JuicyTalk
Ben Cutting, the experienced Australian all-rounder with eight international caps, etched his name into Indian Premier League (IPL) history with a match-winning performance in the 2016 final. Playing a pivotal role for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Cutting not only helped clinch their maiden IPL title but also denied Royal Challengers Bengaluru their first-ever championship on that memorable night in May 2016.
An IPL final that changed Ben Cutting’s cricketing legacy forever
That was the game Cutting, who had only featured in three games before the final, was drafted into the SRH playing XI for the high-stakes IPL 2016 final against RCB. On a stage with the stakes at their absolute highest, Cutting delivered an unforgettable all-round performance that sealed SRH’s maiden IPL title and left RCB, the star-studded team led by Virat Kohli, still waiting for their first.
With the bat, he played a blistering cameo, smashing an unbeaten 39 runs from just 15 deliveries, which included four boundaries and three towering sixes. His power-hitting in the death overs propelled SRH to a daunting total of 208. But Cutting wasn’t done there. With the ball in hand, he claimed two vital wickets, breaking through RCB’s top and middle order. Despite heroic fifties from both Chris Gayle and Kohli, RCB’s chase faltered and they ended on 200/7, falling agonizingly short. The match not only brought Hyderabad their first IPL crown but immortalized Ben Cutting in the memories of cricket fans, particularly those who had long waited for RCB’s downfall.
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Ben Cutting discloses fans messages to block RCB’s maiden IPL title run
Recently, speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Cutting is still inundated with reminders of that final, especially on social media. In fact, the volume of messages has only grown. “If I load up my private messages on Instagram now, there’ll be 150 every day saying, ‘Can you make yourself available for the IPL as a replacement player?,” Cutting revealed , noting that the messages are often very specific, usually urging him to join whichever team is scheduled to play against RCB. The obsession among certain fans, particularly those desperate to see RCB continue their title drought, has turned into an annual online campaign to bring back the man who once crushed their dreams.
Interestingly, Cutting pointed out how the mythos of that final has only intensified with time. “For some reason, this year, social media has blown up far more. I think because the longer the years drag on and RCB still haven’t won, the more important that night becomes for the Hyderabadis,”
