It wasn’t just a knock; it was an echo of greatness—one that will ring through IPL’s archives forever
There are nights in cricket that feel more like a fever dream. May 30, 2014, was one such evening at Wankhede. Not because of the glitz or the roar of the Mumbai crowd, but because an old-school daredevil named Virender Sehwag rolled back the years and unleashed a storm so fierce that even the mighty Chennai Super Kings were left dazed.
It wasn’t just a good knock; it was a throwback, a statement, and a lesson—all rolled into one. A 58-ball hurricane for 122 runs, the highest individual score in IPL playoff history. The kind of innings that makes you pause, grin, and mutter, “classic Sehwag.”
Sehwag walked in wearing spectacles that gave him a sage-like calm, but what followed was pure mayhem. Kings XI Punjab, on a flat Wankhede deck, needed their big names to show up. And boy, did Sehwag turn up!
Credit: ESPN
He wasn’t just picking the gaps; he was bullying bowlers. Full-tosses? Gone. Back-of-a-length? Punished. Spinners? Sent to the stands with minimum fuss. It was old-school Sehwag with new-age fire.
He smashed 12 fours and 8 sixes, finishing with a strike rate of 210.34. Every shot seemed carved from muscle memory—punched through cover, flicked over square, thwacked down the ground.
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With Manan Vohra at the other end contributing 34 off 31, the duo formed a 110-run opening partnership. However, the tone was always set by Sehwag. Glenn Maxwell came and went, and David Miller added his firepower—but make no mistake, this was a one-man show.
By the time Faf du Plessis held onto a sharp catch at extra cover to dismiss Sehwag, Kings XI had already surged to 211 for 3. His job was done; the table was set. The final score of 226/6 wasn’t just imposing—it was bruising.
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This story would’ve ended in poetic perfection had it not been for Suresh Raina turning beast mode on.
Chasing 227, CSK was 100 for 2 after just 6 overs. You read that right. Raina, seemingly possessed, blazed his way to 87 off just 25 balls—smashing 12 fours and 6 sixes, with a strike rate of 348.00. He reached his half-century in 16 balls, the second-fastest in IPL history at the time.
Parvinder Awana bore the brunt, getting walloped for 33 runs in a single over. For six overs, CSK made Sehwag’s genius seem mortal. But then came the moment.
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Raina attempted to steal a risky run. George Bailey swooped in, turned, and delivered a direct hit. Just like that, Raina was gone. The air escaped from CSK’s balloon. The asking rate climbed. The Kings XI fielders puffed up their chests. MS Dhoni remained at the crease with an unbeaten 42, but the chase had lost its potency.
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From 100 in 6 overs, CSK could only manage 102 in the next 14, finishing at 202/7. Kings XI sealed their 24-run victory, entering their first-ever IPL final.
In a league dominated by newer stars and fresh-faced talents, Sehwag reminded everyone of his brilliance in just under an hour of magic. It was an innings soaked in nostalgia, power, and clarity—simple cricket played with savage precision.
Yes, Raina gave the Wankhede a heart attack. Yes, Dhoni tried his late-over rescue. But on that night, the scorecard belonged to Sehwag.
Credit: Mid-day
