IPL has given the cricketing fraternity a lot to celebrate. The fans have been presented with a plethora of moments to cherish and the players have been blessed with an opportunity to shine. When it comes to shining in the IPL, there is no bigger stage than the finale! IPL is one of the most followed T20 leagues around the globe and millions stick to their seats when it comes to the final. So it is quite understandable that the pressure is high and only the ones with the nerves of steel thrive in such a high-pressure situation.

A total of have been 12 IPL finals have been played thus far and that accounts for as many Man of the Match awards. However, only thrice an overseas player has been awarded the MoM in an IPL title clash. Ardent followers of the competition are well versed with the rules of the competition which states that any side can only field a maximum of 4 foreign cricketers in a match which makes it even more challenging for the overseas lot to shine.

The competition is immense even to make it to the starting 11 let alone win the Man of the Match in the biggest match of the season. But here is the beauty of IPL where things may seem like improbable but nothing is impossible! Here we list down three overseas cricketers in the IPL who’ve shined brighter than anyone else on the big dance that is an IPL Finale in front of the highly animated Indian crowds.

Three overseas players who have won MoM award in the IPL final:

1. Kieron Pollard

The IPL final of 2013 will always be remembered for Kieron Pollard’s grit, determination and destructive batting. On one stage it seemed like Mumbai Indians were on the verge posting a lowly total that would’ve been a cakewalk for the Chennai Super Kings as the MI brigade was struggling at the mark of 15 overs with just 100 runs on the board.

But Pollard had other plans as he rose up to the occasion and smashed a sensational 60 off 32 balls to help his side post a challenging total of 148 on the board. Though it didn’t seem enough at the halfway mark, the final overs’ surge had certainly infused confidence in the MI bowler.

As it turned out, the total proved to be too much for MS Dhoni and his men who were restricted at 125/9 in there 20 overs by a disciplined MI side.

2. Ben Cutting

​The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) clashed off in the 2016 IPL final. In a match engrossed with IPL legends like Virat Kohli, David Warner, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers to name a few, a surprise package in the name of Ben Cutting stole all the limelight and helped his side, the Sunrisers Hyderabad claim their maiden IPL triumph.

The Australian smashed a quickfire 39 off just 15 balls to propel SRH to a gigantic total of 208 on the board. RCB, in the chase, got off to a flying start with both Gayle and Kohli scoring a half-century. The Universe boss looked in the mood to take the game away but Cutting intervened and removed him in the 11th over to give his side the breakthrough, one which turned to be the turning point in the match.

Cutting finished the match with the figures of 2-35, with KL Rahul being his second victim. It was a perfect all-round performance from him which also helped him earn the Man of the Match award.

3. Shane Watson

There are many players who’ve benefitted from the advent of IPL and Shane Watson is certainly one of them. The brawny Australian has been part of all 13 seasons and has truly made a mark for himself in the world’s most famous T20 league.

There are a lot of things that Watson has done in the IPL and winning Man of the Match award in an IPL final is one of them. His heroic knock in the final against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2018 is reckoned by many as one of the most awe-inspiring IPL innings ever orchestrated. He smashed the ball all around the park en route a famous ton at the Wankhede Stadium.

The Australian scored 117 off just 57 balls to register the highest ever individual score in an IPL final. His phenomenal deeds with the bat helped CSK complete a fairytale return to the competition as they lifted the IPL trophy for the third time.