IPL: 5 players who played blinders against their former franchises

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has provided its fans with a plethora of memories. Many young players have developed into ferocious players over the years, contributing to the growth of the sport all over the world. In terms of player quality, the lucrative league is one of the best in the world. Every year, it grows in popularity and viewership, owing primarily to India’s large cricket-loving population.

Due to the auction procedure, many franchises were forced to leave out their best players over time to create a more diverse pool and level the playing field in the IPL. Such players returned and played some stupendous knocks against their previous teams to demonstrate their power and skill to play the best cricket in the league.

Here are the five players in the IPL who left one franchise and went on to play blinders against them:

1. KL Rahul 132* versus RCB, 2020

KL Rahul, the Indian opener and captain of the Punjab franchise, played an exhilarating knock against his former team, Royal Challengers Bangalore, in IPL 2020. He previously played for RCB in 2016-17 and was regarded as the franchise’s next big thing. Finally, the franchise was forced to exclude him ahead the IPL 2018 mega auction.

Since then, he has been a thorn in the flesh for the Challengers. Against his former team, he went unbeaten for five innings in a row. The knock of 132* was a magnificent display of his class and timing. At the death, he hit RCB’s bowlers all over the ground. He scored 132 off 69 balls, with 14 fours and seven massive sixes, to propel Kings XI Punjab to a massive score of 206 runs.

When he’s on form, he stands out among all the batters. He has a wide range of shots in his arsenal, which he uses to perfection. KL Rahul’s 132-run knock was the highest score by an Indian in IPL history. It helped Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) to a 97-run victory over RCB.

2. Chris Gayle 102* versus KKR, 2011

Many eyebrows were raised during the 2011 auction, where the West-Indian legend Chris Gayle remained unsold. Finally, he was called up to the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad to replace the injured Dirk Nannes, and he immediately announced his comeback in style. His first inning, coincidentally, happened to be against his former team, the Kolkata Knight Riders, and he decimated them with a blistering 102* in his name.

Chris Gayle, a T20 legend, emblazoned his name in the IPL history books and went on to become an indispensable player for the Bangalore franchise. His 102* came off just 55 balls and included 10 fours and 7 sixes. The Bangalore side chased the target of 172 runs in just 18 overs and Chris Gayle went on to become their highest scorer of the season.

Chris Gayle remained with the RCB franchise until 2017 and played some breathtaking knocks, including a 175*. He became an absolute legend, and his success began with a century against his previous team, the Kolkata Knight Riders.

3. Wriddhiman Saha 115* versus KKR, 2014

Wriddhiman Saha, India’s wicketkeeper in the longer formats of the game, played a delightful knock on the eve of the finals against his previous team, the Kolkata Knight Riders. He played for the Knight Riders from 2008 to 2010, and then for the Chennai Super Kings from 2011 to 2013. Finally, in 2014, he was acquired by the Punjab franchise.

He played a key role in Punjab reaching the IPL finals for the first time in the league’s history. In the final, he rose to the occasion, playing an impressive 115-run knock off just 55 balls against a formidable KKR bowling lineup. His knock included 10 fours and eight sixes at a destructive strike rate of 209.09.

The day belonged to Saha, who was not only looking to punish the spinners but also played some good shots against the pacers, including a hook shot off Morne Morkel. His innings propelled Kings XI Punjab to a formidable 199-run total, giving them a good chance to defend on a flat Chinnaswamy track.

Although they were annihilated by Manish Pandey’s brilliance, Saha’s knock set numerous records. Saha went down in IPL history as the only player to score a century in the finals. This knock, in a high-pressure situation, redefined his career and led to national call-ups to represent India.

4. Jos Buttler 94* versus MI, 2018

The English wicketkeeper batter made a mockery of a strong Mumbai Indians bowling line-up when he played a blinder against his former team MI in 2018. Buttler was a key member of the IPL-winning MI team in 2017 but was omitted from the squad ahead of the 2018 IPL mega auction.

Buttler scored 94 runs off 53 balls against a formidable MI bowling attack that included Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell McClenaghan, Mayank Markande, and the Pandya brothers. With a devastating strike rate of 177.35, his exhilarating knock included nine fours and five sixes.

Buttler equalled Virender Sehwag’s record by scoring five half-centuries in a row. With his 360-degree brilliance, he bossed the MI bowlers and hit them all over the park. The Royals easily chased down 169 runs, handing MI a defeat in a do-or-die encounter.

Buttler’s knock was the most significant in the sense that it propelled Rajasthan Royals into a playoff spot. The victory over MI boosted their chances, and they eventually edged out the Mumbai Indians for the fourth playoff spot by one extra win.

5. AB de Villiers 90* versus DD, 2018

In the year 2018, Bangalore’s legend, AB de Villiers, produced an absolute masterclass to blow away his former team, the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). AB de Villiers was a crucial player for the Delhi franchise until 2011. In 2011, he joined RCB and quickly established himself as a franchise stalwart, etching his name in the hearts of his fans.

RCB were chasing a lofty target of 175 runs against a potent Delhi bowling attack led by Trent Boult, Chris Morris, and Axar Patel. The team was in trouble, reeling at 92-3 in 11 overs with the captain Virat Kohli back in the hut because of a Trent Boult fielding masterclass.

Then came AB de Villiers, who hit a whirlwind knock of 90* off just 39 balls. His innings featured ten fours and five massive sixes, with a devastating strike rate of 230.76.

This knock set the tone for RCB’s run chase, which AB de Villiers capped off with a picture-perfect cover drive against Boult for a four. This blinder from AB de Villiers is just one of the many amazing experiences he has given his fans.

Written by Satyam