Top 5 batsmen who played the biggest innings on IPL debut

It is a dream of many cricketers to play in the Indian Premier League. Every cricketer around the world wants to make a big name for themselves by playing in this popular T20 league. Debuting in IPL is not that easy because a player has to be very talented to make a debut in IPL and it is not that easy to score runs in the very first match of this league.

But few players played big innings in their debut match and proved themselves in IPL. We will tell you about those 5 batsmen who played the biggest innings on their IPL debut.

5. James Hopes - 71 runs

James Hopes comes at the no.5 position in terms of playing the biggest innings on their IPL debut. In the first IPL season, a match was played between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab. Chennai scored 240 runs with the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs. Chasing a big target of 241 runs, KXIP only scored 207 runs with the loss of 6 wickets and CSK won that match by 33 runs. Hopes scored 71 runs in 33 balls. He hit 12 fours and 3 sixes during his brilliant innings. 

4. Graeme Smith - 71 runs

South African star batsman Graeme Smith played his first IPL season in 2008 for Rajasthan Royals. He made his IPL debut on 24 April 2008 against Deccan Chargers at the Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad. Deccan Chargers scored 214 runs with the loss of 5 wickets in 20 overs. Smith scored 71 runs in 45 balls and gave a good start to the Royals. He smashed 10 fours and 3 sixes during his innings.

Rajasthan won that match in 19.5 overs with 3 wickets left in hand. Smith’s 71 runs innings came at no.4 in the list of biggest innings by batsmen on IPL debut.

3. Shaun Marsh - 84* runs

Shaun Marsh won the orange cap in IPL 2008. He played 11 matches in that season and scored 616 runs with an impressive average of 68.44. He scored unbeaten 84 runs in 62 balls and smashed 11 fours and 1 six during his innings. Deccan Chargers scored 164 runs in 20 overs. Shaun Marsh’s brilliant performance helped KXIP to win that match in 18.5 overs. 

2. Mike Hussey - 116* runs

On 9 April 2008, a match was played between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings. Hussey who was on debut for Chennai Super Kings in that match played shots all around the park. Hussey scored unbeaten 116 runs in 54 balls and hit 8 fours and 9 sixes during his blistering innings. CSK scored 240 runs in 20 overs. Chasing the target of 241 runs Punjab only managed to score 207 runs. Mike Hussey was named 'Man of the match for his brilliant innings.

1. Brendon McCullum - 158* runs

Brendon McCullum comes at the number one spot in terms of playing the biggest innings on debut in IPL history. The first match of this popular T20 league was played on 8 April 2008 between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders. McCullum, who came to open for KKR, played an unbeaten inning of 158 runs in 73 balls. Brendon McCullum smashed 10 fours and 13 sixes from his bat.

KKR posted 222 runs in 20 overs. Chasing a big target of 223 runs RCB managed to score only 82 runs and KKR won that match by 140 runs. Brendon McCullum was named ‘Man of the match for his amazing knock.