IPL 2008 final: Who were Indian Premier League 2008 Champions?

IPL 2008 final: Cricket enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the upcoming 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is just around the corner. The tournament is set to kick off in the last week of March, and fans can look forward to several exciting matches. The IPL is an immensely popular sporting event that attracts millions of fans from around the world. The tournament features top cricket players from various countries, who compete against each other in thrilling matches that are full of drama and excitement.

IPL 2008 final

The Indian Premier League or IPL 2008 final was a historic moment for the franchise-based T20 league, which had just started its journey that year. The final was contested between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai on June 1, 2008. The match was eagerly anticipated by fans and pundits alike, as it would determine the first-ever IPL champions.

Chennai Super Kings won the toss and elected to bat first. The team’s openers, Parthiv Patel and Srikkanth Anirudha, got off to a decent start, putting on 33 runs in the first four overs. However, Rajasthan Royals’ captain, Shane Warne, introduced spin into the attack in the form of Yusuf Pathan, who got the breakthrough in his very first over. He dismissed Parthiv Patel, who was caught by Ravindra Jadeja for 16 runs.

Suresh Raina then came to the crease and steadied the innings with Anirudha. The pair put on a crucial partnership of 66 runs for the second wicket, with Raina being the aggressor, hitting four boundaries and two sixes in his innings of 43 runs off 30 balls. Anirudha was run out for 33 runs, and the Chennai Super Kings’ skipper, MS Dhoni, was dismissed cheaply for 2 runs.

Related: MS Dhoni last century

With just three overs left in the innings, Chennai Super Kings were struggling to accelerate the scoring rate. However, Albie Morkel provided the much-needed impetus with a quickfire innings of 22 runs off just 10 balls, including two sixes in the final over bowled by Sohail Tanvir. Chennai Super Kings finished their innings on 163 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

In response, Rajasthan Royals got off to a shaky start, losing three quick wickets within the first three overs. Graeme Smith, Swapnil Asnodkar, and captain Shane Warne were all dismissed cheaply, leaving the team reeling at 31 runs for the loss of three wickets. However, in a display of his big-hitting ability, Yusuf Pathan walked in and hit a flurry of boundaries, taking the attack to the Chennai Super Kings’ bowlers.

Pathan was well supported by former Australian wicket-keeper batsman, Shane Watson, who played a patient innings of 28 runs off 24 balls, hitting two boundaries and a six. The pair put on a crucial partnership of 65 runs for the fourth wicket, which brought Rajasthan Royals back into the game.

When Watson was dismissed, the onus was on Pathan to see his team through. He continued his assault on the Chennai Super Kings’ bowlers, hitting six boundaries and two sixes in his innings of 56 runs off just 39 balls. His innings helped Rajasthan Royals claw their way back into the game and set up a thrilling finish.

The match went down to the wire, with Rajasthan Royals needing 8 runs off the final over. Chennai Super Kings’ bowler, Lakshmipathy Balaji, started off well, conceding just one run off the first two balls. But then, the third ball of the over was a no-ball, giving Rajasthan Royals a crucial free hit.

Related: CSK retained players list 2023

On the fourth ball, Yusuf Pathan hit a six to bring the equation down to just one run off two balls. On the fifth ball, the batsmen attempted a risky single, and the wicketkeeper, MS Dhoni, missed the stumps, allowing the batsmen to complete the run. With Rajasthan Royals needing just one run to win off the final ball, the Chennai Super Kings’ bowler. 

IPL Winners list