The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most closely fought tournaments in the world. One of the reasons why the league generates so much interest among the fans is because all the teams have produced good performances over the years. 

Each year at least 60 matches are being played and most of these are competitive. With all eight teams having some really good players in their mix, the league has been able to make it fair for all the teams. But, all these players have also assured fans with some quality cricket to watch. 

As the IPL 2021 is set to begin on April 9, it is absolutely a great time to look back at all the best matches we have witnessed in the cash-rich league. The 2021 season is once again expected to produce some high-scoring thrillers.

Here are the top 5 best IPL matches:

1. Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai, 2014

The last league match of the IPL 2014 was full of drama. Rajasthan Royals arrived at the Wankhede Stadium to play the Mumbai Indians, having almost sealed a spot in the playoffs. The 2008 champion had won seven matches until then while Mumbai had won six matches. The equation for Mumbai was quite simply, they had to chase down whatever Rajasthan put on the board, but in 14.3 overs. 

The only problem was that the Royals made 189 for 4. Sanju Samson had played a blinder of an innings of 74 while Karun Nair supported him with a 27-ball 50. Late cameos from James Faulkner and Brad Hodge made the target for Mumbai look like an improbable one. But, Mumbai got off to a superb start. 

Rajasthan pulled back things to put the hosts at 108 for 4 in 9.2 overs. Ambati Rayudu’s 10-ball 30 along with some serious hitting from Corey Anderson ensured Mumbai got in sight of the target. And then, Rayudu got out with the scores tied at 14.3. Anderson was stranded at the other end with a 44-ball 95. The Royals thought that they had pulled it off and sealed the playoff spot. But, Aditya Tare hit the next ball for a six which took their total to 195 for 5 in 14.4 overs and Mumbai edged past Rajasthan by 0.035 on net run rate and qualified. 

2. Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Bengaluru, 2014 Final

Punjab Kings, then Kings XI Punjab, came into the final having lost the last two encounters against Kolkata Knight Riders. One of those was the first qualifier in the playoffs which was played less than a week ago. But, Punjab brought their best game for the final. It was Kolkata-origin Wriddhiman Saha, who played an absolute gem of a knock of 115 runs from 55 balls. He was equally supported by Manan Vohra who racked up 67 runs from 52 balls. 

Punjab finished at 199 for 4. KKR lost Robbie Uthappa, the orange cap holder that season, early in the innings. But Manish Pandey, a Bengaluru local, played the innings of his life. However, he got out for 94 runs off 50 balls, leaving KKR at 179 for 6. Needing 21 runs in three overs, he had set the match but not finished. 

Then, the drama and pressure of the final. Piyush Chawla hit a six off Mitchell Johnson in the penultimate over to bring KKR on the brink of a win. He then smashed the third ball of a final over to seal the victory for his side. With this win, Kolkata lifted the trophy for the second time and it was also the last time they won the match.

3. Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings, Chennai, 2012 Final

Chennai Super Kings had won the consecutive seasons, in 2010 and 2011, and came into the final as the favourites. The Kolkata Knight Riders, on the other hand, were playing their first final. As the match was being played in Chennai, the home team was at an advantage clearly. Michael Hussey (54 runs off 43 balls) and Murali Vijay (42 runs off 32 balls) gave a brilliant start. 

Suresh Raina smashed 73 runs off 38 balls to take Chennai’s score to 190 for 4. He attacked Kolkata’s biggest strength in that season until then, Sunil Narine. No team had ever chased down a total such as this in an IPL final. And, the expectations of the Kolkata fans reduced as their captain and leading run-getter Gautam Gambhir got out in the first over. 

But, KKR were able to find an unlikely hero in Manvinder Bisla, who counter-attacked the CSK bowlers and made 89 runs off 48 balls. Once he was dismissed, Jacques Kallis took on the onus, scoring 69 runs off 49 balls. But, it all came down to the last over as KKR needed nine runs. Manoj Tiwary hit two fours on the third and fourth deliveries, helping his team get over the line and script history. 

4. Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings, Hyderabad, 2019 Final

Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings arrived at the IPL 2019, having won three titles each. And the two teams met in the final in Hyderabad, with the expectation of winning their fourth title. Failing to win any momentum in their innings, Mumbai ended with 149 for 8, on the back of some late flourish by Kieron Pollard, who made a 25-ball 41. 

Deepak Chahar, of CSK, bowled a spell of 3 for 26. But, when it came to the chase, Chennai seemed to have panicked a bit. Shane Watson held one end scoring a vital 80 from 58 balls. Going into the last over, Chennai needed nine runs to win. Lasith Malinga, the Mumbai Indians legend, was tasked to win it for them for the fourth time. 

With five runs needed off three balls, Watson got run out, while trying to go for a second run. The next man in Shardul Thakur took two runs to reduce the equation to two runs off the final ball. Malinga bowled what he was known for, a death yorker on the middle stump. The ball landed on Thakur’s pad, crashing the middle stump. He was given out LBW as Mumbai won their fourth title. That turned out to be the last ball Malinga ever bowled in the IPL. 

5. Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings, Dubai, 2020

The 2020 match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in Dubai saw what no IPL match had ever seen until then, a double super over. The rule of allowing the match to go into a second super over was introduced by ICC after the World Cup 2019 final got tied and had to be decided by boundary count. 

Quinton de Kock’s 53 and Kieron Pollard’s 12-ball 34 took Mumbai’s score to 176 for 6. Punjab could manage to tie the match after their skipper KL Rahul scored 77 runs and with the help of some late contributions from Deepak Hooda and Chris Jordan. The match went into the first super over and Jasprit Bumrah reduced Punjab to just five runs in it. 

Mohammed Shami also restricted Mumbai for five runs in their super over. Mumbai batted first in the second super over, where Punjab’s Chris Jordan ensured they restricted Mumbai for just 11 runs. Mayank Agarwal and Chris Gayle chased down the target to see off one of the most dramatic matches in the IPL ever.