The most intense IPL rivalries over the years

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one annual spectacle that is awaited by fans of the cricketing world religiously. Apart from the 10 teams and their performances, people also await the moments when the most popular IPL rivalries happen and players from these teams face off against each other in a fiery match. Here's a track of the most popular IPL rivalries and when and how they began.Image credits: TOI

If there's a match that IPL fans are sure to see with bated breaths, it's a match between MI and CSK. The battle between these teams, often dubbed as 'El Classico, ' began during the first-ever season of IPL when CSK defeated MI by 6 runs in a thrilling chase. The two teams have faced each other on the field 38 times in the IPL, which is the most number of times any IPL teams have played against each other. Some of the most memorable matches between these two competitors were the 2013 IPL Final, when MI defeated CSK and won their first IPL trophy, and the 2019 IPL Final, when MI defeated CSK by one run.

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While RCB boasts talented individual players who are some of the most successful personas of the league, KKR is known for its team-focused success. The rivalry began in the 2008 opening game itself when Brendon McCullum hit an explosive 158 against RCB, and KKR won the match. Following this was the most memorable 2019 match when KKR bowled out RCB for just 49 runs, the lowest in total IPL history. Image credits: Getty Images

When it comes to the history of rivalry between the Punjab Kings and the Rajasthan Royals, it's all about the thrill. Matches between these two teams can be extremely unpredictable and keep the viewers on the edge of their seats. This rivalry also began in the inaugural season when RR defeated Kings XI Punjab and won the season. This was followed by the 2020 match when Rahul Tewatia's five sixes helped RR chase down 223 runs and make a record for one of the most successful run chases in the history of IPL.

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The rivalry between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore began post-2013 and is now one of the most awaited competitions ever. Their history is marked by the 2016 final when SRH defeated RCB and won their first maiden title. While SRH has been helmed by names such as David Warner and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, RCB, of course, rises to power with Virat Kohli and Yuzvendra Chahal.

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