After all lot of ifs and buts, IPL 2020 is all set to be played once again in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Who would have thought that the 13th edition of the IPL will be played outside India this year? The BCCI has finally decided to conduct the IPL later this year from September 19- November 8. The 3 venues for the most successful T20 league will be Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai.
In 2014 the first phase of the IPL took place in UAE considering the general elections taking place in India. We saw packed houses at all the stadiums and in the end, it turned to be a breakthrough to play the league in UAE. The first 20 matches of IPL 2014 was contested in UAE, but this time the complete season will take place outside India due to the insane COVID-19 pandemic spike in the country.
But how did the teams performed 6 years ago in their matches in the Arabian desert country?
We take a look and review how all the 8 IPL teams performed in 2014 the last time they played in the gulf of UAE:
1. Kolkata Knight Riders
Eventual champions Kolkata Knight Riders had a shocking start in the 2014 IPL. In the 5 league matches, they played in UAE to managed to win only 2 and lost 3. KKR’s skipper Gautam Gambhir was badly out of form that reflected in the team’s performances in the beginning.
However, once the league came back to India KKR got their mojo back and dominated all teams. In the final against KXIP in 2014 they chased down 200 and lifted their second IPL crown.
2. Mumbai Indians
They were the defending champions in 2014 but they had a disastrous campaign in the UAE. Slow starters Mumbai Indians (MI) lost all their 5 league matches in UAE. They were sitting at the bottom of the table after the first phase of IPL.
However, once they returned to India they turned everything around in style. Mumbai won almost every match and remarkably qualified for the playoffs. Their dream run was stopped by CSK in IPL 2014 and they were knocked out of the competition in the playoffs.
3. Delhi Daredevils (now known as Delhi Capitals)
Things were quite different in 2014 as Delhi Capitals at the time were named Delhi Daredevils. Delhi too had an ordinary outing in UAE as they won 2 matches out of 5. Nothing changed when they returned home as they managed to win only 2 matches in the entire 2014 IPL season.
The franchise finished last that year and did not win even a single match in India that year.
4. Royal Challengers Bangalore
Much was expected from a star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2014. Sadly, their poor team selection once again had them on the ropes from the very start of the season.
They somehow won 2 out of their 5 league matches played at UAE. Virat Kohli and his men finished second last that season as yet another time RCB had an underwhelming IPL.
5. Chennai Super Kings
The Super Kings is one franchise that has quickly adapted in whatever conditions they have played in the IPL. When the league started in 2014 they started brilliantly in UAE and looked the team to beat. Under the leadership of MS Dhoni, CSK won 4 out of 5 matches they played outside India.
Eventually, their run was ended up KXIP in the playoffs at Mumbai. Virender Sehwag played a knock for the ages and CSK crashed out in the semis of IPL 2014.
6. Sunrisers Hyderabad
SRH had a gun side even in IPL 2014. They had the like of David Warner, Shikhar Dhawan, Dale Steyn, KL Rahul among others in their ranks. Unluckily, they crumbled under pressure moments and only won 2 out of 5 matches they played in UAE.
The Orange Army, in the end, finished 6th in the points table and clinched their first title two years later.
7. Rajasthan Royals
The underdogs that are the Rajasthan Royals had a decent run in UAE during IPL 2014. The inaugural IPL champs won 3 out of 5 matches they played in the first leg of IPL 2014. Rajasthan Royals defeated RCB, SRH and KKR using a boundary count rule in their initials matches in 2014.
They were lucky in the end as they narrowly missed out on a playoffs birth and finished fifth in the table.
8. Kings XI Punjab
Last but certainly not the least Kings XI Punjab were by far the most successful and entertaining side in the entire 2014 IPL season. The Glenn Maxwell and David Miller show lit up stadiums all around UAE as they remained unbeaten in all the 5 matches.
2014 was by far their most successful IPL campaign and they would hope that they could emulate that again when the league is played in UAE. They lost to KKR in a nerve-wracking final but their team under the leadership of George Bailey was the highlight of IPL 2014.