When Balaji picked up the IPL’s first hat trick from Chennai Super Kings Squad

Image of When Balaji picked up the IPL’s first hat trick from Chennai Super Kings Squad

The 2023 IPL is on the horizon. The tournament will shift back to the home-and-away format this year, and the 16th edition of the T20 extravaganza will kick off on March 31, with Chennai Super Kings locking horns with Gujarat Titans in the opening clash. 

With just a day to go for the IPL season, let us take a look at some of the classic performances by our Super Kings in the tournament.

On 10th May 2008, L Balaji scalped the first-ever hat trick in IPL cricket. Turning out for the Chennai Super Kings against Kings XI Punjab, the right-arm pacer picked up a five-wicket haul (which included the hat trick) to help the Super Kings beat their opponents comfortably.

Put into bat, the Super Kings posted a total of 181/4 on the board, with Subramaniam Badrinath and MS Dhoni scoring half-centuries. Chasing a huge target, the Punjab side was going good at 95/2 before Balaji ran riot with the ball. The right-arm pacer cleaned up Ramnaresh Sarwan in the 13th over of the innings to pick up his first wicket.

Balaji then scalped the wicket of Shaun Marsh in the same over. He bowled a short delivery, the left-hander went for the pull, and the ball landed straight into the hands of the fielder at deep square leg.

And then, came that 20th over that Balaji will remember with fondness, the over where he picked up the hat trick. The pacer scalped the wicket of Irfan Pathan off the third delivery of the over, where the left-hander hit Balaji straight to deep square leg.

He then picked up the wicket of another left-hander Piyush Chawla, who holed out to Long Off. And then, came the hat trick ball….  

Balaji bowled a short delivery, VRV Singh went for a wild hoick, the ball took the leading edge, and skipper MS Dhoni completed the catch behind the stumps. There was jubilation in the Super Kings’ camp, as Balaji etched his name in history.