The first part of IPL 2014 was staged in the UAE after Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde refused to provide security for the league as it coincided with the Indian general elections. It later returned to India, with just eight teams competing, following the withdrawal of the Pune Warriors.
Powered by Glenn Maxwell's insane hitting, Kings XI Punjab Kings topped the regular season table, finishing four points ahead of Kolkata Knight Riders, who just edged out Chennai Super Kings on net run rate. The Mumbai Indians just pipped Rajasthan Royals to fourth spot, thanks to a dramatic six from Aditya Tare.
Punjab, the dominant team that year, lost the first Qualifier to KKR by 28 runs in Kolkata. Meanwhile, Chennai saw off Mumbai by seven wickets in the Eliminator, to set up a meeting with Punjab in the Second Qualifier. Punjab won that by 24 runs to set-up a rematch with Kolkata in the final, which took place that year in Bengaluru.
Kolkata won the toss, chose to field, and took two early wickets. The decision still seemed questionable when Wriddhiman Saha and Manan Vohra put on 129 for the third wicket. Vohra fell for 67, but Saha continued on his way, adding 40 off the last 23 balls, hogging the strike. He finished unbeaten on 115 (the first hundred in an IPL final), scored off just 55 balls, with his innings featuring eight sixes and 10 fours, helping his side finish on 199/4, a seemingly tough target to chase.
However, Kolkata judged their run chase to perfection. They were led by Manish Pandey, who made 94, which included six sixes, while Yusuf Pathan (38) and captain Gautam Gambhir (23) provided valuable support.
When Suryakumar Yadav became the seventh wicket to fall at the start of the 19th over, Kolkata still needed 13 to win. But Piyush Chawla and Sunil Narine kept their heads to guide them to a win with three balls to spare.
It was the second time in three years that Kolkata had won the title (that remains their last trophy victory as well).
Saha did, at least, have the consolation of being named Player of the Match, even if his efforts had been in vain.