IPL 2017 Final vs RPS

Lore & Background

Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to bat first. Jaydev Unadkat and Adam Zampa took key wickets as Mumbai crumbled to 79-7 but a late surge from Krunal Pandya meant that Mumbai finished with a slightly below par score of 129–8. RPS looked comfortable after the powerplay but over-cautious batting cost them dearly. Ajinkya Rahane scored runs easily but captain Steve Smith struggled and things took a turn when Rahane got out for 44. MS Dhoni arrived but was quickly removed for 10 and Pune were left requiring 11 runs from the last over with Smith and Manoj Tiwary at the crease. Tiwary hit a four on the first ball off Mitchell Johnson's bowling and RPS looked to have the trophy in the bag. But Smith and Tiwary got out off consecutive deliveries which left RPS requiring 7 runs from 3 balls. A single from Washington Sundar and a double from Daniel Christian meant RPS required 4 runs from the last ball. Unfortunately, RPS could only complete two runs before Sundar was run out. Thus, Mumbai Indians won by 1 run to get their 3rd IPL title.

In Their Own Story

The humidity in Hyderabad hung heavy as the final ball approached. Rohit Sharma stood at the non-striker's end, his eyes locked on the bowler, while Krunal Pandya faced the delivery with a calm that belied the chaos around him. The crowd roared, a mix of hope and dread, as the fielders closed in. The bowler ran in, delivered a yorker, and Pandya swung hard. The ball soared over deep mid-wicket, clearing the boundary rope by inches. In that split second, the stadium erupted, and Mumbai Indians had once again conquered the IPL.

Reader's Guide

The match saw 14 wickets fall in total (8 for Mumbai Indians and 6 for Rising Pune Supergiant). Krunal Pandya did not hit a six off the last ball of the innings; he was dismissed in the 19th over and the last ball was bowled to Mitchell Johnson.

Did You Know?

• This was Rising Pune Supergiant's last game in the IPL.
• RPS had beaten Mumbai Indians on all three meetings in the season before the final.
• Mumbai Indians won by 1 run to get their 3rd IPL title.

Origins and Temporary Mandate

The Rising Pune Supergiant emerged as a unique, two-season entity within the Indian Premier League landscape, serving as a direct replacement for franchises suspended due to betting scandals. Owned by the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, the team was officially unveiled in Kolkata on January 18, 2016, with Raghu Iyer appointed as CEO. Alongside the Gujarat Lions, RPS filled the void left by Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals for the 2016 and 2017 tournaments. The franchise was deeply rooted in Pune, Maharashtra, utilizing the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium as its primary home ground, though severe drought conditions and subsequent legal interventions forced a temporary relocation of matches to Vishakhapatnam during their inaugural season. Despite initial struggles to establish dominance, the team successfully navigated its brief existence, culminating in a dramatic run to the 2017 final before being disbanded when the original franchises returned in 2018.

The 2016 Rollercoaster Campaign

RPS's debut season was characterized by extreme volatility and narrow escapes. They began spectacularly with a convincing nine-wicket victory over defending champions Mumbai Indians, only to suffer four consecutive defeats that threatened their standing. The team found brief redemption through strategic player inclusions like Ashok Dinda and Australian batsmen Usman Khawaja and George Bailey, securing crucial wins against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Daredevils. However, the season's most defining moment occurred in their final league match against Kings XI Punjab. After falling behind with only two balls remaining and needing 12 runs, Dhoni smashed two consecutive sixes to secure a victory that saved the team from the bottom of the table. Despite these highs, they finished seventh overall, winning just five of fourteen matches.

The Historic 2017 Run

The 2017 season marked RPS's zenith, driven by significant strategic shifts and high-profile acquisitions. The franchise rebranded to 'Rising Pune Supergiant' (singular) in March 2017 and appointed Steve Smith as captain alongside MS Dhoni. A record-breaking auction purchase of Ben Stokes for ₹14.5 Crore proved pivotal, complemented by the late addition of Imran Tahir, who became a match-winner with 18 wickets. After a shaky start mirroring their previous year, the team found rhythm, winning seven of eight crucial matches to qualify for the playoffs. They defeated Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 1 thanks to Washington Sundar's career-best bowling figures and a composed batting display. This momentum carried them into the final against Mumbai Indians at Hyderabad, where they held a psychological advantage having won all three prior league encounters.

Legacy and Franchise Evolution

The Rising Pune Supergiant concluded its IPL journey in heartbreaking fashion during the 2017 Final. Despite a solid start by Ajinkya Rahane, the collapse accelerated when captain Steve Smith struggled and MS Dhoni was dismissed quickly for just 10 runs. The team ultimately lost by a single run in their very last match, marking the end of their two-year tenure as the league returned to its original structure. However, the legacy of the franchise's ownership endured; the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group later secured a permanent spot in the IPL ecosystem by acquiring the Lucknow Super Giants in February 2022. This new franchise now stands among the league's ten teams, continuing the owner's commitment to the sport long after RPS was disbanded.