Some of the most memorable moments in T20 history have been provided to cricket fans by the Indian Premier League (IPL). Every season since its start in 2008, teams have fought hard to qualify for the IPL Final, but only the best make it. This grand finale has resulted in some of the most exciting and suspenseful cricket matches over the years. While some finals were thrilling, low-scoring contests that had spectators on the edge of their seats, others were high-scoring extravaganzas.
The IPL 2025 schedule is already generating excitement; therefore, now is the ideal moment to reminisce about some of the best IPL finals ever. In addition to determining champions, these contests provided viewers with memories that are still discussed today. This post will review the Top 5 Greatest IPL Finals ever, where teams battled to win the coveted trophy right up to the very end.
5. Mumbai Indians vs Rising Pune Supergiant (2017)
Scorecard: MI (129/8) & RSP (128/6) | MI Won by 1 Run
The Mumbai Indians (MI) defeated the Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) by a margin of just one run in the 2017 IPL Final, another low-scoring thriller. Krunal Pandya’s 47 off 38 was the only notable performance as Mumbai failed to muster a respectable score of 129/8.
Steve Smith (51 off 50) was the mainstay of Pune’s chase, but Mumbai’s bowlers continued to take vital wickets. Pune needed 11 runs to win the last over, which was bowled by Mitchell Johnson. Following a four from Manoj Tiwary, who was removed on the following ball, Steve Smith was caught at deep cover. Daniel Christian was only able to score a few runs when four runs were needed off the final ball, giving Mumbai a thrilling victory and their third IPL championship.
4. Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders (2012)
Scorecard: CSK (190/3) & KKR (192/5) | KKR Won by 5 Wickets
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) vs. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2012 IPL final was a story of tenacity and an underdog victory. Batting first, CSK scored a formidable 190/3 thanks to an aggressive 73 off 38 balls from Suresh Raina.
Manvinder Bisla had the best innings of his life, hitting 89 off 48 balls, even though Gautam Gambhir was dismissed early. Jacques Kallis (69 off 49 balls) provided him with vital support, and the two of them combined to score 136 runs to win the match. With five wickets remaining, KKR successfully chased down the target, won their maiden IPL trophy and made this one of the greatest finals ever, despite CSK’s valiant efforts in the closing overs.
3. Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals (2008)
Scorecard: CSK (163/5) & RR (164/7) | RR Won by 3 Wickets
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) engaged in a fierce match in the 2008 IPL final. It shaped the tournament’s future in the years that followed. Suresh Raina (43 off 30) and MS Dhoni (29 off 17) helped CSK, captained by Dhoni, put up a respectable score of 163/5.
Yusuf Pathan of Rajasthan responded with a game-winning hit, batting 56 from 39 balls to deepen the contest. Rajasthan crossed the finish line with one ball remaining thanks to the tenacity of captain Shane Warne and Sohail Tanvir, who required eight runs in the last over. One of the greatest IPL finals ever, this historic event began the league’s history. It also shows that an underdog squad can overcome the odds and win.
2. Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2016)
Scorecard: SRH (208/7) & RCB (200/7) | Hyderabad Won by 8 Runs
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) denied Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) its first IPL title in a high-scoring thriller in the 2016 final. Thanks to David Warner’s scorching 69 off 38 balls and some late pyrotechnics from Ben Cutting, who hammered 39 off 15 balls, Hyderabad, who batted first, produced a huge 208/7.
Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle spearheaded the RCB’s forceful response. Kohli’s 54 off 35 balls and Gayle’s 76 off 38 balls gave RCB the upper hand. But the bowlers from SRH, spearheaded by Mustafizur Rahman and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, changed the course of the match. A middle-order collapse brought on by the dismissals of Gayle and Kohli saw RCB lose by a mere eight runs. This final is still among the greatest ones to date, demonstrating why T20 cricket is so unpredictable and exciting.
1. Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings (2019)
Scorecard: MI (149/8) & CSK (148/7) | MI Won by 1 Run
The match between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 2019 IPL Final was tense and came down to the final ball. MI, who batted first, failed to muster a substantial score, managing only 149/8 in 20 overs. While Imran Tahir and Deepak Chahar caused problems for Mumbai’s batting order, Kieron Pollard was the lone warrior, scoring 41 runs off 25 balls.
CSK appeared to be winning as they chased 150 thanks to a valiant knock from Shane Watson, who was suffering from a knee injury. He kept CSK’s chances alive by himself with a heroic 80 off 59 balls. When CSK needed two runs, Malinga trapped Shardul Thakur LBW with a superb slower delivery on the final ball, turning the tide of the match in Mumbai’s favour. In what is considered to be the greatest IPL final ever, Mumbai won their fourth championship by a mere one run.
Conclusion
All things considered, the IPL final has always been a place where cricketing legends are formed and treasured memories are made. These encounters have provided fans with some of the most thrilling moments in T20 history, ranging from high-scoring chases to last-ball thrillers.
Teams go through hard games and the highs and lows of the IPL Points Table each season in an attempt to qualify for the playoffs. Only the finest get to the championship match, where winners are announced and history is made. In retrospect, a few IPL finals have stood out as the best because they had memorable games and suspenseful endings that supporters will never forget.
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