When the Indian Premier League was launched in 2008, little did people know how it would go on to impact the cricket world. A tournament which entertains the audience during the summer, the IPL has already produced plenty of memorable moments in its brief history.
Let us take a look at those top ten individual performances across all editions of the league which have lit up the atmosphere.
Note: The author's list is subjective and only efforts in matches won are taken into consideration.
10. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar: 4/14 against Rajasthan Royals at Ahmedabad, 2014
Bhuvaneshwar Kumar was at his best during the 2013 and 2014 seasons when he made the new-ball talk. The swing bowler consistently delivered in the end-overs too.
In one such instance, Sun Risers Hyderabad had only posted 134 at the Sardar Patel Stadium and the Royals seemed very confident at the half-time break. But, Kumar had other ideas as he removed Ajinkya Rahane in the first over. In the business stage of the innings, he got rid of the dangerous James Faulkner and sealed the match with a triple wicket over.
9. Manish Pandey: 114* against Deccan Chargers at Centurion, 2009
Due to national elections, the IPL had to be shifted to the 'Rainbow Nation'. Coming into the league, Manish Pandey was an unknown name in the Indian domestic circuit.
Once he was done with the season, the Nainital-born batsman had become an household name. Led by Anil Kumble, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were seeking an entry into the final four. Pandey flayed a strong Deccan Chargers attack to all parts of the stadium and became the first Indian to score an IPL century. And his team had regained their momentum.
8. Ishant Sharma: 5/12 against Kochi Tuskers Kerala at Kochi, 2011
When Ishant Sharma is on song, there are very few bowlers who can shred a batting lineup like him. But, the lanky pacer also has his off-days where he tends to leak runs aplenty.
On a Kochi pitch which favored inconsistent bounce, Sharma was at his lethal best. Defending only 130 against a lineup which contained the likes of Brendon McCullum, Mahela Jayawardene and Brad Hodge, Sharma bundled Kochi Tuskers for just 74 to deliver a comprehensive victory for Deccan Chargers. Even his new-ball partner, Dale Steyn was left impressed.
7. David Miller: 101* against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Mohali, 2013
When Kings XI Punjab signed David Miller in 2012, there were still huge question marks surrounding the South African batsman to handle the turning pitches in India.
But, he turned the tables around with a sizzling performance in his second stint. After an amazing blitz which completed a thrilling chase, Miller eclipsed it with a sensational hundred against RCB. In pursuit of 190, Punjab were reduced to 64/4. The stylish left-hander came of age with a heroic effort to pull the rug under Bangalore's feet, thereby captivating the crowd.
6. Amit Mishra: 5/17 against Deccan Chargers at Delhi, 2008
When Amit Mishra began his first-class career, Kumble and Harbhajan were ruling the roost. In the 2008 IPL, he rose to prominence with most batsmen unable to pick his variations
Mishra faced another challenge when Deccan Chargers were off to a flier on a batting-friendly pitch. The leg-spinner responded by removing the dangerous Shahid Afridi to wrest back control. He capped off the night with a hat-trick in the final over to deliver a memorable win for the Daredevils.
5. Sohail Tanvir: 6/14 against Chennai Super Kings at Jaipur, 2008
In the inaugural edition of the IPL, the presence of several Pakistani stars added dynamism and unpredictability to the event.
Sohail Tanvir was one of the main reasons why a raw Rajasthan Royals side lifted the title in 2008. With an awkward action, Tanvir held his own at various stages of the innings. The left-armer's finest hour came against a formidable Chennai Super Kings side when he demolished their top-order in his first spell before polishing off the tail ruthlessly.
4. Chris Gayle: 96 against Kolkata Knight Riders at Kolkata, 2015
Chris Gayle has enthralled the crowd with plenty of unbelievable knocks for RCB. Be it his 175 against the Pune Warriors or his outrageous comeback in 2011, the Jamaican has seen it all except maybe the IPL title.
But, the powerful batsman's premium innings in the league was not constructed at his favorite Chinnaswamy Stadium. Instead, on a difficult pitch at the Eden Gardens, Gayle helped his side chase 178 almost singlehandedly against the likes of Sunil Narine and Morne Morkel. The fact that the next best score in his team was only 28 shows the quality of the West Indian.
3. Murali Vijay: 95 against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Chennai, 2011
Before he molded his stroke-play to become a solid Test match opener, Murali Vijay was a free-spirited batsman who was not afraid to take the bowler on.
The Tamil Nadu batsman was in his elements during the 2011 edition when he forged a formidable partnership with Michael Hussey. In the final, Vijay put Chennai Super Kings in the driver's seat right from ball one, with a classy display. Comfortable against both pace and spin, he propelled his team to a total which proved to be a victorious one.
2. Sunil Narine: 4/15 against Mumbai Indians at Mumbai, 2012
Sunil Narine infused a dash of mystery to the Kolkata Knight Riders, straight from the outset. Armed with an expanding repertoire, the spinner's bowling quota was worth its weight in gold.
On a hard surface in Mumbai, the Knight Riders could only manage a below par total of 140. For a powerful lineup like the Mumbai Indians, the score should have been a cakewalk. But, Narine spoiled the party by producing a mesmerizing spell and steered his side to an improbable win. Among the off-spinner's victims were Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma.
1. Brendon McCullum: 158* against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Bangalore, 2008
Brendon McCullum was tailor-made for the shortest format of the game. A non-compromising player, the right-hander relied on his instincts and set the tone from ball one.
On a glitzy night in Bangalore, McCullum kick started the IPL with a show which cannot be forgotten by those who witnessed it. Batting with authority, he created mayhem by destroying experienced seamers like Zaheer Khan and Jacques Kallis. When the other batsmen were content in striking at 100, Brendon's 158 not out came off just 73 balls. RCB were simply stunned by his merciless assault that they surrendered to a 140-run loss.