T-20 is a format that compromises the balance between bat and ball for popcorn entertainment. Bowlers have always found it difficult to establish a name for themselves in the shorter formats compared to Test cricket. A great performance from the bowler is always forgotten in the face of an excellent innings from a batsman, even on flat decks. Only the performances of bowlers who are bonafide stars get talked about by fans regularly. Thus, the aim of this article is to recognize five outstanding five-wicket hauls in the IPL that have been forgotten by the majority.
#5 Lakshmipathy Balaji vs Kings XI Punjab, 2008
Balaji produced a notable performance on a track that traditionally favours spinners to give CSK an easy victory in Chepauk. In the first ball of the 13th over, Sarwan was dismissed by Balaji while trying a cross-batted swipe. A good short ball from Balaji resulted in Marsh’s departure in the same over.
The game ended with a brilliant hat-trick from Balaji. In the last over, he first dismissed Pathan with a short ball and Chawla perished while trying a lofted shot down the ground. VRV Singh perished on the penultimate ball of the game as Balaji completed a five-wicket haul.
#4 Ishant Sharma vs Kochi Tuskers Kerala, 2011
Deccan Chargers set Kochi a meagre target of 130 but what should have been a straight forward chase turned into a mess. Ishant finished the game in a spell of two overs with old school fast bowling. Parthiv edged to the keeper after Sharma produced a Jaffa outside off stump.
Raiphi Gomez was castled the next ball by a delivery that kept low. Another brilliant inswinger went through the defence of Brad Hodge and Kochi were in ruins by the end of the second over. Jadhav was trapped in front and Jayawardene was blown away by the steep bounce on offer. Ishant recorded figures of 5 for 12, a spell that deserves more recognition.
#3 Munaf Patel vs Kings XI Punjab, 2011
Patel’s magnificent five-wicket haul in this game was overshadowed by a shambolic batting performance from Mumbai Indians. Mumbai bowled first and Patel removed Valthaty early. Marsh looked set for a big innings but a short ball from Patel and a brilliant catch from Pollard resulted in his dismissal.
His third wicket was a soft dismissal as David Hussey picked out mid-on. Karthik tried a powerful waft down the leg side but picked out deep midwicket. A slow ball completed his five-wicket haul but Mumbai collapsed for 87 in the chase to hand an easy victory to Punjab.
#2 Dimitri Mascarenhas vs Pune Warriors India, 2012
Mascarenhas’ dribbly wobbly medium pace was more than effective in this fixture against Pune as he picked up five wickets. Ganguly was his first victim as a leading-edge found the point fielder. Samuels was beaten all ends up in the same over by an in-ducker.
A slower ball resulted in Uthappa’s dismissal and Manhas went back to the pavilion after trying an outrageous sweep shot. Rahul Sharma’s dismissal gave Mascarenhas a fully deserved five-wicket haul.
#1 Ankit Rajpoot vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2018
Rajpoot’s thunderous spell of 5 for 14 against SRH could have made any premium overseas fast bowler envious of him. Such was the ferocity with which he bowled as batsmen were blown away by his pace and bounce. Williamson was dismissed by a mean bouncer while the extra bounce once again got the better of Dhawan. Saha went for a slog but could not time the ball and holed out to Andrew Tye. The best of his five wickets was an inch-perfect yorker to get rid of the well set Manish Pandey.
