On This Day In 2012: Gambhir’s KKR Shocks Chennai To Win First Ever IPL Title

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Last Updated:May 27, 2025, 07:10 IST

On this time successful 2012: After enduring the astir gut wrenching tally successful the archetypal 4 editions of the IPL, skipper Gautam Gambhir and his men lifted their first-ever trophy.

The Knight Riders defeated Super Kings by 5 wickets successful Chennai. (Image: X, formerly Twitter/@KKRiders)

On This Day In 2012: Perennial losers of the archetypal 4 editions of the Indian Premier League, Kolkata Knight Riders turned a country drastically to nutrient their maiden rubric triumph on this day 13 years ago. The past Gautam Gambhir-led broadside produced the astir inspiring comeback aft taking bitter disappointments of the erstwhile seasons nether their stride and surpassed blistery favourites Chennai Super Kings successful the final.

Knight Riders’ hopes were expected to beryllium crushed astatine CSK’s den, the MA Chidambaram Stadium successful Chennai. But Gambhir’s men pulled disconnected a singular pursuit to overhaul Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s past two-time champions. The publication went connected expected lines for the archetypal half, wherever CSK’s powerfulness packed batting line-up helped the hosts station a gigantic people of 190/3.

Tight spells from Shakib Al Hasan (1/25), Jacques Kallis (1/34) and Rajat Bhatia (1/23) were the lone agleam spots of KKR’s bowling effort arsenic superlative knocks from the opening duo of Michael Hussey (54) and Murli Vijay (42) and a tremendous 73 disconnected 38 deliveries from No.3 Suresh Raina gave CSK a beardown precocious hand.

In the chase, aboriginal nonaccomplishment of skipper Gambhir hardly eased KKR’s task and the visitors required thing bonzer to get themselves backmost successful the contest. That portion of brilliance came from an unexpected source, with Indian opener Manvinder Bisla playing an innings of a lifetime. Bisla hammered the much-vaunted CSK onslaught for 89 disconnected conscionable 48 deliveries, including 8 fours and 5 sixes. The attacking right-hander was provided fantastic institution by the large Kallis, whose 69 disconnected 49 balls successful a concern of 136 runs wholly turned the lucifer connected its head.

Bisla’s dismissal aft a imagination innings did let CSK to claw their mode backmost successful the contention earlier Kallis’ wicket successful the 19th implicit threatened to enactment paid to each the hardwork. But timely cameos from Shakib (11*) and Manoj Tiwary (9*) won the crippled for the Knight Riders successful a thrilling finish.

Tiwary smashed CSK allrounder Dwayne Bravo for a brace of fours, including the winning deed to the mid-wicket with 2 balls remaining. An earnest spell of 2 for 25 from Ben Hilfenhaus went to discarded arsenic KKR players and owners, including Bollywood fable Shahrukh Khan, celebrated the biggest infinitesimal successful their team’s journey.

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