The 54 days huge celebration of IPL 2013 has come to an end with Mumbai Indians as the Champions. Though
the league ends, the off-field controversies still persist and this season of
IPL will be better remembered
for it. Mumbai Indians finally seized their maiden Pepsi Indian Premier League
title beating Chennai
Super Kings by 23 runs in the final. This has brought the curtains down on yet another phase of glorious
career of Sachin Tendulkar who bids adieu to IPL. Mumbai Indians' captain Rohit
Sharma dedicates
this IPL title to Sachin Tendulkar and everyone felt that Sachin will never get
a better farewell than this.
"I
have waited 21 years to win the first World Cup and six years for the IPL. It
has been a great and memorable journey
with the team," said Tendulkar.
Three
days back, Dravid had announced his retirement from the IPL after his side
Rajasthan Royals lost to
Mumbai Indians in the play-off. Dravid, in his last IPL, showed his class yet
again. He led the team
to third place and into Champions League T20, which will be his last tournament
as a professional player.
Few
days ago, Australian legend Adam Gilchrist also announced his decision to quit
playing the tournament.
To everyone’s surprise, he bowled and ended his career with a first ball wicket.
Fair Play Award - Chennai
Super Kings
Orange Cap - Michael Hussey
Purple Cap - Dwayne Bravo
Best young player of the tournament - Sanju
Samson
Catch of the tournament - Gurkeerat Singh
Some
great team and individual performances charmed cricket lovers all over the world. Chris Gayle took madness to another level when he murdered the PWI's bowling
attack.
Kings
XI Punjab’s David Miller left Bangalore shell shocked with his sensational 38-ball
101.
Michael
Hussey (733 at 52.35 in 17 matches in 2013) and Chris Gayle (733 at 61.08 in 15
games in 2012) share
a record for the highest runs tally in an IPL competition.
Dwayne
Bravo has become the first bowler to bag 30 wickets in an IPL season with 32
wickets at an average
of 15.53.
James
Faulkner took two five-wicket hauls, a first in IPL history who finished with
28 wickets.
Dinesh
Karthik has become the first wicketkeeper to reach 500 runs in an IPL season,
aggregating 510 at an
average of 28.33 in 19 matches.
The
IPL T20 has been dominated by Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne
Smith, Kevon Cooper,
Sunil Narine, Dareen Sammy, Ravi Rampaul and the list goes on which clearly shows
the domination
of West Indies players.
My best XI of IPL 2013: Gayle, Hussey, Kohli,
Watson, Miller, Dhoni, Pollard, Steyn, Faulkner, Malinga and
Narine, with Bravo as 12th man.
