IPL 2019: 5 Best moments from the first week (Match 1 - Match 12)

The Indian Premier Leauge (IPL) is a great entertainment package. With all the cricketing stars in the galaxy sharing the same platform, it is always a lot of fun. In the first week of the twelfth edition of the league, there were some great moments on display which brought a smile on the faces of the fans.

Be it some exceptional performances, the camaraderie between the players or some vintage stuff, it was all a delight to watch. There are several top-notch bits in the first week but it isn’t possible to cover all of those at once. IPL is all about uniting the best lot of cricketers across the world and it is like a festival of cricket in the country which gives immense pleasure to the fans.

Here are five moments what we think are the best of the week:

1. Virat Kohli checking MS Dhoni’s finger after the match

The highly anticipated first game of IPL 2019 between the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) was an absolute bummer. It was a very low-scoring affair disappointing the fans. CSK was very lucky to have won the toss as they were able to pace the chase easily.

Even though RCB lost the match, the ‘bro’ moment between Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni after the match during the handshakes was the best. The wicket-keeper batsman had a bandage on one of his fingers. Kohli spotted this and was quick to express his concern. The duo had a small banter and were all smiles.

2. Yuvraj Singh hitting three consecutive sixes

Coming into this season, there was high pressure on Yuvraj Singh. In what could be his last season, the all-rounder almost went unsold in the auction. But the Mumbai Indians bought him at the last moment bringing in a huge sigh of relief. Yuvi has worked a lot on his fitness and also worked on a few technical aspects of his game.

He was expected to shoulder the burden of the middle-order and he did well thus far. He scored a fifty in the first game and looked good. But the best moment came in MI’s second match of the season against RCB. Yuvi took the fans back in time when he smashed three consecutive sixes off the bowling of Yuzvendra Chahal. However, he ended up getting out on the fourth ball of the over shelving the six sixes thoughts.

3. Krunal Pandya goes against Mankading Mayank Agarwal

KXIP skipper Ravichandran Ashwin stirred a massive controversy very early in the tournament. He ‘mankaded out’ Jos Buttler in the game against Rajasthan Royals just as the English batsman was looking dangerous. The fans were split into two groups after this act. While a few defended the off-spinner, the other lashed out at him.

When KXIP hosted MI in Mohali, Krunal Pandya attempted to return the favour to Ashwin’s team. He threatened to ‘Mankad’ Mayank Agarwal but didn’t do so. Ashwin, who was sitting in the dugout, was left pale after this incident as many praised the left-arm spinner for not going against the ‘spirit’ of the game.

4. Ashes rivals hugging each other

There is no love lost when the players from Australia and England battle on the field especially during the Ashes. But the IPL has changed everything. Jos Buttler and Steve Smith are playing for the Rajasthan Royals this season while David Warner and Jonny Bairstow have lit up the tournament opening the innings for the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

They have added three consecutive century partnerships in as many matches but the scenes in Hyderabad against the RCB were worth remembering for a long time. Bairstow slammed a whirlwind century and his partner Warner was more delighted for him. Both the players hugged each other and the moment was worth capturing for England and Australian fans who are known to be arch-rivals while playing for their country. Well, this is what IPL offers and that’s why it is the best league in the world.

5. Kagiso Rabada’s yorker to dismiss Andre Russell in the super over

Andre Russell has been unstoppable in this season for the Knight Riders. He played match-winning knocks in all the three games thus far. But against the Delhi Capitals, the match went into the super over. Since they batted first in the game, DC batted first in the super over.

The team only managed to score 10 runs and it was thought that it’d be an easy chase for KKR. With the kind of form Andre Russell is in, it was just a matter of two sixes for him. He started well by hitting a four off the first ball. But Kagiso Rabada, the bowler, came back strong and bowled a gem of a yorker which was a delight to watch. The delivery from the South African has got to be one of the best in this season of the IPL.