Shardul Thakur and Lasith Malinga (Source: @IPL/X.com)
On August 28th every year, Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lankan great, celebrates his birthday, as this year, in 2025, Malinga turns 42. That's why we're looking back at the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) finale, which Malinga and the Mumbai Indians (MI) championed.
Deepak Chahar's Four-Fer Restricts MI To 149
It was the iconic final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019, happening at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. The Mumbai Indians side batted first and could only score 149 after the end of the 20 overs, as Kieron Pollard scored a brisk 41 not out of 25 deliveries, with three maximums to his name.
For the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the star of the show was Deepak Chahar with the ball, picking up three wickets for just 26 runs in his four overs. At the halfway mark, 149 looked a meagre target score, as 150 in 20 overs is comparatively easily chaseable.
However, what was about to follow, CSK could not have imagined in their wildest dreams. A target that looked so meagre, but for the fact that the daunting finale would play so heavily on their minds, was something they might not have been aware of. The pressure of the finale and playing against a tough opposition definitely played on their minds.
Shane Watson's Super Effort Takes CSK-MI Thriller To Final Over
Chasing 150 for victory, Super Kings' openers walked out in Faf Du Plessis and Shane Watson. Du Plessis departed for 26 after scoring 30. Following this, CSK lost some quick wickets. However, there was one man who stood tall against the MI bowling lineup, and the name was Watson.
He kept thrashing boundaries, one after the other, despite having a huge cut on his knees, as he was bleeding while batting. At one stage, the game was looking in the grasp of CSK, as they only required 17 runs in the last 11 deliveries. However, it was the finale, and the game changed all of a sudden with twists and turns more than anyone could have imagined.
Final Over Drama As Lasith Malinga Signs Off With Glory
Then came the last over. The Super Kings required just nine for victory, with Watson on strike, and the ace Lasith Malinga handed over the ball. Prior to this over, Malinga had gone for 42 runs in his three overs without much success.
The first ball went for a single, and so did the second. In contrast, the third ball saw a couple of runs coming from Watson's bat.
With the last three deliveries, CSK only needed five. However, Watson (80) got run out, as Super Kings could manage just one run off that delivery. Now, the Super Kings needed four off two. Shardul Thakur, who was new at the crease, found a full toss, which he clipped for a double.
Then came one of the biggest moments not just in this IPL, but in the IPL history. Thakur, who was looking to gather another double, as just two were required for victory, couldn't manage to even put his bat down on time, as Malinga bowled a wily, slower yorker that hit right in front of him and crashed on his boot.
All the MI players and fans went up for the appeal, and in reply, the umpire raised his finger instantly as Malinga went up in jubilation.
A huge applause followed as Thakur immediately went up for the review, only to be disappointed, as it showed three reds. The event couldn't have been bigger, and it couldn't have been more perfect for Malinga, who was featuring in his last ever IPL game, as it turned out a fairy tale finish to his iconic Mumbai Indians and IPL career.
Thanks to Malinga, the Mumbai Indians earned their fourth title in IPL history, having previously reached the milestone previously in 2013, 2015, and 2017, respectively.
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