The IPL 2022 came to a close in some style. The glitz and glamour of the closing ceremony aside, Gujarat Titans’ sensational victory in front of home fans at Ahmedabad would ensure that the locals filed out of the giant bowl beside themselves in glee. It still does not save the final from ultimately disappointing the neutrals. With Rajasthan Royals folding under pressure, the lack of death over drama leaves the appetite unsatiated. However, a glance through the 2022 catalogue of the tournament throws up nerve shredders by the bagful. With many to pick from, we choose the five games that had us on the edge and beyond: 

1. Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians

Chasing 162, KKR were in all sorts of bother at 101/5 in 14 overs. Enter Pat Cummins! Known for his bowling prowess, the Australian captain would wield the bat to splendid effect. Creaming 4 fours and 6 sixes, he racked up a ludicrous 15 ball-56 as the Knight Riders ultimately cantered to a five-wicket win with 24 balls to spare.  

Also Read: Pandya’s record in IPL finals tilts scales in Titans’ favour vs Royals

2. Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings

Run chases have a bizarre quality, especially in the shortest format. A side can be well behind the curve, but a few overs of ball-striking can land you in the right places. Carlos Brathwaite did it to famous effect when he scythed 4 sixes off a Ben Stokes final over in a WC T20 final. Rahul Tewatia would channel that same energy against PBKS. Set an imposing 190 to win, the Titans would go into the final over requiring 19 to win. Gujarat captain and starboy Hardik Pandya was dismissed off the first legal delivery of Odeon Smith’s over. Six runs were scraped together in the next three balls, leaving them with 12 to get off two! Improbable as it sounds, Tewatia found the sweetest spots on his willow, launching two maximums to guide his team home. 

3. Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings

The champions feature heavily on the list, making it a habit to scale improbable run chases. Set 17 to win on a tricky Brabourne surface, the Titans would stumble to 87/5 in 13 overs. Rashid Khan would join a rampaging Miller at the crease, with clear instructions to stick by the South African’s side. The duo would blitz 70 runs off 30 deliveries, before wily West Indian, Dwayne Bravo packed him off to the pavilion. Miller would continue unperturbed, knocking off the remaining runs with a ball to spare. The batsman’s match-winning 94* left CSK reeling in its aftermath. 

Also Read: Unsold to unstoppable: The David Miller story

4. Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings 

A dust-up involving the two most successful sides and this season’s bottom dwellers was heavy on nostalgia. It has been years since Dhoni last helmed a chase. With the odds stacked against CSK, MSD would drop into his reserves to summon one final charge. Needing 17 off six balls, and 16 off 4 when he received strike, the old fox would go 6,4,2,4 to deliver a last-ball win for the Super Kings. 

5. Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals, Qualifier 1 

While the final was low on drama, their previous encounter was doused in that heady concoction. Jos Buttler’s late charge helped the Royals post a healthy 188. Starting slowly, the Englishman took to the Titans bowling in the second half of the RR innings, sending the Eden crowd into raptures with an 89 off 56 balls. The Titans started brightly, but some tight bowling in the middle overs brought the Royals back into the game. Requiring 16 off the last over, David Miller would launch three sixes off Prasidh Krishna’s first three deliveries, stunning the Royals as a result.