IPL: 5 mind-boggling facts you should know

When the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League kick-started in April 2008, T20 cricket was struggling for identity and there was a cloud of uncertainty surrounding how the tournament will pan out. However, it surpassed the expectations of many and went on to become one of the most popular and lucrative cricket leagues in the world. 

There have been 15 editions of the IPL played thus far and the marquee tournament has transformed the lives of many players around the globe and has undoubtedly revolutionized T20 cricket. The competition has witnessed the best players from around the globe take the stage and battle it out for the crown. It has also become a breeding ground for future stars.

Over the years, the cash-rich league has garnered fans from around the world, who are ardent followers of the game. However, there are a few stupefying facts about the tournament that can leave even the most die-hard fans wide-eyed.

Here are the five mind-boggling facts you should know about the Indian Premier League:

5. Glenn McGrath bowled the first-ever maiden of the IPL

Glenn McGrath was a superstar of the game in the international arena. Test cricket was McGrath’s stronger suit as he dismantled batting line-ups for fun and bagged an insane tally of 563 wickets in 124 matches at an average of 21.64. He was phenomenal in the ODIs as well and picked up 381 wickets in 250 matches at an economy of 3.88.

McGrath also showed his bowling might in the lucrative T20 tournament. The former Australian pacer represented Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in the first season of the lucrative T20 tournament and took 12 scalps in 14 games at an amazing economy of 6.61.

Though McGrath was renowned for his impeccable accuracy, not many would know that the former Australian cricketer was the first player to bowl a maiden in the history of the cash-rich league. He achieved the feat when Delhi Daredevils locked horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 3rd match of IPL 2008. 

In the third over of the DD vs RCB game, the 52-year-old contained Virat Kohli with his consistency in his first two balls and got rid of Kohli in his third delivery. Then Shane Watson arrived at the crease, but the Queensland-born was not able to open his account in the next three balls, and thus, McGrath registered the first maiden of the IPL.