One of the most thrilling and exciting cricket leagues in the world is the Indian Premier League (IPL). Over the years, the tournament has provided cricket fans with many thrilling moments, with a hat-trick being a major element. Hat-trick in cricket means taking three wickets within three successive deliveries by a bowler. This very rare achievement focuses mainly on a bowler’s skill, cool-headedness, and brilliance. Only a few bowlers in the IPL have had the opportunity to achieve this great feat. Here in this article, we will take a closer look at all the bowlers who captured an IPL hat-trick and what the achievement meant for the tournament.
What is a Hat-Trick?
Now that we are acquainted with the world of the name of the bowler who has taken an IPL hat-trick, let’s first get down to what a hat-trick denotes in the realm of cricket-it means to get the last three batsmen out under an umbrella of some balls without regard for whether or not they happen within the same over. It is one of the toughest feats that can be achieved in cricket, with everyone celebrated for the feat. To achieve such performance in a hugely pressurized tournament like the IPL takes a masterly blend of skill, accuracy, and luck.
Hat-Trick Heroes To The IPL
Let us now turn our attention to the very IPL players who have left a mark in the record books by taking a hat-trick.
1. Lakshmipathy Balaji-2008
Balaji was quite spectacular at performing the first-ever IPL hat-trick in the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008. Playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the hat trick by Balaji would be remembered as a milestone in the tournament’s early days. In a very thrilling tie, Balaji scalped the three RCB batsmen-Mark Boucher, Jacques Kallis, and Sharne Warne-in three consecutive deliveries. This event was not only a calling moment for Balaji but also encouraged the other bowlers to follow his footprints further.
2. Muttiah Muralitharan-2008
In the same season as Balaji under Chennai Super Kings (CSK), this would be the other legendary bowler to take an IPL hat-trick. It is by a sheer stroke of luck that Muralitharan is credited with a hat-trick in 2008 while representing the Chennai Super Kings against the Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). The great true spinner took wickets from Piyush Chawla, Irfan Pathan, and Yusuf Abdullah off three balls in a row. His spinning style provided mystery and variations that made him difficult to face before he would achieve such a hat-trick of wickets in a party manner.
3. Yuvraj Singh: 2009
Yuvraj Singh is known for his explosive batting, but in 2009, he showed his skills with the ball as well. While playing for the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) during the match held against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Yuvraj took an unbelievable hat-trick. Included in this hat-trick was the taking out of very dangerous RCB batsmen Mark Boucher, Kallis, and Ross Taylor. These events were able to showcase exactly why Yuvraj was otherwise known as one of the most memorable all-rounders in IPL history, as it proved that he was capable of performing under pressure as well as being an all-around cricketer.
4. Johan Botha (2012)
The South African all-rounder Johan Botha was the first bowler to take a hat-trick in IPL 2012. Echoing the Rajasthan Royals against Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Botha bowled an unforgettable spell in which he dismissed Ravindra Jadeja, Parthiv Patel, and Sreesanth in three consecutive deliveries. A bowler with consistent line and length mixed with deceptive variations was always going to be a tough ask for the batters, and Botha’s hat trick in 2012 holds a special place in IPL history.
5. Sunil Narine (2013)
Sunil Narine, the mystery spinner from the West Indies, is among the most dreaded of T20 bowlers. In 2013, he obtained his IPL hat-trick while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) against King XI Punjab (KXIP). His dismissals were of Mandeep Singh, David Miller, and Shreyas Iyer in that order. Narine’s spin variations and subtle changes in pace were hard to pick, whereas this hat-trick stood evidence of his unorthodox-yet-effective bowling style.
6. Shane Harwood (2013)
Australian bowler Shane Harwood bagged his IPL hat-trick in 2013 while playing for the Rajasthan Royals against the Kolkata Knight Riders. The hat-trick included dismissals of KKR’s top-order Brendon McCullum, Gautam Gambhir, and Manvinder Bisla in three successive balls. Harwood was full of discipline, in terms of line and length; the hat trick was a spoilsome occasion in the IPL history.
7. Samuel Badree (2017)
A big impact in the 2017 season was left by West Indies leg-spinner Samuel Badree. Instead, against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Badree took a marvelous hat-trick while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). He took out Chris Lynn, Robin Uthappa, and Suryakumar Yadav in three consecutive balls. Badree’s guile, precision, and sharp turn made it one of the most outstanding bowling performances of the season.
8. Andrew Tye (2018)
The Australian pacer Andrew Tye became the second bowler in the history of IPL to claim two hat-tricks. Tye claimed his first-ever IPL hat-trick playing for the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) versus the Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) in 2018. This came from three out of three seeing Adam Zampa, Manoj Tiwary, and Shardul Thakur exit. Tye was a potent threat with his variations, especially slower ones; the hat-trick will ever be embedded in the annals of history for his team and fans.
9. Jaydev Unadkat (2019)
In 2019, Jaydev Unadkat was an Indian left-arm pacer who achieved his IPL hat trick while playing for the Rajasthan Royals against the Kolkata Knight Riders. He was instrumental in dismissing three KKR batsmen: Chris Lynn, Dinesh Karthik, and Andre Russell. Unadkat’s ability to swing both ways and to bouncers posed a challenge for any batsman, and his hat trick was a send-off to his skill and prowess.
Conclusion:
A hat-trick in the IPL signifies a rare feat, an exceptional achievement that is lauded by fans and players alike. Year after year, the bowlers have continued to give wonderful performances, and these hat-tricks have been living proof of the skill, composure, and surefire ability of these men to deliver under pressure. From Lakshmipathy Balaji’s historic first-ever IPL hat-trick to Andrew Tye’s record-breaking achievement, these bowlers will now be immortalized in the annals of IPL history. Their performances continue to inspire budding cricketers and remind fans why the IPL is undoubtedly one of the most exciting cricket leagues in the world.
If you are among fans of the IPL and cricket, then this makes watching these bowlers and their performances in the tournament even more interesting. The IPL is so exciting not only due to the huge sixes and high scores but also due to brilliant bowling spells along with game-changing moments like hat-tricks. Stay updated with Kheloexch
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