The Indian Premier League (IPL) isn’t just a cricket tournament; it’s a theatre of the unpredictable. One moment you’re witnessing a routine chase or a steady bowling effort, and the next, chaos, adrenaline, and magic take over. It’s in these moments of sheer drama and heart-stopping tension that legends are born and scripts worthy of Bollywood thrillers are written. Comebacks in a single match, especially when all seemed lost, define the very spirit of the IPL.
Here are the Top 5 Most Cinematic Comebacks in a Single IPL Match, where underdogs turned titans and the tide changed in a matter of overs.
5. Gujarat Titans vs Lucknow Super Giants – IPL 2023 (Match 30)
Venue: Ekana Stadium
The Comeback Hero: Mohit Sharma
The Situation:
Chasing 136, LSG needed only 30 runs off 34 balls with 9 wickets in hand. The game was virtually theirs.
The Twist:
A stunning collapse began. Mohit Sharma’s variations proved impossible to hit, Noor Ahmad tied up the batters, and LSG self-destructed under pressure. They lost 7 wickets for just 23 runs, handing GT a win from the jaws of defeat.
Why It’s Cinematic:
The scoreboard went from calm to chaotic. From KL Rahul’s steady 68 to LSG’s dramatic downfall, it was a script filled with suspense and sudden heartbreak.
4. Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore – IPL 2012 (Match 13)
Venue: Chepauk
The Comeback Hero: Albie Morkel
The Situation:
RCB posted a gigantic 205/8, thanks to Gayle and Kohli. CSK, despite a decent start, needed 43 off the last 12 balls. Match done and dusted? Not quite.
The Twist:
Albie Morkel walked in and smashed 28 runs off Virat Kohli’s over, including 3 sixes and 2 fours. The match was turned in a blink. CSK clinched victory on the final ball with Bravo and Jadeja completing the job.
Why It’s Cinematic:
The decision to bowl Kohli, a part-time bowler, in the 19th, the fearless hitting from Morkel, and the last-ball finish made this comeback nothing short of a blockbuster finale.
3. Kings XI Punjab vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – IPL 2020 (Match 43)
Venue: Dubai
The Comeback Heroes: Arshdeep Singh & Chris Jordan
The Situation:
Chasing just 127, SRH were cruising at 56/0. They needed only 71 more runs with 10 wickets in hand and nearly 10 overs left. A walk in the park or so we thought.
The Twist:
What followed was absolute madness. SRH lost 10 wickets for just 58 runs. Jordan and Arshdeep turned the game on its head with relentless pressure and late wickets. Punjab defended a total that looked well below par.
Why It’s Cinematic:
A team going from 56/0 to 114 all out is nothing short of a psychological thriller. The collapse was jaw-dropping and the momentum shift electrifying.
2. Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore – IPL 2021 (Eliminator)
Venue: Sharjah
The Comeback Hero: Sunil Narine
The Situation:
Chasing a modest 139, Kolkata Knight Riders were stumbling. RCB had the upper hand, with Harshal Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal choking the middle overs.
The Twist:
Enter Sunil Narine not with the ball, but the bat. Sent in as a pinch-hitter, he smashed three sixes off Chahal in one over, completely reversing the momentum. Earlier, Narine had also taken 4 wickets, including Kohli and de Villiers.
Why It’s Cinematic:
A bowler turning the tide with the bat in a do-or-die clash? You can’t script it better. His 4-21 followed by a game-defining cameo of 26 off 15 made it a Narine show unpredictable, explosive, unforgettable.
1. Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians – IPL 2023 (Match 42)
Venue: Wankhede Stadium
The Comeback Hero: Sandeep Sharma
The Situation:
Chasing 213, Mumbai Indians needed 17 off the last over with Tim David and Cameron Green at the crease. Rajasthan had one of their most experienced death bowlers, Sandeep Sharma, with the ball. All odds favoured RR.
The Twist:
What followed stunned everyone. Tim David launched three consecutive sixes yes, THREE off Sandeep’s attempted yorkers. The equation flipped in 3 balls. From 17 off 6 to a win with 3 balls to spare.
Why It’s Cinematic:
The over had tension, a seasoned bowler losing his nerve, the crowd in a frenzy, and David emerging from nowhere to snatch a win. It was pure box-office.
Final Thoughts
The beauty of the IPL lies not just in its sixes and centuries, but in its unpredictability the moments when logic fails, and magic takes over. These comebacks weren’t just about winning matches; they were about defying expectations, rewriting scripts mid-show, and delivering drama that would make even the finest screenwriters envious.
Each of these turnarounds was a masterclass in resilience, nerves of steel, and the sheer thrill of sport. They remind us why we watch the IPL with bated breath because in this league, no total is ever too big, no cause is ever lost, and no game is ever truly over until the final ball is bowled.
Whether it was a bowler smashing sixes, a batting collapse from nowhere, or a last-over miracle, these cinematic comebacks are proof that in the IPL, the unbelievable is always just one moment away.
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