One would normally relate a proficient hat-trick with the finest of worldwide bowlers. But do you know India's exceptionally claim "Hitman" Rohit Sharma contains a hat-trick against Mumbai Indians - the team he would go on to lead to a record five titles?
Getting three batsmen out of successive deliveries requires monstrous exactness and concentration. Yuvraj Singh, however, made it all appear like a cakewalk when he picked up two hat-tricks within the same season!
In the 2nd phase of IPL 2021, we have compiled the list of all hat-tricks in the IPL.
1. 2008 (Lakshmipathy Balaji, Amit Mishra, Makhaya Ntini)
The inaugural version of the IPL saw three players bag hat-tricks. Balaji carved his title within the history books when he became the primary player to induce a hat-trick within the cash-rich league against Punjab Kings (PBKS).
After Delhi Capitals' Mishra got the primary of his three IPL hat-tricks against Deccan Chargers, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) quick bowler Ntini too picked up a hat-trick against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
2. 2009 (Yuvraj Singh (x2), Rohit Sharma)
The 2009 edition had the same hat-trick count as the inaugural edition but this time it was not by three separate players.
PBKS' Yuvraj bagged two hat-tricks on two separate occasions in the tournament. The first one came against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) albeit in a losing cause. His second hat-trick against the Chargers, however, helped his side across the line.
The second player to get a hat-trick in 2009 was Rohit, which might be the most out-of-place name in this list. Known for his explosive batting, not many would have predicted the "Hitman" to get a hat-trick. A Chargers player at the time, he got his hat-trick against MI, a team he would go on to lead to five IPL titles in later years.
3. 2010 (Praveen Kumar)
The 2010 edition saw only one hat-trick, grabbed by RCB's Kumar. It came against Rajasthan Royals (RR), which bundled out for 92 on the night. Bangalore, unfazed, chased down the target easily.
4. 2011 (Amit Mishra)
The undisputed king of IPL hat-tricks, Mishra got his second in 2011 against PBKS. Then with the Chargers, Mishra’s magic with the ball helped the side thump Punjab by 82 runs.
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5. 2012 (Ajit Chandila)
The 2012 version of the IPL moreover had one hat-trick like it’s going before, which was snaffled up by Chandila of RR against the Pune Warriors India (PWI).
In a tense capability fight for the playoffs, Chandila’s hat-trick made a difference for Rajasthan effectively protecting its total of 170.
The promising spinner afterward got involved in a spot-fixing embarrassment and was prohibited for life by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
6. 2013 (Amit Mishra, Sunil Narine)
In the colours of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in 2013, Mishra made headlines yet again for being the only player with three hat-tricks in the IPL. KKR mystery-spinner Sunil Narine also got his first and only hat-trick in the T20 extravaganza against Punjab but it went in vain.
7. 2014 (Pravin Tambe, Shane Watson)
IPL 2014 recorded two hat-tricks by players of the same franchise.
The to begin with one was RR leg-spinner Tambe's against KKR. He made a difference, thrust Kolkata’s chase off course and permitted Rajasthan to script a victory.
The second one, bagged by Watson against SRH, wasn't sufficient as Hyderabad showed a few fabulous exhibitions itself and guarded its total of 134 by bowling out RR for 102.
8. 2016 (Axar Patel)
Axar was the talk of the town after the recently-concluded Test series between India and England when he picked up an astounding 27 wickets in four Tests.
In the 2016 edition of the IPL, he not only took a hat-trick but also grabbed eyeballs with a four-for in just five balls against Gujarat Lions (GL).
9. 2017 (Samuel Badree, Andrew Tye and Jaydev Unadkat)
The IPL saw three hat-tricks in a single season for only the second time in 2017. Badree’s four-wicket haul was the first one but it came in a losing cause as RCB failed to defend a total of 142.
Tye bagged the second hat-trick for GL against Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS). The final hat-trick of the season was scalped by Unadkat against SRH.
10. 2019 (Sam Curran, Shreyas Gopal)
PBKS player Curran pocketed the first hat-trick of the 2019 edition, which helped his team beat Delhi in a low-scoring thriller.
In a match where rain played spoilsport, Gopal’s hat-trick against RCB made him the 19th player to get a hat-trick in the IPL.
11. 2021 (Harshal Patel)
Harshal Patel bagged the first hat-trick of IPL 2021 as he led RCB to its first win of the second leg in UAE against Mumbai Indians. Harshal finished with figures of 4/15. He took the prized scalps of Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard and Rahul Chahar.
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