Former IPL star Aditya Tare recently recounted a sensational story from the 2014 Indian Premier League season. Tare, who played for the Mumbai Indians at the time, spoke about the dramatic finish to the league phase and the unforgettable reaction of then-Rajasthan Royals coach Rahul Dravid.
The final league match of the season saw the Mumbai Indians facing the Rajasthan Royals in a virtual knock-out. The winner of the match would advance to the playoffs. The Royals put out a strong score of 189/4 in 20 overs, but the Mumbai Indians needed to chase down the target in just 14.3 overs due to Net Run Rate (NRR) calculations.
Despite taking an extra delivery to successfully chase down the score, MI qualified for the playoffs thanks to Aditya Tare’s monstrous six off the final ball. Tare’s six provoked a shocking reaction from Rahul Dravid, who was then the head coach of the Royals. Known for his calmness in the dressing room, Dravid couldn’t hide his emotions and threw his cap away in utter disgust after Tare’s six. He soon regained his senses and picked up his cap straightaway.
Nearly nine years later, Tare remembered the momentous six that steered the Mumbai Indians to playoffs and talked about Dravid’s reaction. “I didn’t see that at the time, but I’ve heard it from everyone. ‘We saw Rahul Dravid getting angry because of you,’ Tare recalled on Star Sports.
Tare also spoke about the lead-up to the memorable six. “Before that delivery, they thought they had qualified, because the scores were tied. Their dugout seemed pretty happy. But then we got the news that we have another ball to secure a playoff berth, only if we get a boundary. First we thought we hit a six, but then we realized we needed a four. But by then, I had already made up my mind to hit a six,” he said.
However, despite making it to the playoffs, the Mumbai Indians lost in the eliminator match against the Chennai Super Kings. The Kolkata Knight Riders eventually lifted their second title in 2014, beating Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in the final.
Tare’s sensational story from the 2014 IPL season is a reminder of the high stakes and intense emotions that come with professional cricket. The Mumbai Indians’ dramatic qualification for the playoffs and Rahul Dravid’s unforgettable reaction will remain etched in the memories of fans for years to come.