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Tag: Mumbai Indians

  • Gujarat Titans commit harakiri as Daniel Sams’ superb last over seal Mumbai Indians’ second win in IPL

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Pacer Daniel Sams displayed ice-cool temperament as he conceded just three runs in the last over to help Mumbai Indians pull off a stunning five-run victory over table-toppers Gujarat Titans in an IPL game on Saturday.

    MI were seemingly down and out with the Titans’ opening pair of Wriddhiman Saha (55 off 40 balls) and Shubman Gill (52 off 36 balls) sharing a 106-run partnership in 12.1 overs while chasing 178.

    However, the Titans kept losing wickets, including two crucial run-outs as they required nine runs in the last over to win the match.

    They could score just three, while losing one wicket to slump to their second successive defeat in the season.

    For MI, who were already out of contention for a play-off berth, it was only their second win of the season as they remained at the bottom.

    Opting to bowl, Gujarat restricted MI to 177 for six, despite quickfire innings from opening pair of Rohit Sharma (43 off 28 balls) and Ishan Kishan (45 off 29 balls) and Tim David (44 not out off 21 balls).

    Rashid Khan was the most successful bowler for the Titans with his two wickets for 24, while Pradeep Sangwan and Lockie Ferguson got one each.

    Alzarri Joseph also took a wicket but he bled 41 runs in his four overs.

    Chasing 178, Saha looked in full flow as he cracked two fours and a six off Jasprit Bumrah’s first over, before smashing Riley Meredith for two boundaries.

    Shubman Gill slog-swept Murugan Ashwin for a six, before picking up another four as the fifty-run stand came up in quick time, taking the Titans to 54 for one in six overs.

    The Chandigarh batter exploded in the eighth over with three boundaries off Daniel Sams, who had bowled a briliant opening over.

    Kumar Kartikeya was next in line as he yielded 15 runs with Saha smashing his first ball for a four and Gill producing a clean hit over long off before slog-sweeeping the bowler for another four.

    Soon, 100 was up in 11 overs with Saha also completing his fifty.

    Gill too joined him as his single off Pollard took him to a 33-ball half-century.

    Both Saha and Gill smashed six boundaries and two maximums each.

    A bizzare hit wicket ended Sai Sudharsan’s (14) innings, while Hardik Pandya (24) fall short after going for an unnecessary single.

    Needing 20 off last two overs, Miller deposited Bumrah over deep mid-wicket but the Titans couldn’t score nine of the last over lose the match.

    Earlier, invited to bat, Rohit seemed to be in good touch after a series of low scores as he took the early initiative, dominating the proceedings with his strokeplay as Kishan played the second fiddle.

    The MI skipper was particularly harsh on Joseph as he smashed the bowler for four boundaries and a six, while Kishan joined the party in the fifth over, slamming Rashid Khan for a couple of fours to bring up their 50-run partnership.

    Rohit then hit Lockie Ferguson for a four as MI posted 63 for no loss, their best in the powerplay this season.

    Rashid produced the breakthrough in the eighth over, removing the dangerous Rohit, who was trapped in front while looking to play a reverse shot.

    Kishan then took over, dancing down the pitch to send Rahul Tewatia over mid-wicket.

    Suryakumar Yadav produced his trademark whip for a maximum but perished in his next attempt off Pradeep Sangwan.

    Back into the attack, Joseph then struck with a slower delivery which Kishan ended up sending to Rashid at mid-wicket as MI slipped to 111 for 3 in 12 overs.

    Kieron Pollard lived dangerously with Sangwan and Ferguson bowling two quiet overs and was eventually cleaned up by Rashid, who set up the West Indian with two googlies.

    MI thus seemed to have frittered away the solid start but Tilak Verma (21) and Tim David then tried to put together a partnership with the latter launching Mohammed Shami for two fours at mid-off and long leg respectively.

    Varma was run-out with Hardik Pandya producing a direct throw, while Daniel Sams too perished with a second-ball duck.

    However, David smacked Shami for two maximums in the last over to take the team past 170-run mark.

    Mumbai Indians players celebrate after winning the IPL match against Gujarat Titans at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. (Photo | PTI)

  • Gujarat Titans commit harakiri as Daniel Sams’ superb last over seal Mumbai Indians’ second win in IPL

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Pacer Daniel Sams displayed ice-cool temperament as he conceded just three runs in the last over to help Mumbai Indians pull off a stunning five-run victory over table-toppers Gujarat Titans in an IPL game on Saturday.

    MI were seemingly down and out with the Titans’ opening pair of Wriddhiman Saha (55 off 40 balls) and Shubman Gill (52 off 36 balls) sharing a 106-run partnership in 12.1 overs while chasing 178.

    However, the Titans kept losing wickets, including two crucial run-outs as they required nine runs in the last over to win the match.

    They could score just three, while losing one wicket to slump to their second successive defeat in the season.

