IPL: The first ever happenings of Kings XI Punjab in the league

Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) could well be considered as the most under performed side in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Punjab franchise is one of the three teams to not have won the league title despite their existence in all 12 seasons. The Kings XI Punjab team managed to qualify for the knockouts/playoff round only twice.

They were knocked out in 2008 during the semi-finals but got to the final during the 2014 edition where they lost a close game. They have a history of finishing in the bottom four after owning a top-four spot during the first half of the tournament.

Here we look the happenings of the Kings XI Punjab for the first time in the history of IPL:

First ball, first run and first four:

Karan Goel faced the first ball of KXIP in the IPL during their debut match in the bowling of Jacob Oram. Goel hit a boundary off that ball to mark his name in KXIP history to score first run and also the first four. (Over 5.5 – Inns No.2 vs CSK in Mohali on April 19, 2008)

First six:

Karan Goel also hit the first six in the IPL of Kings XI Punjab by smashing Manpreet Gony over mid-wicket during the same match. (Over 3.6 – Inns No.2 vs CSK in Mohali on April 19, 2008)

First wicket and catch:

The first wicket by KXIP was of Parthiv Patel in the bowling of Brett Lee. The KXIP wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara claimed the catch. (Over 5.5 – Inns No.1 vs CSK in Mohali on April 19, 2008)

First stumping:

Kumar Sangakkara affected KXIP’s first stumping in the 2009 edition. Adam Gilchrist was the batsman while Ramesh Powar was the bowler. (Over 4.2 – Inns No.2 vs DC in Johannesburg on May 17, 2009)

First runout:

Brett Lee completed KXIP’s maiden run-out in the IPL by dismissing Luke Ronchi. (Over 2.4 – Inns No.2 vs MI in Mohali on April 25, 2008)

First fifty:

James Hopes scored the first fifty of KXIP in the IPL in their debut match taking only 24 balls. He scored 71 of 33 balls with 10 fours and 3 sixes. (vs CSK in Mohali on April 19, 2008)

First century:

Shaun Marsh scored the first century of KXIP in the IPL with 115 off 69 balls against the Rajasthan Royals in last league match of 2008 edition. (in Mohali on May 28, 2008)

First maiden over:

Irfan Pathan bowled the first maiden over of KXIP in the IPL to Ashish Nehra who failed to connect even one ball of the last over of MI’s chase when they needed 67 runs to win. (20th Over – Inns No.2 vs MI in Mohali on April 25, 2008)

First 5-wicket haul:

Dimitri Mascarenhas registered KXIP’s first 5-wicket haul when he took 5/25 against Pune Warriors. (in Mohali on April 12, 2012)

First hat-trick:

Yuvraj Singh claimed the first hat-trick of the KXIP in the IPL during the 2009 season match against RCB. He dismissed Robin Uthappa and Jacques Kallis during the last two balls of the 12th over and picked Mark Boucher’s wicket on the first ball of the 13th over. (in Durban on May 1, 2009)

First win:

Kings XI Punjab’s maiden IPL win came against Mumbai Indians by 66 runs which were their 3rd match of IPL 2008. (in Mohali on April 25, 2008)

First final:

Kings XI Punjab made it to the final of the IPL for the first time in 2014 season where they lost to Kolkata Knight Riders. (vs KKR in Bangalore on June 1, 2014)