In 2012, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) became the fourth franchise – after Rajasthan Royals, Deccan Chargers and Chennai Super Kings – to win the IPL.
They had finished second in the regular season table, behind the Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) but ahead of the Mumbai Indians and defending champions Chennai.
That meant they faced Delhi in the first Qualifier and beat them by 18 runs to book their place in their first final. Chennai then beat Mumbai by 38 runs and Delhi by 86 runs to get their chance to defend the title they had won a year earlier.
They had the advantage of playing the match in front of their home fans as well, at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, Chennai.
When they won the toss and chose to bat first, it seemed like the vast majority of the capacity crowd would get the victory they had paid to see.
Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay (Player of the Match in the final the previous year) put on 87 for the first wicket. Vijay fell for 42, but Hussey and Suresh Raina then added 73 more before Hussey fell for 54. There was still time for M.S. Dhoni to produce a quick cameo. Although Raina fell off the last ball for a 38-ball 73, an innings that contained five sixes, 191 looked a tough score to chase on that pitch.
When Kolkata lost captain Gautam Gambhir in the first over, it looked to be even more of an uphill struggle.
But Manvinder Bisla and Jacques Kallis had other ideas. They shared a stand of 136 for the second wicket that brought Kolkata right back into contention. Bisla made 89 off only 48 balls, including five sixes and eight fours. After his departure, Kallis stood firm amidst a flurry of wickets until he fell for 69.
In in a tense finish, Shakib Al Hasan and Manoj Tiwary kept their nerve, and they got home with two balls to spare. Bisla’s performance earned him the Player of the Match award.