Since 2008, the IPL has witnessed only 15 Super Overs
Super Overs are a rare phenomenon in the T20 format, given that in most games, there is a clear winner. However, on some occasions, both teams end up with the same score on the board, leading to a Super Over. In the case of the Indian Premier League (IPL), since 2008, the T20 tournament has witnessed only 15 Super Overs. In fact, out of 18 seasons, eight seasons did not have a single Super Over, which means the 15 took place in 10 seasons.
And out of those 10 seasons, one particular season gained limelight because it had four Super Overs – the maximum number of Super Overs in a single IPL season.
The Indian Premier League 2020 season played behind closed stadiums because the pandemic had four Super Overs, including a double Super Over. That season, the Mumbai Indians lifted the trophy by defeating the Delhi Capitals by five wickets on November 10.
Delhi Capitals batted in the first innings and posted a target of 157 runs, thanks to Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant and Marcus Stoinis’s respective 39, 31 and 53 off the willows. In response, Mayank Agarwal’s 89 runs off 60 balls helped Punjab tie the score.
In the Super Over, Punjab could only score two runs in six balls, losing two wickets. The match went in Delhi’s favour, who had an easy Super Over win.
This was a cracker of a game because despite Bengaluru posting a steep target of 201 runs, the Mumbai Indians tied the target thanks to a 99-run knock by Ishan Kishan, who played 58 balls. Sadly, Kishan was out at 99, but if he had stayed on the crease, the game would’ve been over earlier in the Indians’ favour.
Unfortunately for the Mumbai Indians, the Super Over wasn’t their best batting display, as they managed only seven runs that were easily chased by Bengaluru.
The 35th match of the IPL season 2020 was played between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders. Batting first, the Riders put 163 runs on the board, which was equalised by Hyderabad. However, KKR had a great first over in the Super Over, restricting Sunrisers to only two runs while picking up two wickets as well. The job was easy for the batters, who scored the required three runs and won the game.
In the history of the IPL, there has been only one double Super Over, and it happened between Mumbai and Punjab in 2020. Both teams settled for 176 in the game and moved to the first Super Over.
In the first, Punjab scored five runs by missing two wickets, whereas Mumbai also scored only five runs, and therefore, a second Super Over was needed. In the second Super Over, Punjab scored 11 runs and restricted the Indians to five runs to win the historic match.
