Brendon McCullum’s name is etched in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) thanks to his unforgettable knock of 158* off just 73 balls in the tournament’s opening fixture in 2008. The match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium wasn’t just another T20—it was the innings that launched the IPL into global stardom.
Looking back, McCullum admits he wasn’t in the best of form leading into that game. In fact, he had scored only 62 runs across five T20Is before the IPL opener. Even during the early stages of that iconic innings, the wicketkeeper-batter felt the pressure.
“I was in no form whatsoever. Leading into the game, I honestly didn’t know where my next run was coming from. I was nervous—the build-up, the glitz, the glamour of the IPL. We batted first, and I was naught off eight balls in a T20 game. I thought, ‘What am I doing here?’” Brendon McCullum revealed on the For The Love Of Cricket podcast.
ALSO READ: Mohammad Haris Addresses Pressure On Pakistan Batters Amid Strike Rate Debate
What followed, however, turned into one of the most celebrated knocks in T20 history. McCullum himself admitted that the IPL was life-changing. Sharing the KKR dressing room with cricketing giants like Ricky Ponting and Sourav Ganguly, he said, was surreal.
View this post on Instagram
“It literally changed my life. Coming from New Zealand, where rugby overshadows cricket, I wasn’t well established internationally at that stage. Suddenly, I was surrounded by legends like Ricky and Sourav. I had a bit of imposter syndrome. I kept asking myself, ‘How am I going to open the batting with these players around me?’” he recalled.
Brendon McCullum also reflected on the expectations—big crowds, high salaries, and the hype surrounding a brand-new tournament. That one innings not only defined his career but also set the tone for the IPL’s global success.
ALSO READ: Harry Brook Issues Strong Warning After England’s Quality T20 Win Over South Africa
Fast forward to today, McCullum has carried his fearless mindset into coaching. Since taking over as England’s head coach, the Three Lions have embraced an aggressive brand of cricket. On September 12, 2025, England hammered South Africa with a record-breaking 304/2 in the second T20I at Old Trafford, winning by 146 runs to level the series—a perfect example of McCullum’s attacking philosophy in action.
