IPL 2018: Overview, Final Scorecard, Match List, First Match, and Orange Cap Holder

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018, also known as Vivo IPL 2018, was the 11th season of the world’s most popular T20 cricket league. Held from April 7 to May 27, 2018, it marked the return of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) after a two-year suspension. With the tagline “Best vs Best”, IPL 2018 delivered high-octane cricket action, culminating in a memorable final. In this article, we dive into the IPL 2018 final, its scorecard, the complete match list, the first match, and the Orange Cap holder for the season.

IPL 2018 Overview

The 2018 IPL season featured eight teams: Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Mumbai Indians (MI), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Delhi Daredevils (DD) (now Delhi Capitals), and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) (now Punjab Kings). The season was broadcast globally, with Star Sports securing media rights for ₹16,347.5 crore. A total of 60 matches were played across various venues in India, showcasing top-tier talent and thrilling moments.

IPL 2018 Final: Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

The IPL 2018 final took place on May 27, 2018, at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. It was a clash between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, with CSK emerging victorious by 8 wickets to claim their third IPL title. The match, played at 19:00 IST (a first for IPL finals), saw Shane Watson deliver a match-defining performance.

Key Highlights of the IPL 2018 Final

Toss: Sunrisers Hyderabad won the toss and elected to bat first.
SRH Innings: SRH posted a competitive 178/6 in 20 overs, thanks to contributions from Yusuf Pathan (45 off 25)* and Kane Williamson (47 off 36). CSK’s Karn Sharma took 2 wickets.
CSK Innings: Chasing 179, CSK lost Faf du Plessis early but a 117-run partnership between Shane Watson (117 off 57)* and Suresh Raina (32 off 24) sealed the chase. Ambati Rayudu hit the winning runs.
Player of the Match: Shane Watson for his unbeaten century (117*).

CSK’s clinical performance under MS Dhoni’s leadership marked a triumphant return, cementing their legacy as one of the most successful IPL franchises.

IPL 2018 Final Scorecard

Here’s the detailed scorecard for the IPL 2018 final:

Sunrisers Hyderabad Innings (178/6, 20 overs)

Batsman	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
Shikhar Dhawan	26	25	2	1	104.00
Kane Williamson (c)	47	36	5	2	130.55
Shakib Al Hasan	23	15	2	1	153.33
Yusuf Pathan	45*	25	4	2	180.00
Deepak Hooda	3	4	0	0	75.00
Carlos Brathwaite	21	11	0	3	190.90
Bhuvneshwar Kumar	0	1	0	0	0.00
Extras	13	(lb 5, w 8)
Total	178/6	20 overs

Bowling (CSK): Lungi Ngidi 1/26, Deepak Chahar 1/25, Karn Sharma 2/25, Dwayne Bravo 1/46, Shardul Thakur 1/31.

Chennai Super Kings Innings (181/2, 18.3 overs)

Batsman	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	SR
Faf du Plessis	10	11	1	0	90.90
Shane Watson	117*	57	11	8	205.26
Suresh Raina	32	24	3	1	133.33
Ambati Rayudu	16*	19	1	1	84.21
Extras	6	(lb 1, w 5)
Total	181/2	18.3 overs

Bowling (SRH): Bhuvneshwar Kumar 0/17, Sandeep Sharma 1/52, Siddarth Kaul 0/43, Carlos Brathwaite 0/27, Rashid Khan 1/24.

Result: Chennai Super Kings won by 8 wickets.

IPL 2018 Match List

The IPL 2018 season comprised 60 matches, including 56 league matches, two qualifiers, one eliminator, and the final. Below is a summary of the match schedule:

League Stage: April 7 – May 20, 2018
Playoffs:
- Qualifier 1: May 22, 2018 (SRH vs CSK)
- Eliminator: May 23, 2018 (KKR vs RR)
- Qualifier 2: May 25, 2018 (SRH vs KKR)
- Final: May 27, 2018 (CSK vs SRH)
Venues: Matches were played across cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Delhi, Jaipur, Mohali, and Indore. Kings XI Punjab played four home games in Indore due to logistical issues in Mohali.

For a detailed match-by-match list, visit official sources like ESPNcricinfo or IPLT20.com.

IPL 2018 First Match

The first match of IPL 2018 was played on April 7, 2018, at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. CSK won a thrilling encounter by 1 wicket, chasing MI’s total of 165/4.

Key Highlights of the First Match

MI Innings: 165/4 (20 overs), with Suryakumar Yadav (43) and Krunal Pandya (41)* leading the batting. CSK’s Deepak Chahar took 1 wicket.
CSK Innings: CSK chased 166 in 19.5 overs, finishing at 169/9. Dwayne Bravo’s 68 off 30 and Kedar Jadhav’s unbeaten 24 turned the game in CSK’s favor.
Player of the Match: Dwayne Bravo (CSK).

This match set the tone for CSK’s remarkable comeback season.

Orange Cap Holder in IPL 2018

The Orange Cap is awarded to the leading run-scorer of the IPL season. In 2018, Kane Williamson of Sunrisers Hyderabad clinched the Orange Cap with 735 runs in 17 matches. His consistent performances, including 47 runs in the final, earned him the prestigious award.

Top 5 Run-Scorers in IPL 2018

Kane Williamson (SRH): 735 runs, 17 matches, Avg: 52.50, SR: 142.44
Rishabh Pant (DD): 684 runs, 14 matches, Avg: 52.61, SR: 173.60
KL Rahul (KXIP): 659 runs, 14 matches, Avg: 55.83, SR: 158.41
Ambati Rayudu (CSK): 602 runs, 16 matches, Avg: 43.00, SR: 149.75
Jos Buttler (RR): 548 runs, 13 matches, Avg: 54.80, SR: 155.24

Williamson’s leadership and batting prowess made him a standout performer, even though SRH fell short in the final.

Why IPL 2018 Was Special

CSK’s Comeback: After a two-year ban, CSK’s title win under MS Dhoni was a fairy-tale story.
Shane Watson’s Heroics: Watson’s century in the final remains one of the most iconic IPL performances.
Emerging Talent: Players like Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul showcased their potential.
Global Reach: The tournament’s broadcast in six languages and virtual reality streaming expanded its global appeal.

Conclusion

The IPL 2018 season was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Chennai Super Kings emerging as champions in a dominant fashion. From the thrilling first match to the final’s Shane Watson masterclass, the season was packed with unforgettable moments. Kane Williamson’s Orange Cap win highlighted individual brilliance, while the match list showcased competitive cricket across India. For more IPL stats and updates, check out IPLT20.com or ESPNcricinfo.

Keywords: IPL 2018, IPL 2018 final, IPL 2018 final scorecard, IPL 2018 match list, IPL 2018 first match, Orange Cap holder IPL 2018, Chennai Super Kings, Shane Watson, Kane Williamson.

manoj meena

Hello friends, my name is Manoj Meena, and I’m a BA Final Year student. I have a deep passion for writing biographies because, in Hindi, there’s often a lack of detailed information about notable individuals. To bridge this gap, I collect extensive information and write biographies about popular personalities. I love sharing their stories and inspiring others through my work. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook to stay updated with my latest biographies and content. Connect with me to explore the fascinating lives of influential people!