IPL 2021 had many moments that made the tournament more special and fans asking for more.
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni smashed an unbeaten 18 off six balls to power Chennai Super Kings into the IPL final.
South Zone took just 40 minutes into the third morning to crush East Zone by an innings and 118 runs en route their entry into Duleep Trophy final, in Lahli on Friday.
Carlos Brathwaite's presence in the Kolkata Knight Riders line-up will boost the franchise's batting, which is the 'best' among the eight IPL teams, claimed assistant coach Simon Katich.
The 32-year-old Test specialist featured in only one of the seven games that Delhi Capitals have played so far, finishing his four overs wicketless for 26 runs, against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Abu Dhabi.
Rajneesh Gupta brings you all the numbers from the first 8 games in IPL-12.
Out-of-favour batsman Robin Uthappa reckons impact player Yusuf Pathan along with Sachin Tendulkar will be India's trump cards in the forthcoming World Cup to be held in the sub-continent from February 19.
Following their 11-match winning streak, Kolkata Knight Riders will be aiming to keep their juggernaut rolling as they meet Perth Scorchers in their third Group A league match of the Champions League T20 in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir chose not to be harsh on his fielders, who missed chances galore in Sunday's Champions League Twenty20 contest against Lahore Lions, saying the team has worked hard in its impressive 11-match winning streak.
Yuzvendra Chahal took 3/24 in his four overs which was instrumental in Royal Challengers Bangalore outclassing Rajasthan Royals by eight wickets.
Shivam Mavi took 2-20, while Kamlesh Nagarkoti claimed 2-13, as the two youngsters put in a superb display to bowl KKR to victory.
Gujarat Titans are currently at the top of the IPL table with 18 points from 12 games and a win on Sunday will more or less secure them a top-2 finish. That would mean an extra chance of making it to the final.
Two Indian cricketers, Virender Sehwag and Robin Uthappa, have found berth in the initial Airtel Champions League Twenty20 All-Stars XI, chosen by ESPN Star Sports commentators. The swashbuckling Sehwag, who returned to top flight competition after recovering from a shoulder injury sustained during the Indian Premier League competition in South Africa in May, is the lone Delhi Daredevils player to make the cut.
Losing three quick wickets in seven balls and all at the same score of 45 was the turning point of the match, said Pune Warriors batsman Robin Uthappa after his team went down by six wickets to Deccan Chargers in an IPL tie in Navi Mumbai.
Gujarat Lions would look to better their debut season's success and aim for a winning start against two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders in an Indian Premier League match, in Rajkot on Friday.
Pune Warriors batsman Robin Uthappa said the penultimate over of the Mumbai Indians innings in which paceman Alfonso Thomas leaked 27 runs played a huge role in their defeat.
Pune Warriors India's Robin Uthappa tells Manu Shankar how IPL has helped him understand his game better.
Half-centuries from Robin Uthappa and Rahul Dravid carried Royal Challengers Bangalore to a crushing seven-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League in Bangalore, on Saturday. Dravid had put Bangalore in control with his quickfire knock of 52 from 35 balls, while Uthappa finished it off in style with a cracking innings of 52 from a mere 22 deliveries, having hit three boundaries and five sixes.
Images from the Indian Premier League match netween Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings in Chennai.
Out-of-favour Indian batsman Robin Uthappa has given up the funky haircuts to get back on the national team and said he would gladly give up his $2 million Indian Premier League (IPL) cheque if it were to help the cause.
Eyeing their first win of the season, Sunrisers Hyderabad would be looking to put up an improved show in their home ground where they lock horns with Kolkata Knight Riders, who would also be keen to get back to winning ways in the Indian Premier League.
India discard Robin Uthappa, who captained Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy final against Mumbai, looks back on the match and his own form this season.
Afghanistan's Rashid Khan came up with a brilliant all-round effort as Sunrisers Hyderabad scored a 13-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in the second qualifier and made the final of the Indian Premier League at the Eden Gardens on Friday.
Ajinkya Rahane's dismissal proved crucial as Rajasthan never really got back the momentum.
Openers Abhinav Mukund and Robin Uthappa bulldozed the North Zone bowlers to script a brilliant run chase as South Zone clinched the Duleep Trophy with a day to spare in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.
South Zone produced solid batting to take control of the final against North, reaching 298 for three on the second day of the Duleep trophy match in Viaskhapatnam on Thursday. Three South Zone batsmen -- Robin Uthappa (66), S Badrinath (97 not out) and Manish Pandey (74) -- smashed individual half-centuries as they posted a solid reply to North's first innings total of 337 in 70 overs.
Imran Tahir produces his best IPL performance.
India's batting mainstay Gautam Gambhir became the highest-paid player in the history of the Indian Premier League when he was purchased by Kolkata Knight Riders for a whopping $2.4m.
A whopping Rs 9.66 crore bid for Robin Uthappa was one of the surprises of Saturday's Indian Premier League players' auction but his buyer Pune Sahara Warriors justified the spending saying the stumper-batsman is worth the huge amount.
SunRisers Hyderabad has the biggest purse while Kolkata Knight Riders has the slimmest purse.
A brilliant 153 from Robin Uthappa coupled with a patient 91 from KL Rahul has helped the defending champions Karnataka, post a commanding 302-2 in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final match against Assam in Indore.
Veteran Anil Kumble showed the fire in him was still burning as he rallied Royal Challengers from a disastrous start to a runners-up finish in the second season of the IPL. The ace leg spinner was instrumental in the team's revival while veterans Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis also made notable contributions as it finished behind Deccan Chargers.
Recalled to the Indian side after a gap of three years, Robin Uthappa said he would love to open the batting and get India off to a blazing start against World No. 1 England in the one-off T20 International, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, on Saturday.
Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar was named best batsman while Deccan Chargers' Pragyan Ojha bagged the best bowler honour at a glitzy IPL Awards Night in Mumbai on Friday.
Robin Uthappa feels cricket is going through a paradigm shift to a power game and any total on board now looks chaseable.
Kolkata Knight Riders delivered a professional performance to beat Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in Jaipur on Wednesday, putting their Indian Premier League campaign back on track with back to back victories.
Kevin Pietersen hit his first half-century in the IPL to power Royal Challengers Bangalore to a thumping six-wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League match, in Mohali, on Friday. Pietersen finished unbeaten 66 from 44 balls, having hit seven boundaries and a six, to guide Bangalore to 184 for four in 19.1 overs.
It took Robin Uthappa just two overs to change the match.
Rahul Dravid is to straightaway plunge into domestic cricket after playing in the drawn second and final Test against England at Mohali.
Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday heaped praise on West Indian Dwayne Bravo for his all-round effort that set the platform for the thrilling two-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in a Group B match of the Champions League Twenty20 tournament in Durban on Sunday.
