The Return of the Kings

An interactive journey through the redemption, records, and raw firepower of the 2018 Indian Premier League, culminating in a fairytale comeback for the Chennai Super Kings.

The Season's Story

IPL 2018 was defined by the return of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. It was a tale of two philosophies: the suffocating bowling of Sunrisers Hyderabad versus the explosive, experienced batting of CSK, which ultimately led to a dramatic and memorable road to the final.

Qualifier 1: CSK's Great Escape

SRH, powered by Carlos Brathwaite's late cameo, set a modest target of 140. In reply, CSK collapsed to 62/6 against SRH's elite bowling, with Rashid Khan conceding only 11 runs. An impossible chase was made possible by Faf du Plessis, who played a heroic innings of 67*, sealing a dramatic two-wicket victory with a six to send CSK directly to the final.

Qualifier 2: The Rashid Khan Show

Forced into a do-or-die match, SRH faced KKR. The game was single-handedly dominated by Rashid Khan. He first smashed a 10-ball 34*, then took 3 crucial wickets for 19 runs, and topped it off with two catches and a run-out. His all-round brilliance dismantled KKR, securing SRH's place in the final.

The Final: Watson's Redemption Century

In the ultimate showdown, SRH set a competitive 178. CSK's chase began nervously, with Shane Watson failing to score off his first 10 balls. He then unleashed one of the greatest innings in an IPL final, smashing an unbeaten 117* off 57 balls. His brutal assault turned the final into a one-sided affair, securing CSK's third IPL title in their comeback season.

Team Performance

The league stage saw SRH and CSK dominate, both finishing with 18 points. SRH clinched the top spot on Net Run Rate, showcasing the power of their bowling, while KKR and RR fought hard to claim the other playoff berths. Explore the final standings below.

Star Players & Award Winners

While team strategy was key, the season was lit up by extraordinary individual brilliance. From classical batting to deceptive bowling and all-round heroics, these players defined excellence in IPL 2018.

Orange Cap

Kane Williamson

SRH

735

Runs

Purple Cap

Andrew Tye

KXIP

24

Wickets

Most Valuable Player

Sunil Narine

KKR

357 Runs

& 17 Wickets

Emerging Player

Rishabh Pant

DD

684

Runs (SR 173.60)

The Record Books Rewritten

The 2018 season was a statistical goldmine, with several long-standing records being shattered. Here are some of the most significant milestones achieved.

FASTEST FIFTY

KL Rahul (KXIP)

14 Balls

vs Delhi Daredevils

HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORE

Rishabh Pant (DD)

128* (63)

vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

BEST BOWLING FIGURES

Ankit Rajpoot (KXIP)

5/14

vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

HIGHEST TEAM TOTAL

Kolkata Knight Riders

245/6

vs Kings XI Punjab

MOST SIXES (INNINGS)

A. Russell & C. Gayle

11 Sixes

Joint Record

UNCAPPED MILESTONE

Suryakumar Yadav (MI)

512 Runs

First uncapped player over 500 runs

Classic Encounters

Beyond the playoffs, the league stage was filled with nail-biting finishes and tactical masterclasses that became instant classics.

The Opener: Bravo's Wankhede Heist

MI vs CSK

The season began with a thriller. Chasing 166, CSK needed 47 from 18 balls. Dwayne Bravo played a blinder (68 off 30), and an injured Kedar Jadhav returned to hit the winning runs on the penultimate ball, sealing an unforgettable one-wicket victory and setting the tone for CSK's comeback.

The Unbreachable Fortress: SRH's Defence

SRH vs MI

A masterclass in T20 bowling. After being bowled out for a paltry 118, an SRH victory seemed impossible. However, their disciplined attack, led by Siddarth Kaul and Rashid Khan, skittled MI for just 87. This 31-run win was the second-lowest total ever defended in IPL history, cementing SRH's reputation as the league's best bowling unit.