IPL playoffs is the most exciting phase of a season. The top four teams of the league stage make it to the playoffs, and out of those four franchises, one emerges as the champions. The first target of every team when the season starts is to qualify for the playoffs, but only four of them can make it to that stage.
The playoffs phase was introduced in the 2011 season. Since then, every year, the playoffs have been unique. However, this year’s playoffs were quite similar to the one which took place in the IPL 2014 season. Here’s a list of five unnoticed coincidences.
1. An incredible cameo in Qualifier 2 of IPL playoffs 2014 and 2023
Suresh Raina played an excellent cameo of 87 runs off 25 balls for CSK against PBKS in the Qualifier 2 of 2014. Similarly, Tilak Varma smacked 43 runs off just 14 balls for MI against GT in Qualifier 2 of 2023.
2. Top 2 teams played in final of 2014 and 2023
Top 2 teams of IPL 2014 league stage, namely Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders made it to final, and in 2023, Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans made it to the final. Both teams played Qualifier 1 as well, where tabletopper won.
3. Century by tabletopper team’s opener in Qualifier 2 match
Virender Sehwag blasted a ton for the Punjab Kings against the CSK team in Qualifier 2. Similarly, Shubman Gill scored 129 runs for Gujarat Titans against Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 of 2023.
4. Team that finished 2nd won 2nd title in 3 years
Kolkata Knight Riders finished 2nd in points table of 2014. They were the champions in 2012 and they won it again in 2014. Similarly, CSK finished 2nd in points table of 2023. They won the title in 2021 and won it again in 2023.
5. Mumbai Indians finished 4th in points table
Mumbai Indians qualified for the playoffs on the final day of the league stage in 2014, with Rajasthan Royals finishing fifth. The same thing repeated in 2023 as well.
