IPL is the world’s grandest T20 league, and it is the dream of every batter to score a century in the Indian Premier League once. However, not every batter can achieve the feat. On some occasions, a well-set batter loses his wicket just near his 100, while there have also been instances of a player being stranded in his 90s.
It is also important for the non-striker to give the strike to the batter who is close to his 100, when the match is in the team’s hands, and the batter can complete his century. There have been two such instances when the partner defended a delivery and gave the strike to the other batter so that he could complete his century.
A century was completed on one occasion, while it didn’t happen on another. Here is the list of the two instances.
1. Sanju Samson defends a ball to help Yashasvi Jaiswal try and complete his 100, IPL 2023
In the latest IPL 2023 match between the Rajasthan Royals and the Kolkata Knight Riders, KKR set a 150-run target for RR at the Eden Gardens. RR got off to a fantastic start, with Yashasvi Jaiswal blasting a 13-ball half-century. Jaiswal was near his 100, but RR only needed runs in single digits.
Jaiswal was on 93, when the Rajasthan Royals needed only four runs to win. Jaiswal then took a single and brought Sanju Samson on strike. Suyash Sharma was the bowler, and Samson played the perfect defense on the next ball to help Jaiswal reach his 100. Jaiswal could not hit a six though. He hit a four and remained not out on 98*.
2. Virat Kohli defends a delivery for Chris Gayle
A similar incident in another match involving KKR. Chris Gayle was near his 100 while playing for RCB. Gayle was 98 when RCB needed two runs for a win. Iqbal Abdulla bowled a wide on the last ball of the 18th over. Virat then played the perfect solid defense on the next ball.
Gayle came on strike for the next over. He hit a four off the first ball bowled by Shakib Al Hasan and remained not out on 102.
