Hyderabad witnessed heartbreak and heroics as the lowest-scoring IPL final turned into a final-ball thriller that no one saw coming
Not all thrillers begin with fireworks. Sometimes, they tiptoe in silently—like a thief in the night—before setting your pulse racing. The 2017 IPL final in Hyderabad wasn't meant to be a blockbuster. At least, not on paper. A sluggish 129 on the board. A chase that looked like a formality. No one in the stands or on their sofas expected what was to follow—a cricket match that, like a suspense film, waited until the last possible moment to twist the knife.
It wasn't just a low-scorer but a slow-burner that exploded into chaos right at the end. One run separated the champions from the runners-up. One throw decided the fate of a franchise. And as the dust settled under the floodlights of the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Mumbai Indians stood with their third trophy, while Rising Pune Supergiants disappeared into IPL folklore forever.
Mumbai Indians, despite being renowned for their chase prowess, found themselves in unfamiliar territory – batting first. In fact, it was a move that seemed contrary to their usual preference. Rohit Sharma, perhaps haunted by Mumbai's recent defeats to Pune, chose to set a total instead of chasing.
But the early signs were ominous, with Lendl Simmons (3) and Parthiv Patel (4) falling early to Jaydev Unadkat's crafty bowling. At just 8/2 in the third over, Mumbai were already on the back foot. And the struggle continued, with wickets tumbling at regular intervals.
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By the halfway mark, the score was a paltry 65/5. Rohit (24), Kieron Pollard (7), and the rest of the middle order fell to the likes of Adam Zampa and Dan Christian, and Mumbai's innings seemed all but done. But one man wasn't ready to give up just yet – Krunal Pandya.
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At 79/7, with Mumbai facing an embarrassing total, Krunal Pandya decided it was time to swing for the fences. The 38-ball 47 he played was nothing short of a rescue mission. His six over Unadkat's head in the 19th over was the shot that brought some much-needed flair to Mumbai's innings.
With a final flourish in the last over, where he hit 2 sixes, Mumbai's total limped to 129/8. It was the lowest score in an IPL final at that point, and a total Pune would chase down effortlessly.
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Rising Pune Supergiant needed 130 runs to win, and the chase began with caution. Ajinkya Rahane and Steven Smith, two of Pune's most reliable players, took their time. By the 10th over, Pune was just 71 for 2, but with the asking rate climbing steadily, it was clear that they were struggling to keep pace.
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Though Rahane (44) and Smith (51) battled through Mumbai's relentless bowling attack, the pressure mounted. With key wickets falling at regular intervals, the required rate surged towards 10 runs per over. MS Dhoni, known for finishing games in style, couldn't get going and was dismissed for just 10. Pune needed a miracle, but Mumbai's death bowling, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga, kept them in check.
With the game entering the final over, Pune needed 11 to win, with Smith still at the crease. The tension was unbearable. Mitchell Johnson, though, kept his calm. Despite a boundary off the first ball from Manoj Tiwary, the momentum shifted.
With four needed off the last ball, Johnson bowled full and straight. Christian scrambled for two, but it wasn't enough. Mumbai's bowlers had defended the seemingly impossible total, securing a 1-run victory and their third IPL title.
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