18 April 2008: The Night McCullum Launched the IPL

Before the first ball was bowled, nobody knew whether the Indian Premier League would work. City franchises, an auction and cheerleaders were new to Indian cricket. By the end of the night of 18 April 2008, one innings had given the answer.

The build-up

Earlier that year, eight new franchises had bought their players at the first IPL auction, and some of the biggest names in world cricket signed up. The opening match put two of India's most famous captains against each other: Rahul Dravid's Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sourav Ganguly's Kolkata Knight Riders, at a packed Chinnaswamy Stadium.

The innings

Kolkata batted first, and New Zealand's Brendon McCullum took over. He hit 158 not out from 73 balls, with 13 sixes and 10 fours, and Kolkata finished on 222 for 3. Twenty20 was still new, and nobody had seen batting like it in a franchise league.

McCullum's 158 not out stood as the highest score in the IPL for five years.

The collapse

Bangalore never got going in reply and were bowled out for 82. Kolkata won by 140 runs, which remains one of the biggest victories in the league's history.

Why it mattered

The IPL needed a spectacular start, and McCullum gave it one. The innings made headlines around the world and showed what the new format could produce. His 158 not out was the highest IPL score until Chris Gayle made 175 not out in 2013, at the same ground.

Almost two decades later, the league has grown to ten teams and some of the biggest crowds in cricket. But every IPL story still begins with that April night in Bengaluru.