(3)Brendon McCullum ( 158* off 73 vs RCB in 2008 )
This was the first-ever match in the IPL history. KKR captained by Sourav Ganguly faced RCB led by Rahul Dravid. Batting first, Brendon McCullum opened the innings with Ganguly and it was only “Bazz” show for the entire innings. He was smashing the bowlers all over the ground and entertained the whole stadium.
Nothing could have been a better marketing campaign for a newly introduced league. KKR posted 222 runs in 20 overs. McCullum scored 158 runs from 73 balls. He scored 2/3 rd of the total score. In reply RCB could manage only 82 runs and lost the match by a huge margin of 140 runs. This match and McCullum’s innings set the tone for the league to become huge success and IPL is the biggest franchise league in cricket now.
(2)Andre Russell special ( 48* off 13 vs RCB in 2019 )
It was a league match between RCB and KKR at Chinnaswamy. RCB batted first and posted 205 runs on the board. It’s a big total but still a possible chase at Chinnaswamy under the lights with dew coming in.
In Chasing, KKR were 134/3 in 15 overs still far away from the target. Then they lost 2 wickets in 2 overs including well set Nithih Rana and Dinesh Karthik. They were 153/5 in 17 overs with requiring 53 runs in 18 balls. Then comes the big man into the crease and Siraj comes to bowl the 18th over. The first two balls are dot. Now KKR need 53 off 16. The equations are getting even tough. Then Siraj bowled a waist high no-ball to Russell which he sent for a six. The storm started there. The Umpire Anil Chaudary asked Captain Kohli to cut the over for Siraj as it was his second waist high ball in the innings.
Stoinis came to continue the over and Russell smashed 2 more sixes in the over. The “Beast” has woken up. Total of 23 runs were scored in that 18th over. It changed the momentum completely towards KKR. Southee came to bowl the penultimate over and would have never thought the game would be over in his over itself. Gill was on the strike for the ball. He did the best thing by scoring a single and giving back the strike to 29 runs were scored in the over and the scores are level now.
Gill took the single in the first ball of the last over by Negi and finished the formalities. Russell was not out with 48 runs off just 13 deliveries with one four and seven huge sixes. Russell had a dream season that year with smashing 52 sixes overall and this match showed how brutal and dangerous he can be.
(1) Rinku Singh Miracle vs GT in 2023
This match gave another finisher for India. KKR was chasing 205 against GT. They were in the chase until the 17th over when Rashid Khan picked a hattrick by dismissing the dangerous Caribbean batters Russell, Narine, and Shardul Thakur. After that everyone thought the match was over and all left was formalities. KKR needed 29 runs in the last over.
Umesh Yadav took the single in the first ball and now it’s 28 off 5 balls. Then the miracle happened. This was like a script we all imagined in our childhood. Rinku smashed 5 back to back sixes to win the match for KKR. This is the highest target chased in the last over in T20s. Rinku became a sensation overnight and later he got a call from the Indian team as well. This match changed the life of Rinku as he got to play in the Indian team and was retained by the KKR for the 2025 IPL.
Also Read: IPL 2025: CSK’s Star Cricketer MS Dhoni Regrets Losing His Cool During Match