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IPL Flashback - 2014: UAE play co-hosts as Kolkata Knight Riders clinch second title
KXIP’s imposing 200-run target didn’t prove enough as Kolkata Knight Riders clinched second title
The opening ceremony as well as the early stages of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2014 campaign had to be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the Indian security apparatus wasn’t deemed well-equipped to be able to handle the mega event around the same time as the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
The opening ceremony was held on 15 April before the first match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians was played a day later. The first 20 matches of the tournament were held across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah in the UAE before it returned to India on 2 May. The season had one team fewer than its previous edition in 2013 as Pune Warriors India folded up due to financial discrepancies.
KKR began their campaign with a resounding 41-run win over Mumbai Indians in Abu Dhabi and would go on to clinch their second title, adding to the one they won in 2012.
In the group stage, Kings XI Punjab had no match as they claimed 11 wins from their 14 matches to finish with 22 points, and looked good for a maiden title. KKR and the Chennai Super Kings finished on 18 points each—with the former edging the latter on net run rate—while the Mumbai Indians rounded up the top four. The Indians were tied on points with the Rajasthan Royals but were ahead on run rate.
In the qualifier, KKR defeated Kings XI Punjab by 28 runs to make the final. Umesh Yadav produced an outstanding spell of 3/13 off his four overs to ensure KKR defended their 164-run target successfully. In the eliminator, Mumbai Indians set a target of 174 runs and the Chennai Super Kings chased it down successfully with eight balls to spare.
Also read: IPL Flashback - 2013: Spot-fixing rocks nation as Rohit Sharma leads Mumbai Indians to maiden title
Kings XI Punjab and CSK fought for a spot in the final. In a high-scoring battle, the Punjab outfit set an imposing target of 227 runs with Virender Sehwag playing a blinder. The opener made 122 runs off just 58 balls that came with eight sixes and 12 fours to put his side in a commanding position.
However, CSK were not throwing in the towel just yet. Suresh Raina played one of the best IPL innings of all time as he smashed bowlers with impunity and threatened to take the game away from Punjab. He went on make 87 runs off 25 balls as CSK brought up their 100 in just six overs. However, their chase couldn’t hit the same heights after Raina’s exit as their innings wrapped up on 202/7 in 20 overs.
KXIP were in the final and had a chance to clinch their first title. Their batsmen helped set another imposing target, smashing 199/4 in their 20 overs. Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha belted a 55-ball 115 not out to get his team close to the 200-run mark.
But it wasn’t to be for the Punjab side as Manish Pandey belted 94 runs off 50 balls to help his side win by three wickets with three balls to spare, and clinch their second title.
KKR’s Robin Uthappa took home the Orange Cap for his 660 runs that came at an outstanding average of 44.0 and a 137.78 strike rate. CSK’s Mohit Sharma was the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 23 scalps and took the Purple Cap for his efforts.
