The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the biggest and most richest T20 cricket league and almost players from around the world wants to play in the league as it gives one a big platform for his future.
Batsmen all over the world want to make a name for themselves by playing in IPL and every player dreams to score a century in the league. When a player scores a century, his team’s chances of winning increase. However, there have been many times in the IPL when despite the player scoring a century, his team could not win.
Through this article we are going to discuss about three players whose team lost despite their century but they won the man of the match award.
Yusuf Pathan
In the second match of IPL 2010, Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar won the toss and elected to bat against Rajasthan. With the help of half-centuries from Saurabh Tiwary and Ambati Rayudu, Mumbai set a target of 212 runs in front of Rajasthan Royals for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs.
Chasing the target, Rajasthan Royals lost their 4 wickets within 10 overs. Yusuf Pathan came on to bat when Rajasthan lost their 3 wickets for 40 runs. Yusuf Pathan started hitting big hits against the Mumbai bowlers as soon as he arrived and shared a 107-run partnership with Paras Dogra. Pathan scored 100 runs in just 37 balls. However, after that, he was run out and Rajasthan team lost the match by 4 runs. Pathan was still adjudged the man of the match for his brilliant inning.
Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan another player to be included in this list. Dhawan’s name was included in the list during the IPL 2020 season, when despite his unbeaten innings of 106 runs, his team Delhi still lost the match.
Delhi captain Shreyas Iyer has won the toss and elected to bat and scored 164/5 in 20 overs with the help of Dhawan’s century. In reply, the partnership of Pooran and Maxwell from Punjab strengthened Punjab’s hold on the match. In the end Punjab won the match by 5 wickets. However, despite the team’s defeat, Dhawan was adjudged the man of the match.
Virat Kohli
In the match against Gujarat Lions, Royal Challengers Bangalore’s the then captain Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first. Kohli started his innings aggressively and took advantage of the powerplay to get runs quickly. Kohli continued to bat till the end of the inning and completed the 100-run mark on the last ball of the inning.
With the help of Kohli’s century, RCB set a target of 180 runs in front of Gujarat Lions for the loss of 2 wickets in 20 overs. Chasing the target, Gujarat Lions batted well and won the match losing just 4 wickets. However, despite the team’s defeat, Virat Kohli was adjudged the man of the match.
