3 Unusual events in which the IPL teams played

The Indian Premier League (IPL) teams have had plans of globalizing the tournament and increase their fan bases in foreign countries across the last couple of years. However, the governing council and BCCI weren’t much interested in this process and declined the plans of the franchises.

However, in the initial years of the league formation, there were a couple of matches and series involving IPL teams other than IPL and CLT20. The Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders were part of such games which are lesser-known ones.

Here we look at three unusual matches and series in which the IPL teams took part:

3. Rajasthan Royals vs Cape Cobras in 2009

The IPL teams usually featured in warm-up matches ahead of the Champions League T20. In some of the editions of IPL, there were unofficial warm-up matches as well. However, in the 2009 edition of IPL, a high profiled warm-up match took place. The defending champions of the IPL, Rajasthan Royals clashed against the Cape Cobras a week before the scheduled start of the tournament.

It was considered to be a practice match but the lead-up was more than that and the game even was officially broadcasted. The Cape Cobras had won the Pro20 Championship and hosted the IPL champions at the Newlands in what turned out to be a curtain-raiser for the tournament held in South Africa. Cobras, who batted first, were reduced to 34/4 by 7th over but a 22-ball 36 from Richard Levi powered the hosts to a respectable 142/8.

Amit Singh was easily the best bowler for the Royals as he took three wickets and conceded only 18 runs in his four overs. Royals started off the chase reaching 50-run mark by end of the powerplay. But some tight bowling from the Cobras and a 4-wicket haul by Rory Kleinveldt bundled out the Royals to 115 in 19 overs. Kleinveldt recorded figures of 4/23 alongside scoring 23 off 17 balls in his team’s 27-run win.