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Shaun Marsh Turns 42: Throwback To Ex-KXIP Star's Iconic 115 In IPL 2008 Vs RR

Jatin

Shaun Marsh turns 42 [Source: @PunjabKingsIPL/x.com]Shaun Marsh turns 42 [Source: @PunjabKingsIPL/x.com]

There are hundreds in the IPL and then there is that Shaun Marsh knock in 2008 that made the cricket world sit up and take notice. As the Aussie southpaw celebrates his 42nd birthday, it is only fair we roll back the clock to May 28, 2008, a night where Marsh turned Mohali into his own backyard and played an innings for the ages.

More than a century, it was a statement. A this-is-how-you-boss-a-T20 kind of knock. And it came in the heat of the inaugural IPL season, when nobody quite knew what to expect.

Marsh Wet Berserk In Mohali

Batting first against Rajasthan Royals, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab kings) needed something big. Shaun Marsh delivered bigger than anyone imagined. He started off steady, reading the pitch like a seasoned campaigner. Then came the fireworks. 

The Aussie left-hander unleashed a clean-hitting masterclass, finding gaps at will as he launched seven sixes and peppered the fence 11 times. Whether it was Shane Watson, Siddharth Trivedi, Munaf Patel or Pankaj Singh, Marsh treated them all like throwdown specialists.

He went on to score 50 off just 27 balls before eventually finishing at 115 off just 69 balls. His knock wasn’t just about brute force, it had touch, timing and some trademark Shaun Marsh flair. He batted like a man possessed and when he finally got out in the 20th over, he had already dragged his side to 221/3.

Support Cast Chips In As Yuvraj Goes Beast Mode

James Hopes gave Marsh company early on with a quickfire 51. But the cherry on top? Yuvraj Singh’s brutal 16-ball 49. He walked in like a man in a hurry, smoked sixes for fun and ran out of overs before he could even settle in. It was carnage. Total team assault.

Royals Try But Fail To Chase The Everest

Chasing 222 was always going to be a mountain. Rajasthan tried to climb it but lost too much along the way. Opener Niraj Patel gave it a shot with 57, Yusuf Pathan blasted a crazy 39 off 15 and Kamran Akmal threw his bat around too. But Piyush Chawla spun a web with 3/35 and Hopes chipped in with two wickets as Rajasthan Royals were held to 180/7.

Punjab won by 41 runs. It was a proper thumping. A game where the bat spoke louder than anything else and Marsh was the loudest of them all.

The Start Of Something Big

That knock was the turning point of Marsh’s IPL journey. He ended the 2008 season as the Orange Cap holder with 616 runs in 11 matches at a a strike rate of 139.68, despite missing the early games. His smooth strokeplay, calm temperament and ability to shift gears made him an instant fan favourite.

For a tournament that was all about razzmatazz and high-octane drama, Marsh brought old-school class with new-age aggression. That century was the gold standard.

As Shaun Marsh turns 42 today, that innings remains etched in IPL legend. It was a thunderclap that announced his arrival in the T20 world.