IPL 2016 Final Flashback, “The highlight of my career”: Ben Cutting

Australian cricketer Ben Cutting has revealed how he felt after that night in 2016 in Chinnaswamy. Cutting got Sunrisers Hyderabad their first and only IPL title in 2016.

For all his success as an all-rounder in domestic and international cricket, Cutting’s cricketing career is famously remembered for one night. It was May 29, 2016, that silenced the Chinnaswamy Stadium and brought Sunrisers Hyderabad to the top. He helped SRH win their only title with his all-round performance. He scored 39 not out from 15 balls with the bat, then took two vital wickets with the ball.

Cutting’s Debut in IPL

The Australian all-rounder made his debut in the Indian Premier League in 2016 with SRH.

“I got my first [2016] opportunity in Mohali against Kings XI Punjab and performed well there: I finished the game with the bat with Yuvraj Singh,” Cutting recalls. “Unfortunately I got quite sick after that, so I missed two games. But as soon as I was well again, they got me back into the side and I obviously finished the season strongly with bat and ball.”

That Night at Chinnaswamy

Cutting walked out to bat at 147 for 4 after 16 overs. Yuvraj Singh was dismissed for 38 off 23, followed by Naman Ojha getting run out. After that, Cutting single-handedly took SRH to 208, a knock featuring three fours and four sixes.

However, it was not enough for that night. RCB were 112 for 0 after ten overs, with Virat Kohli playing second fiddle to Chris Gayle. He had Kohli dropped at short third, then had Gayle caught in the same spot off the next ball. He finished with 2 wickets for 35 from four overs as RCB’s chase fell apart.

Back on the Bench

Despite Cutting’s performance, he was sidelined for most of the following season. In eight IPL seasons for five franchises, he played only 21 matches in total. “I was never the first-string player, so my mindset was to cover every base for that one game that may or may not come, and make sure that I’m ready for it. That’s exactly how it played out [in 2016].”

Cutting himself will never forget that night in Bengaluru – not least with daily reminders on social media. “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?’ for any team that’s coming up against RCB,” he said, laughing.

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