On this day in 2012, the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium witnessed one of the most thrilling encounters in the Indian Premier League as Kolkata Knight Riders edged past the Chennai Super Kings by five wickets, post a cliffhanger in the summit clash.

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Chasing 191 runs for the coveted trophy, Manvinder Bisla and Jacques Kallis stitched a second-wicket partnership of 136 runs to lay a solid foundation for the middle order. The wicket-keeper batsman produced one of his blistering innings of 89 off 48 deliveries on a night that mattered the most.

With a plethora of stars on both sides, the youngster smashed the bowlers all around the park with eight fours and five maximums en-route to his match-winning innings.

With nine runs needed off the final over, the cricket frenzy fans were in for a nail-biting end to this mega event. Months of tireless efforts and sheer dedication all through the competition boiled down on the shoulders of Shakib Al Hasan and the Manoj Tiwary to take the side through to the finish line.

The fourth ball of the final over, Manoj Tiwary executed a perfect pull shot for a boundary through square leg off Dwayne Bravo to create history for the Knight Riders.

As the boys in Purple and Gold rallied together at the Chepauk, the world of cricket too joined in the celebrations as it marked a new chapter in the glorious history of the Indian Premier League.

Let us relive some of the iconic performances in the victorious Journey of our Knights:


Glimpses of a star in the making

One of the mainstays in the Knight Rider's bowling unit, Sunil Narine, made his debut for the Purple and Gold in a league match on 8th April against the Rajasthan Royals. Within a week, the mystery spinner created massive impact in the tournament as he picked his first of the many five-wicket hauls in the competition against Punjab Kings at the Eden Gardens.

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His figures of 5 for 19 in four overs helped the home team restrict the opposition for 134 runs in the first innings. The innings showcased glimpses of a star in the making, especially in the shortest format of the game.

Eden Garden's witness a masterclass from the skipper

The capacity crowd at the Eden Gardens were enthralled by a sublime knock from skipper Gautam Gambhir in Match 38 against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

With their last league game against the Deccan Chargers abandoned due to rain, the Knight Riders stepped onto the field with four wins in their eight encounters.

After winning the toss, Gambhir led from the front to score a destructive knock of 93 runs from 51 deliveries to propel the team to a mammoth total of 190 runs in the first innings.

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The innings studded with nine fours and five sixes helped the home team register a comprehensive 47 run win.

Havoc at Wankhede courtesy of Sunil Narine

With eight wins in the 14 league matches until this point, KKR stepped onto the field with an aim to secure a place in the playoff against arch-rivals Mumbai Indians.

Defending a modest total of 140 runs, Sunil Narine crippled the batting unit of the Mumbai Indians by scalping four wickets for 15 runs in 3.1 overs.

WATCH Narine’s Spell Here:
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The four wickets also included the prized scalp of Sachin Tendulkar and helped the Knight Riders bundle out the opposition for 108 runs.

A clinical performance by the visiting side and a 32 run resounding victory helped seal their place in the playoff of this high voltage tournament.

Yusuf Pathan blitz helps Knights inch closer to the summit clash

The middle order of the Knight Riders struggled in the initial games of the season. However, time and again, Gautam Gambhir vouched his support, saying they will click at the right time.

And, there could not have been a better time for the middle order to unleash their flurry of strokes as Yusuf Pathan played a destructive inning at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune against the Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 1.

After electing to bat first, the Knights were in a spot of bother after scoring 91 for the loss of three wickets under 14 overs. However, a blistering knock from Yusuf Pathan and contributions from Laxmi Ratan Shukla in the final overs of the innings ensured the team recorded 162 runs in their innings.

The Baroda all-rounder smashed three boundaries and two maximums en-route his knock of an unbeaten 40 off 21 balls on a tricky wicket.

The runs proved to be vital in the context of the game and enabled the Knights to storm into the summit clash by 18 runs and inch a step closer to their dream.