OPINION
Follow UsRivalries are what makes sports interesting – be it between players or among teams. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is certainly not short of its share of rivalries and as we countdown to the next season of the lucrative T20 league, here’s a look at some of the best rivalries to come out of the tournament in its 13 editions so far.
Chennai Super Kings-Mumbai Indians
The two teams have eight IPL trophies between them and their contests are more often than not, quite eventful. They have contested an IPL final on four occasions, with MI winning three of them, the last one being in 2019, which made the Rohit Sharma-led side go past CSK in terms of number of titles won. MI added a cherry on top by making it five last year, while CSK for the first time ever failed to make it to the playoffs. Not many have dominated the CSK-led side like MI in the recent past, having won eight of their last 10 meetings.
Head-to-head
Matches 30 | CSK 12 Wins | MI 18 Wins
In the previous season, while CSK defeated MI by five wickets in the season opener, MI got their revenge in the next match in Sharjah, thrashing the Men in Yellow by 10 wickets.
Chennai Super Kings-Royal Challengers Bangalore
MS Dhoni vs Virat Kohli. One who has led the franchise and his national side to great heights with his cool, calm and collected approach, while the other breathes fire on a cricket field at every step of the way. While both have unique styles of playing the game, it is clear, at least in the IPL, it is Dhoni’s mantra that has paid off.
However, with new additions in the Bangalore unit, they could be on their way to close the yawning gap between them and Chennai this season.
With CSK winning 16 out of the 26 meetings between these two sides, it seems like that the contest is quite comfortably tilted in favour of Chennai. However, most of the contests between these two teams have been nail-biters, including the 2019 match at Chinnaswamy Stadium that saw RCB escape with a one-run win despite Dhoni’s heroics.
While the other closest match that comes to mind is the one with that infamous RP Singh over, when CSK needed 16 off the final over and then two from the last ball, Ravindra Jadeja cut the ball straight to third man’s throat. But to everyone’s surprise, the bowler had overstepped and the batsmen ran through for a single, robbing RCB of a win – and possibly a chance of making it to the playoffs.
In fact, this was the best chance they had of winning at Chepauk. They have not won at the venue since 2008 – even before Kohli had played for India. CSK have used Chepauk to their advantage quite well over the years, but will not be able to do so this time around as all matches will be played at neutral venues.
Head-to-head
Matches 26 | CSK 16 Wins | RCB 9 Wins
There is also a political history between the two cities more so when it comes to the Cauvery water sharing issue. The protests were so huge in Chennai, that Chepauk was stripped of its rights to host any IPL matches in 2018, which deprived the cricket crazy fans of the city to see their team in action for the first time in two seasons.
CSK and RCB have also come face-to-face in an IPL final – in 2011, which CSK won comprehensively by 58 runs. In the briefly played Champions League T20, it was CSK who pipped RCB in the 2010 edition in the semi-final to go on and win the competition. CSK that season completed the double of winning the IPL and CLT20.
When it comes to trophies, RCB are yet to get off the mark, while CSK have been one of the most successful teams in T20 history. While RCB’s biggest achievements have been reaching the IPL final on three occasions, CSK have gone one step further and have won the tournament thrice.
Royal Challengers Bangalore-Kolkata Knight Riders
While the two matches in IPL 2020 were one-sided contests, with RCB emerging victorious in both of them, when these two teams come up against each other it’s usually fireworks. With the likes of AB de Villiers and Andre Russell showcasing their power, the bowlers often look for a place to hide when these two go big.
The two matches in 2019 were prime examples of the destruction these two sides can cause. The first match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, KKR were on the cusp of a loss until Russell struck seven gigantic sixes on his way to a 13-ball 48 to help his side chase down 206. It looked like it was going to be a similar tale for RCB in the return leg in Kolkata after Kohli’s fifth T20 hundred initially helped RCB put up 213. Russell once again threatened to spoil the party but the Bangalore franchise held its nerve to win the match by 10 runs.
However, the RCB-KKR fixture threw up a surprise when a star-studded RCB batting line-up, which consisted of heavyweights like Kohli, de Villiers and Chris Gayle, were bundled out for just 49 – the lowest IPL score ever, chasing 132 in the 2017 edition in Kolkata.
Since the appointment of Gautam Gambhir as KKR captain, KKR have reached new heights, winning the title on a couple of occasions – in 2012 and 2014. With a proven winner like Eoin Morgan leading the unit, we can expect the World Cup winning captain to take KKR to newer heights. RCB went from Anil Kumble to Daniel Vettori and now Kohli, but an IPL title still eludes them.
Right from the beginning, KKR have had the edge over RCB and have a superior record even now in the IPL.
Head-to-head
Matches 26 | KKR 14 Wins | RCB 12 Wins
However, RCB closed the gap last season with two huge wins.
Mumbai Indians-Delhi Capitals
The rivalry between the capital and financial capital cities of India has been an intriguing one over the years. Out of their 24 meetings till IPL 2020, the teams have won 12 games apiece.
Head-to-head
Matches 27 | DC12 Wins | MI 15 Wins
MI’s strength has been their core players, led by Rohit, who have gone on to make the franchise the most successful in IPL history. However, DC, on the other hand have never managed to find their core players. They have made many a blunder in the past, having let go of players of the caliber of David Warner, de Villiers, Gambhir, Russell in the past and had also missed signing up Kohli in the very first season. Having made it to the final last season for the first time in IPL, they finally seem to have a settled unit, who could challenge for the title on a consistent basis.
While MI thanks to the long-sightedness of their owners have built a formidable unit, which has fetched them four IPL titles, DC, despite changing their name, have not been able to change their fortunes.
With Shreyas Iyer ruled out due to a shoulder injury, Rishabh Pant, who is currently in the form of his life, will lead the side this season
Despite the fact that MI have been the stronger unit, DC have been a thorn in their flesh more often than one could’ve thought. Both teams had won 12 matches apiece going into IPL 2020, but MI eked out three wins in 2020, including the IPL final and have a 15-12 lead over the Capitals. IN fact, MI have won all of their previous five matches against DC
Only on three occasions (2008, 2009, and 2012) have DC finished above MI on the table. Before the 2019 season, DC failed to make it to the playoffs for six straight seasons, but they have turned things around and have made it to the top four twice in a row.
However, when DC and MI clash in any match, you can expect a keenly contested battle – between a side who are synonymous with the tournament and a team still who are yet to reach their full potential.
Punjab Kings-Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals broke Punjab Kings’ hearts when Rahul Tewatia swung his bat just at the right time to hand his side a memorable victory in Sharjah last season. Tewatia hit Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in the penultimate over to bring RR back in the game and eventually went on to chase down 224, which is the highest successful chase in IPL history. The Indian all-rounder immediately became a cult figure across the country.
With big-hitters like Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, KL Rahul, Chris Gayle on both sides, the matches between these two sides will be nothing short of an entertaining one. If you look at the overall figures, it is Rajasthan who have a slightly upper hand and even in the last five matches, they’ve won three.
Head-to-head
Matches 21 | PBKS 9 Wins | RR 12 Wins
The two teams will clash in their season opener in Mumbai and again in their last match of the group stage in Bangalore. Both venues have a history of producing big totals, we could be in for a treat once again. It could very well come down to the performance of their bowlers which could eventually decide the outcome of their ties.
