It was a performance that deserved all the awards.
It was a performance that got all the awards.
You guessed it right.
We are talking about Suresh Raina's efforts in this edition.
Raina survived two dropped catches by Mumbai Indians' fielders to make an unbeaten 57 and help Chennai Super Kings to a formidable 168 for five in the IPL final at the DY Patil stadium in Nerul on Sunday.
The southpaw, who came to the crease with the score 44 for one, was dropped twice -- on 14 and 28 -- before his 35-ball knock, inclusive of three sixes and as many fours, helped the Chennai cause.
Raina was also involved in a crucial 72-run partnership with his captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (22 in 15 balls), for the fourth wicket, a partnership that strengthened the Chennai innings.
It was his ninth IPL fifty, his fourth in this edition - and came off just 24 balls, the fastest fifty in an IPL final.
The innings also made Raina the only batsman to have scored in excess of 400 runs in all the three editions - the left-hander is now palpably the highest scorer in the tournament with 1375 runs, 520 having come in 16 matches in this edition.
The youngster came back to take the wicket of Harbhajan Singh and took a spectacular catch to help dismiss the dangerous Saurabh Tiwary.
It was, without doubt, the biggest contribution coming on the biggest stage.
