IPL 2020 Final: Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals

Lore & Background

The road to the 2020 final was paved with uncertainty for Mumbai Indians. After losing their first two league matches, the team faced questions about their championship pedigree. However, a steady climb through the table saw them enter the playoffs as a cohesive unit, eventually defeating Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 1 to book their spot in the decider.

Delhi Capitals, led by Shreyas Iyer and coached by Ricky Ponting, arrived with momentum after a dominant league phase. Their batting firepower, featuring Rishabh Pant and Prithvi Shaw, looked unstoppable on paper. Yet, the Dubai pitch offered assistance to the bowlers, setting the stage for a tactical battle where execution would trump raw talent.

The match itself became a testament to Mumbai's championship DNA. Trent Boult's opening spell set the tone, while Jasprit Bumrah and Krunal Pandya delivered in the middle overs. The final over, bowled by Hardik Pandya with Mumbai needing 16 runs from 6 balls (a scenario that never fully materialized as Delhi collapsed), remains one of the most tense sequences in IPL history, defined by a crucial catch by Ishan Kishan and a run-out that sealed the fate of the game.

In Their Own Story

The Dubai night was thick with humidity, but the air inside the stadium crackled with a different kind of electricity. On the field, Hardik Pandya stood at the non-striker's end, eyes locked on the bowler. The scoreboard read 16 needed from the final over; Delhi had just lost their way. A single run was taken, then another. The crowd held its breath as the ball spun away to the boundary rope, but it wasn't enough. As the final delivery landed and the wicket fell, the Mumbai dugout erupted. Rohit Sharma didn't wait for the presentation; he simply raised his hand, acknowledging a team that had once again refused to break under the weight of expectation.

Reader's Guide

The occasion was the grand finale of the 2013 Indian Premier League season's thirteenth edition, conducted in the United Arab Emirates due to the global pandemic. Mumbai Indians entered as defending champions for the second consecutive year, while Delhi Capitals sought their maiden title.

Mumbai won the toss and elected to field first. Trent Boult produced a stunning opening spell, dismantling the Delhi top order with three wickets in his four overs, restricting them to 157/8. In reply, Mumbai lost early wickets but found stability in the middle order with contributions from Suryakumar Yadav and Kieron Pollard.

The match is remembered for its nail-biting finish. With just 2 runs needed off the final ball, Delhi's Shikhar Dhawan was run out by a direct hit from Ishan Kishan, sealing a dramatic 5-run victory for Mumbai Indians. This win made them the first team to win four IPL titles, surpassing Chennai Super Kings' record at the time and solidifying their legacy as the 'Kings of the IPL'.

Did You Know?

• This was the first time in IPL history that a team won the title having lost their first two league matches.
• Trent Boult became the first bowler to take three wickets on debut in an IPL final.
• Mumbai Indians became the most successful franchise in IPL history with this fourth title, surpassing Chennai Super Kings' tally of three at that time.
• The match featured a crucial run-out by Ishan Kishan off the final ball, which is often cited as one of the best fielding efforts in a final.