5 tremendous knocks in the IPL 2020 that were ultimately futile

The IPL 2020 ended with MI winning the title for a record 5 times. MI was the most consistent team in the league and hence deserved to be the winners. Throughout the course of the IPL 2020, we came across some terrific batting performances. Some were match-winners, but some weren’t.

Here is a list of 5 tremendous knocks that won hearts, but not the match:

5. Nicholas Pooran’s 77 vs SRH

Fifth on this list is Nicholas Pooran, who currently plays for Kings XI Punjab. Punjab needed 202 runs to win the match, and with 58/3 in 7 overs, someone had to step up. Nicholas Pooran came in like a blessing in disguise and smashed 77 in just 37. However, due to the lack of support he got, KXIP was ultimately defeated by a huge margin of 69 runs.

4. Mayank Agarwal’s 89 vs DC

Another KXIP player making this list is Mayank Agarwal. KXIP had an easy 158 to chase against DC. However, they stumbled and Agarwal single-handedly carried them, smashing 89 off just 60 balls. However, a desperate shot just when KXIP needed 1 run from 2 balls led to his dismissal. The dismissal of Chris Jordan in the next ball took the match to a super over, which DC won, resulting in KXIP’s exclusion from the playoffs.

3. Chris Gayle’s 99 vs RR

This list would have been incomplete without Chris Gayle. The Jamaican batsmen showed he still got a fight left in him as he battered the RR bowlers, taking them to the cleaners. The West Indian batsman smashed eight sixes in his innings, taking his score to 99. His knock helped KXIP register a respectable 185 on the board. However, the RR batsmen proved too hot to handle as they chased the score with 3.3 overs left.

2. Ishan Kishan’s 99 vs RCB

Mumbai had a mammoth target of 201. However, trouble found them as they were down 39-3. Ishan Kishan played like a warrior, hammering 99 in just 58 balls. He also had support from Kieron Pollard, who hit a quickfire 60 off 24 balls, which was enough to take the match to a super over.

MI lost in the super over.

1. Shikhar Dhawan’s 106 vs KXIP

After hitting a century against CSK, Shikhar Dhawan performed the same feat against KXIP. He managed to score 106 runs facing just 61 balls. He single-handedly took DC to a total of 164. However, this total was easily chased by KXIP, thanks to Nicholas Pooran’s quickfire 53 off just 28 deliveries.

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