    For MI, who were already out of contention for a play-off berth, it was only their second win of the season as they remained at the bottom.

    Opting to bowl, Gujarat restricted MI to 177 for six, despite quickfire innings from opening pair of Rohit Sharma (43 off 28 balls) and Ishan Kishan (45 off 29 balls) and Tim David (44 not out off 21 balls).

    Rashid Khan was the most successful bowler for the Titans with his two wickets for 24, while Pradeep Sangwan and Lockie Ferguson got one each.

    Alzarri Joseph also took a wicket but he bled 41 runs in his four overs.

    Chasing 178, Saha looked in full flow as he cracked two fours and a six off Jasprit Bumrah’s first over, before smashing Riley Meredith for two boundaries.

    Shubman Gill slog-swept Murugan Ashwin for a six, before picking up another four as the fifty-run stand came up in quick time, taking the Titans to 54 for one in six overs.

    The Chandigarh batter exploded in the eighth over with three boundaries off Daniel Sams, who had bowled a briliant opening over.

    Kumar Kartikeya was next in line as he yielded 15 runs with Saha smashing his first ball for a four and Gill producing a clean hit over long off before slog-sweeeping the bowler for another four.

    Soon, 100 was up in 11 overs with Saha also completing his fifty.

    Gill too joined him as his single off Pollard took him to a 33-ball half-century.

    Both Saha and Gill smashed six boundaries and two maximums each.

    A bizzare hit wicket ended Sai Sudharsan’s (14) innings, while Hardik Pandya (24) fall short after going for an unnecessary single.

    Needing 20 off last two overs, Miller deposited Bumrah over deep mid-wicket but the Titans couldn’t score nine of the last over lose the match.

    Earlier, invited to bat, Rohit seemed to be in good touch after a series of low scores as he took the early initiative, dominating the proceedings with his strokeplay as Kishan played the second fiddle.

    The MI skipper was particularly harsh on Joseph as he smashed the bowler for four boundaries and a six, while Kishan joined the party in the fifth over, slamming Rashid Khan for a couple of fours to bring up their 50-run partnership.

    Rohit then hit Lockie Ferguson for a four as MI posted 63 for no loss, their best in the powerplay this season.

    Rashid produced the breakthrough in the eighth over, removing the dangerous Rohit, who was trapped in front while looking to play a reverse shot.

    Kishan then took over, dancing down the pitch to send Rahul Tewatia over mid-wicket.

    Suryakumar Yadav produced his trademark whip for a maximum but perished in his next attempt off Pradeep Sangwan.

    Back into the attack, Joseph then struck with a slower delivery which Kishan ended up sending to Rashid at mid-wicket as MI slipped to 111 for 3 in 12 overs.

    Kieron Pollard lived dangerously with Sangwan and Ferguson bowling two quiet overs and was eventually cleaned up by Rashid, who set up the West Indian with two googlies.

    MI thus seemed to have frittered away the solid start but Tilak Verma (21) and Tim David then tried to put together a partnership with the latter launching Mohammed Shami for two fours at mid-off and long leg respectively.

    Varma was run-out with Hardik Pandya producing a direct throw, while Daniel Sams too perished with a second-ball duck.

    However, David smacked Shami for two maximums in the last over to take the team past 170-run mark.

    Mumbai Indians players celebrate after winning the IPL match against Gujarat Titans at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. (Photo | PTI)

    MUMBAI: Pacer Daniel Sams displayed ice-cool temperament as he conceded just three runs in the last over to help Mumbai Indians pull off a stunning five-run victory over table-toppers Gujarat Titans in an IPL game on Saturday.

    MI were seemingly down and out with the Titans’ opening pair of Wriddhiman Saha (55 off 40 balls) and Shubman Gill (52 off 36 balls) sharing a 106-run partnership in 12.1 overs while chasing 178.

    However, the Titans kept losing wickets, including two crucial run-outs as they required nine runs in the last over to win the match.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    They could score just three, while losing one wicket to slump to their second successive defeat in the season.

    For MI, who were already out of contention for a play-off berth, it was only their second win of the season as they remained at the bottom.

    Opting to bowl, Gujarat restricted MI to 177 for six, despite quickfire innings from opening pair of Rohit Sharma (43 off 28 balls) and Ishan Kishan (45 off 29 balls) and Tim David (44 not out off 21 balls).

    Rashid Khan was the most successful bowler for the Titans with his two wickets for 24, while Pradeep Sangwan and Lockie Ferguson got one each.

    Alzarri Joseph also took a wicket but he bled 41 runs in his four overs.

    Chasing 178, Saha looked in full flow as he cracked two fours and a six off Jasprit Bumrah’s first over, before smashing Riley Meredith for two boundaries.

    Shubman Gill slog-swept Murugan Ashwin for a six, before picking up another four as the fifty-run stand came up in quick time, taking the Titans to 54 for one in six overs.

