Ben Stokes’ clutch innings vs MI in 2020
It was a league match between RR and MI in 2020. MI were unstoppable in that season. It looked like no one could beat them. MI batted first and posted 195 runs on the board. It seemed like a difficult target to chase against the strong MI bowling line up. RR made a strange move. Stokes came to open the innings instead of Buttler who was their regular opener.
Everyone was stunned that Ben Stokes was walking in while chasing such a huge target. People thought it was a gamble. But Stokes proved all of them wrong by replying with his bat. He just smashed every MI bowler and made them clueless against him. He scored a century and RR chased the target comfortably. Beating that MI side as one-sided while chasing a huge target would be a dream for any IPL team. Stokes did that single-handedly. He scored 107* (60) and RR clinched an eight-wicket victory with 10 balls remaining against the paltans.
Jos Buttler’s flamboyant knock vs KKR in 2024
Rajasthan Royals (RR) always had this thing of beating the best team of the season in the league stage. This happened last year in 2024. KKR batter first and posted 223 runs on the board. Chasing it, Buttler was playing a long Anchor and others played short cameos but couldn’t support him enough. Once the main batters got out he took charge and accelerated the innings. But wickets kept falling on the other end.
At one stage, RR was 186/8 at 17.3 overs, the target seemed a bit far know. But RR still had hope because a well settled Buttler was batting in the crease. He didn’t disappoint them as well. Punished the right deliveries, took the game deeper and finished the match in the last ball with a single. RR equaled their own record of Highest chase in IPL History which was later broken by PBKS in the same season. Buttler scored 107 of 60 balls and was awarded the man of the match.
 Yusuf Pathan 37 ball 100 vs MI in 2010
This is another proof that RR always performs well against top team of the season in league stage. In 2010, they were facing MI in the league stage. MI batted first and scored 212 runs. During that time, chasing such a huge target seemed like a miracle. But Yusuf was waiting to create a miracle on that day in the second innings.
RR didn’t start well in the chase. Yusuf stepped in when RR were struggling at 40/3 in 6.3 overs. He changed the momentum completely towards RR. He was supported well by Paras Dogra. RR was well in the game when these two were batting. They built a 107 runs partnership for the 5th wicket of just 47 deliveries most of it coming from Yusuf. Yusuf scored his century in just 37 balls which was then fastest 100 in IPL and till now the fastest IPL hundred by an Indian.
Unfortunately this partnership ended in the runout. Yusuf got out for 100(37). After that Paras tried his best but wasn’t enough to take his team over the line. He got out in the last over and RR scored 208 runs in 20 overs losing the match by just 4 runs. This hundred might have come in a losing cause but hitting a hundred and taking your team closer to the target from nowhere will definitely remain as one of the top knocks in IPL.
Also Read:Â IPL 2025: 3 Best Bowling Performances By RR