entire game was a tension-filled drama.

🏆 **4. Rajasthan Royals (RR) vs. Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) – 19th May 2010

  • Result: RR won by 3 wickets

  • Scorecard:

    • Punjab: 199/4 (20 overs)

    • Rajasthan: 200/7 (20 overs)

  • Why it's close:

    • Rajasthan chased down a daunting target of 200, with Lee Carseldine hitting the winning boundary in the final over. The match featured key contributions from Graeme Smith and Ravindra Jadeja. It was a chase that kept fans on edge till the very last ball.

🏆 **5. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) – 24th May 2019

  • Result: CSK won by 1 wicket

  • Scorecard:

    • CSK: 161/8 (20 overs)

    • RCB: 160/8 (20 overs)

  • Why it's close:

    • This was the IPL 2019 qualifier match, and CSK managed to chase down a tough total by 1 wicket. The match had several twists, with MS Dhoni trying to anchor the chase in typical "Captain Cool" fashion. The final delivery was bowled by Marcus Stoinis, and the match ended in a dramatic fashion.

🏆 **6. Mumbai Indians (MI) vs. Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) – 27th April 2017

  • Result: MI won by 1 run

  • Scorecard:

    • MI: 142/8 (20 overs)

    • Delhi: 141/9 (20 overs)

  • Why it's close:

    • In this nail-biting finish, Delhi needed 11 off the final over, and Kumar Kartikeya was able to keep calm and defend the total, leading MI to a one-run victory. It was a thrilling final over that had every fan on the edge of their seat.

🏆 **7. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) vs. Punjab Kings (now Punjab Kings) – 29th March 2015

  • Result: RCB won by 1 wicket

  • Scorecard:

    • Punjab: 151/8 (20 overs)

    • RCB: 154/9 (20 overs)

  • Why it's close:

    • RCB needed 11 runs off the last over, with the last wicket standing. Chris Jordan fought till the end, and the game was sealed with a single to win by 1 wicket in a dramatic finish.

TL;DR:

  • IPL fans live for these close finishes. From dramatic last-ball wins to impossible chases, these matches have shown just how much can change in a single ball.

Do you have a favorite close finish you'd like to discuss further? I can share more match details or graphics too!