On this day in 2014, Kolkata Knight Riders clinched their second Indian Premier League title in three years by defeating the Kings XI Punjab (now known as Punjab Kings) by three wickets at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Watch the highlights of the game Here:
Video hosted on BCCI/www.iplt20.com website
An unbeaten century from Wriddhiman Saha and a half-century from Manan Vohra helped the Punjab outfit score a mammoth 199 runs for the loss of four wickets in the first innings.
Chasing 200 runs for the coveted trophy, the Knights were jolted early with the wicket of Robin Uthappa in the first over. Walking in at number three, Manish Pandey played one of the most defining innings of his career to help the Knight Riders inch closer to victory.
There isn’t anyone better than Manish Pandey, who knows the wicket at the Chinnaswamy. Having played all his domestic cricket for Karnataka, the right-hander used his experience and stitched a crucial 59 run stand for the second wicket, along with skipper Gautam Gambhir.
The duo made optimum use of the field restrictions before the southpaw was dismissed for 23 on the first ball after the powerplay. Despite the big wicket of Gambhir, Pandey continued to anchor the innings and keep the scoreboard ticking.
The 31-year old smashed 94 off 50 deliveries studded with seven boundaries and six maximums to set up the run chase for the boys in Purple and Gold.
Watch the highlights of the innings Here:
Video hosted on BCCI/www.iplt20.com website
With 21 runs needed off the last three overs, Piyush Chawla's unbeaten 13 run cameo off five deliveries helped the Knight Riders seal their second title in three years.
This edition of the tournament will go down in the history of the league as an incredible comeback from the Knight Riders. With two wins in the first seven games of the tournament, the team bounced back to win nine consecutive matches, including the final to carve their name in the record books.
Let us relive some of the iconic performances in the victorious Journey of our Knights:
A move that proved to be a masterstroke
The team was struggling to find a formidable opening combination all through the initial games. In the sixth league game against Chennai Super Kings, the team management promoted Robin Uthappa to open the batting with Gautam Gambhir.
Watch Robin Uthappa’s IPL 2014 journey Here:
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The right-hander was in sublime form in the middle order, and this move proved to be a deciding factor in the outcome of the tournament. They forged a formidable opening combination and shouldered maximum responsibility of the side.
Uthappa was awarded the Orange cap for being the leading run-scorer of the league with 660 runs in 16 matches at an average of 44, including five half-centuries.
Sunil Narine's magical run in the tournament
One of the mainstays in the bowling unit of the Knight Riders, Sunil Narine, was brilliant all through the competition.
The mystery spinner picked up his best figures of four for 20 against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in our penultimate league game at the Eden Gardens to help us register a comprehensive 30 run win at home.
Watch the four-wicket haul Here:
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He scalped 21 wickets in 16 matches at an economy rate of 6.35 runs per over.
Yusuf Pathan blitz helps Knights secure a top-two spot in the playoffs.
The final league match for the Knight Riders against Sunrisers Hyderabad witnessed a blistering knock from Yusuf Pathan. He recorded the then fastest fifty off 15 balls to help KKR secure a second spot in the playoffs.
Watch the match highlights Here:
Video hosted on BCCI/www.iplt20.com website
The boys in Purple and Gold needed 161 runs for the win, and if they managed to chase down this target in 15.2 overs, it would guarantee them the second position in the playoffs.
The right-handed batsman smashed 72 off 22 balls with five boundaries and seven maximums, helping the home team register a four-wicket win in 14.2 overs.
His destructive innings helped us secure a second spot based on Net Run Rate and provided us with two chances of making it to the summit clash.
Umesh Yadav wreaks havoc at the Eden Gardens
Umesh Yadav produced a fiery spell of fast bowling in our Qualifier 1 against the Punjab team at the Eden Gardens. The right-arm pacer wreaked havoc by picking up three wickets for 13 runs in the high voltage contest to help the team win by 28 runs.
Watch the highlights of the game Here:
Video hosted on BCCI/www.iplt20.com website
Interestingly, it was the only game in the history of IPL to be played on the reserve day. With rain around and a sluggish wicket on offer, the Knights posted 163 runs for the loss of eight wickets in the first innings.
Consistently bowling in the right areas and targeting the stumps, Yadav picked up two crucial wickets of Virender Sehwag and Glenn Maxwell for his first spell.
Watch Glenn Maxwell’s wicket Here:
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He returned for the final over of the innings and scalped the vital wicket of George Bailey to seal the match in favour of the Knight Riders.
He was adjudged the player of the match for his spell of three wickets for 13 runs.
