IPL 2021: 5 best moments in IPL history

4. Brendon McCullum’s 158 in the inaugural match

The Indian Premier League was the first T20 league to work a franchise model which allowed a set number of overseas players. In 2008, before the league started, no one knew what to expect from it. Sourav Ganguly’s Kolkata Knight Riders travelled to Bangalore to face Rahul Dravid’s Royal Challengers in the inaugural match. 

A fantastic opening ceremony set the tone for what was going to be cricket’s most glamorous tournament to date. Brendon McCullum, the New Zealand wicketkeeper, opened the innings with Ganguly. A top edge flew over the third man boundary for a six. What followed was the batting of the highest order, not seen ever by the Indian fans. 

For the next hour and a half, McCullum kept hitting the RCB bowlers all over the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. He hit IPL’s first ever century and carried on to go past 150. This was the first time when a batsman had crossed that landmark in a T20 match. He ended with 158* runs off 73 balls, with 10 fours and 13 sixes. His knock was the perfect way to start off the tournament, which in the years to come, became the most profitable T20 league in the world.