The final of Indian Premier League 2020 took place on 10th November and exactly a week after that the final of Pakistan Super League took place on 17th November. Some of the players who participated in the IPL traveled to Pakistan for the playoffs of the PSL which were postponed in March due to COVID. It was great for the fans to watch some high octave cricket after a long break as there is no cricket for months due to the lockdown in various countries. There were a lot of coincidences that were noted between the IPL and the PSL Final. So, let’s have a look at five of those coincidences.
5. Both Champions have blue jerseys
Mumbai Indians won the IPL Final and Karachi Kings won the PSL Final and coincidentally both the teams have blue jerseys. Many teams have blue jerseys in various T20 leagues but there are very few occasions when the team with the same color jerseys win their respective T20 leagues and that too just a week apart. This was one of the coincidences between these two Finals.
4. Both teams chased down the target with 8 balls to spare
Mumbai Indians were chasing 157 in the IPL Final and they achieved the target in 18.4 overs with 8 balls to spare. Karachi Kings who won the PSL were chasing 135 in the PSL Final and even they achieved the target in 18.4 overs with 8 balls to spare.
First of all, it was surprising that both the chasing teams won a Final because there is always a thought process that there is scoreboard pressure in the Final and the team chasing might lose under pressure but both the teams managed to chase down their total easily at the same mark.
3. Losing team from both the Finals appeared in the Final for the first time
Delhi Capitals played the Final against Mumbai Indians in the IPL and they were playing their first IPL Final. Out of the eight original teams, only Delhi Capitals hadn’t played an IPL Final and they finally reached the finals against Mumbai Indians.
Sam was the case with Lahore Qalandars as they were playing their first-ever PSL Final. Coincidentally both the teams who were playing their first Final failed to win the trophy and the opposition team won.
2. Both winning team’s openers got fifty Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam
Rohit Sharma who wasn’t in great form before the IPL Final scored a match-winning fifty in that game. Chasing 157, he not only gave a good start but even ensured that MI can’t lose from that position as he scored 68 off 51 balls against a good bowling attack.
On the other side, Babar Azam who is the No.2 T20I batsman scored a fifty while chasing 135. Unlike Rohit Sharma, he was not out at the end with 63 off 49 balls. Both these openers ensured that there aren’t any early wickets that doesn’t put pressure on the middle-order.
1. Sherfane Rutherford was part of both the teams
Sherfane Rutherford was a part of the Mumbai Indians squad but didn’t get a single opportunity throughout the tournament. He was traded in from Delhi Capitals before this IPL season. He spent the whole IPL on the bench but in the end, he was a part of the winning side as Mumbai Indians won the trophy.
He was also a part of the Karachi Kings where he played all the playoffs. In fact, in Qualifier 1, he hit a four and a six in the Super Over which helped them reach the Finals. Unfortunately, he got out for a duck in the Final but till then the game was almost done. So Sherfane Rutherford won two trophies in a matter of weeks’ time.
