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IPL Flashback - 2013: Spot-fixing rocks nation as Rohit Sharma leads Mumbai Indians to maiden title
Mumbai Indians won their maiden IPL title in 2013 after defeating Chennai Super Kings in the final.
The Mumbai Indians started a fairy tale run from the 2013 Indian Premier League season. After failing to win a title for five consecutive tournaments, the Mumbai team, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, clinched their maiden title. Thereafter, Mumbai have gone on to win two more titles, making them the most successful IPL team alongside Chennai Super Kings.
However, the IPL in 2013 would always be known as one of the most darkest tournaments for India as the spot-fixing scandal rocked the nation during the tournament. Rajasthan Royals’ players Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were charged for spot-fixing. In another case, actor Vindu Dara Singh and India Cements owner N Srinivasan’s son in law Gurunath Meiyappan were charged with being involved in betting and alleged links with bookies. Rajasthan Royals’ co-owner Raj Kundra was also charged with betting and was subsequently banned from any cricket-related activity for life.
Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were imposed life bans from playing cricket and Meiyappan was also banned from any cricket-related activity. The Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals were imposed with two-year bans by the Lodha panel in 2015.
Even though cricket was going through turmoil off the field, the Mumbai Indians went about their business and finished second in the table with 11 wins. Ricky Ponting stepped down as the team’s captain after a string of low performances, which opened up an opportunity for Rohit Sharma to lead the side.
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The two teams in the spotlight due to the spot-fixing saga - Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals - managed to keep their focus on the game and finished first and third in the league respectively. Newbies Sunrisers Hyderabad finished fourth in the table with 10 wins in the league stage.
The Chennai Super Kings blasted their way to the final on the back of 80-plus scores by Michael Hussey and Suresh Raina. CSK confortably beat Mumbai by 48 runs in the first qualifier.
The Rajasthan Royals bowlers carried out a terrific performance to restrict the Sunrisers to a relatively low total of 132/7 in the eliminator match. The Royals chased it down with four wickets in hand to face Mumbai in the second qualifier.
The Mumbai Indians ensured that they don’t concede too many runs while bowling first against Rajasthan in the second qualifier. They kept picking up wickets at regular intervals and restricted the Royals to 165/6. Thereafter, Dwayne Smith got the Mumbai team off to a flyer, which set the tone for the side. Eventually, the Mumbai Indians booked a place in the final with a four-wicket victory.
The Chennai Super Kings had Mumbai Indians on the rope when they were reduced to 52/4, but then Kieron Pollard changed the game with a 32-ball 60-run innings. The Mumbai Indians posted a decent total of 148/9.
The Chennai Super Kings failed to get going with the bat and it was all but over when they lost eight wickets for just 58 runs. Eventually the Mumbai Indians won the final by 23 runs.
Michael Hussey bagged the Orange Cap as he finished as the highest scorer with 733 runs and Dwayne Bravo won the Purple Cap as he was the highest wicket-taker with 32 wickets.
