The moment that made Rohit Sharma see red on IPL’s biggest night
What's an IPL final without a bit of drama? In 2019, before the last-ball thriller unfolded, a fiery finger wave from Shardul Thakur lit the fuse—and Rohit Sharma's cold, piercing glare nearly stole the show. This wasn't just cricket; it was theatre at its fiercest.
Mumbai Indians won the toss and opted to bat first in Hyderabad. Quinton de Kock, as usual, came out swinging. He tore into Deepak Chahar, hitting him for three mighty sixes in one over. The defending champions, Chennai Super Kings, looked rattled.
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De Kock wasn't done yet. He thumped Shardul for a six in his first over, too. But Shardul struck back—literally and figuratively. His delivery kissed de Kock's glove and landed safely behind the stumps in MS Dhoni's hands.
However, it was what came after that caught everyone off guard. As de Kock began to walk off, Thakur gave him a send-off—an animated wave of the finger and a pointed gesture. It wasn't subtle. And Rohit Sharma didn't take it lightly.
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While Shardul celebrated, Rohit Sharma stood still at the non-striker's end, visibly fuming. He didn't clap or smile. Instead, he quietly walked over to the umpire, Ian Gould, and exchanged a few words. There was no shouting, just a firm expression of disapproval. Gould, calm as ever, approached Thakur and had a quick chat.
Thakur grinned in response—some might call it sheepish, others defiant. But the point had been made. Rohit, a captain known for his cool head, wasn't going to let it slide.
On the biggest night of the league, emotions were spilling over early. The IPL final had taken a dramatic turn—less because of the cricket, more because of a finger.
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It wasn't just a one-off flash of heat; the 2019 season had already seen its share of controversy. MS Dhoni had stormed onto the pitch earlier in the season in Jaipur to protest a no-ball decision.
R Ashwin's Mankading of Jos Buttler triggered a global debate on the spirit of the game, and Kohli and Dhawan even cheekily mocked Ashwin afterwards.
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So, when Shardul flung his finger in de Kock's direction, it wasn't just a personal reaction—it felt like another page in the season's simmering saga.
The IPL wasn't just about runs and wickets anymore; it had become theatre, and Shardul, perhaps unknowingly, had stepped onto the centre stage.
Amid all this, there was still a final to be played. Mumbai posted 149 for 8, with Kieron Pollard leading the charge with an unbeaten 41. Deepak Chahar impressed for CSK, recording figures of 3 for 26. In reply, Chennai stuttered. Shane Watson's 80 nearly took them home, but Lasith Malinga, after a rough night, bowled a brilliant last over.
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With 2 runs needed off the final ball, Malinga's slower yorker trapped Shardul Thakur lbw. Mumbai won by 1 run—the narrowest of margins—in the tensest of finales. But long before that final ball, Shardul's finger and Rohit's glare had already set the tone.
