There have been a lot of batters over the 15 years of the IPL who have hit hundreds in the tournament in the 15 years that it has been going on for. However there are one hundred over those 15 years that all IPL fans as well as the powers that be are thankful that it took place so that the IPL could be where it is today. No matter how many Hundreds that the batters score in the IPL this one will be the most special.
The innings that is being talked about is the 158* by Brendon McCullum that he hit in the first match of the IPL in 2008. That innings will be the most special hundred for all IPL fans because that incredible innings helped the IPL get the perfect start and it took off instantly.
Check here Best Innings of Brendon McCullum
Let’s look at that innings and the importance of it:
Brendon McCullum started the IPL in style
It was the first match in the history of the IPL in 2008 and it was a totally new concept and nobody knew what would happen and how this new tournament would go. And the first match was KKR vs RCB at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore and KKR were batting first. Brendon McCullum came out to bat and it looked like it was his day as he miscued a shot that went over third man for six. After that there was no looking back for Brendon McCullum that night and he would play the best innings of his life. Even the RCB fans who hated the outcome were thankful in the long run because of his innings there was an IPL to look forward to each year.
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The Chinnaswamy Stadium was lit up with fours and sixes
After the initial luck that Brendon McCullum had , it was time for the real show as Brendon McCullum started hitting fours and sixes all around the world. He hit each bowler out of the ground and hit a total of 13 sixes in the innings and also he hit 12 hours which meant 78 runs in sixes and 48 runs in boundaries. He hit success through the off side and the leg side and the sixes he hit were hit in the second tier and even legends like Anil Kumble and Jacques Kallis were not spared at all. He played a total of 66 balls and he hit 158* runs and that was the highest score in this format and he had this record for a number of years.
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The importance of that innings
The importance of this innings was just more than that just a particular match and everyone knew how big that innings was because to take off the IPL needed such an extraordinary innings and only a batter the caliber of Brendon McCullum could pull off this feat. He hit reverse sweeps for six and he hit scoop shots for sixes and it was a party atmosphere. The BCCI was enjoying every shot as they knew their crores of investment into this league had paid off just by the innings played by Brendon McCullum and nobody has forgotten this innings and Brendon McCullum gets thanks even after 15 years for helping the IPL take off like a rocket. There have been very few era defining innings that have been played and the 158* will always be remembered even after Brendon McCullum is not here with everyone.
Also Read: Talking about the 183 by Virat Kohli vs Pakistan in 2012
