Brendon McCullum introduces IPL in style with 158* vs RCB on Apr 18, 2008; watch video

Saturday marks 12-year anniversary of first-ever match of Indian Premier League (IPL). Royal Challengers Bangalore hosted Kolkata Knight Riders at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and cricket was never same again. In very first innings of very first match, Brendon McCullum smoked RCB bowlers for an unbeaten 158* which changed trajectory of IPL forever.

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Brendon McCullum 158 in first-ever match of IPL

Coming to first match of IPL, one knew what to expect from T20 tournament, which was sporting some of biggest names in history of game. In first match, two high profile teams - Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore met in Bengaluru. RCB captain Rahul Dravid won toss and chose to field first. For Knight Riders, ir n captain Sourav Ganguly and New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum opened batting.

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While Ganguly lost his wicket in sixth over, Brendon McCullum kept on batting. After Ganguly, McCullum stitched a 51-run partnership with Ricky Ponting. Kiwi keeper looked at particular ease as he crossed 50-run mark and kept taking RCB bowlers to cleaners.

In 16th over, McCullum took two runs of his 53rd ball and got to his century. first century of IPL. But McCullum did t stop re as his demeaur changed and he furr smashed Jacques Kallis for 21 runs in 19th over. He finally completed KKR innings by smashing Praveen Kumar for 22 runs in 20th over and also bringing up his 150 in process. Brendon McCullum 158 will always remain etched toger in  history of T20 cricket. Here are some highlights of Brendon McCullum 158 kck.

(Video Credit: Soumyashree Das/YouTube)

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McCullum's blitzkrieg in an innings, which consisted of 10 fours and 13 sixes, proved too much for Rahul Dravid's side. Chasing 223, boys from Bangalore crumbled under pressure and highest scorer in whole XI was tail-ender Praveen Kumar, who got 18. For a batting lineup that consisted of Rahul Dravid, Wasim Jaffer, Virat Kohli, Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher, it was quite fascinating to te that  or batsman in whole lineup even crossed 10-run mark. KKR ran through RCB in just 15.1 overs and got m all out for 82. KKR won by 140 runs and Brendon McCullum was Player of Match. 

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In IPL 2008, both teams could t do much as tournament's business end arrived. Royal Challengers Bangalore ended at seventh spot with only four wins. Knight Riders ended up just above m with six wins. Shane Warne's Rajasthan Royals ended up winning inaugural IPL.