    The Chandigarh batter exploded in the eighth over with three boundaries off Daniel Sams, who had bowled a briliant opening over.

    Kumar Kartikeya was next in line as he yielded 15 runs with Saha smashing his first ball for a four and Gill producing a clean hit over long off before slog-sweeeping the bowler for another four.

    Soon, 100 was up in 11 overs with Saha also completing his fifty.

    Gill too joined him as his single off Pollard took him to a 33-ball half-century.

    Both Saha and Gill smashed six boundaries and two maximums each.

    A bizzare hit wicket ended Sai Sudharsan’s (14) innings, while Hardik Pandya (24) fall short after going for an unnecessary single.

    Needing 20 off last two overs, Miller deposited Bumrah over deep mid-wicket but the Titans couldn’t score nine of the last over lose the match.

    Earlier, invited to bat, Rohit seemed to be in good touch after a series of low scores as he took the early initiative, dominating the proceedings with his strokeplay as Kishan played the second fiddle.

    The MI skipper was particularly harsh on Joseph as he smashed the bowler for four boundaries and a six, while Kishan joined the party in the fifth over, slamming Rashid Khan for a couple of fours to bring up their 50-run partnership.

    Rohit then hit Lockie Ferguson for a four as MI posted 63 for no loss, their best in the powerplay this season.

    Rashid produced the breakthrough in the eighth over, removing the dangerous Rohit, who was trapped in front while looking to play a reverse shot.

    Kishan then took over, dancing down the pitch to send Rahul Tewatia over mid-wicket.

    Suryakumar Yadav produced his trademark whip for a maximum but perished in his next attempt off Pradeep Sangwan.

    Back into the attack, Joseph then struck with a slower delivery which Kishan ended up sending to Rashid at mid-wicket as MI slipped to 111 for 3 in 12 overs.

    Kieron Pollard lived dangerously with Sangwan and Ferguson bowling two quiet overs and was eventually cleaned up by Rashid, who set up the West Indian with two googlies.

    MI thus seemed to have frittered away the solid start but Tilak Verma (21) and Tim David then tried to put together a partnership with the latter launching Mohammed Shami for two fours at mid-off and long leg respectively.

    Varma was run-out with Hardik Pandya producing a direct throw, while Daniel Sams too perished with a second-ball duck.

    However, David smacked Shami for two maximums in the last over to take the team past 170-run mark.

    Mumbai Indians players celebrate after winning the IPL match against Gujarat Titans at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. (Photo | PTI)

  • Mumbai Indians need to be ultra-aggressive like CSK to win: Former England cricketer Graeme Swann

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Former England cricketer Graeme Swann feels Mumbai Indians should adopt the “ultra aggressive” approach CSK showed against RCB as it aims for its first win of the season.

    Both the multiple-times champions lost their opening four games before CSK broke their losing streak with a 23-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore on Tuesday.

    The Rohit Sharma-led MI, however, is still in the look out for their first victory this season “Mumbai Indians basically need to take a template from what CSK did against RCB and copy that going forward” Swann said on Star Sports.

    “If they can go with an ultra-aggressive intent, they will be able to win (their upcoming matches),” the former off spinner said.

    Swann further added that for teams like Mumbai and Chennai – who suffered four consecutive defeats in as many games – body language has to be positive going forward.

    “Any coach or any captain would demand from his players to show more intensity (on the field), more hard work and want them to show that they mean it (when it comes winning)even if you’ve lost a few games. So the body language is a good way to go.”

  • Mumbai Indians need to be ultra-aggressive like CSK to win: Former England cricketer Graeme Swann

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Former England cricketer Graeme Swann feels Mumbai Indians should adopt the “ultra aggressive” approach CSK showed against RCB as it aims for its first win of the season.

    Both the multiple-times champions lost their opening four games before CSK broke their losing streak with a 23-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore on Tuesday.

    The Rohit Sharma-led MI, however, is still in the look out for their first victory this season “Mumbai Indians basically need to take a template from what CSK did against RCB and copy that going forward” Swann said on Star Sports.

    “If they can go with an ultra-aggressive intent, they will be able to win (their upcoming matches),” the former off spinner said.

    Swann further added that for teams like Mumbai and Chennai – who suffered four consecutive defeats in as many games – body language has to be positive going forward.

    “Any coach or any captain would demand from his players to show more intensity (on the field), more hard work and want them to show that they mean it (when it comes winning)even if you’ve lost a few games. So the body language is a good way to go.”

    NEW DELHI: Former England cricketer Graeme Swann feels Mumbai Indians should adopt the “ultra aggressive” approach CSK showed against RCB as it aims for its first win of the season.

    Both the multiple-times champions lost their opening four games before CSK broke their losing streak with a 23-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore on Tuesday.

    The Rohit Sharma-led MI, however, is still in the look out for their first victory this season “Mumbai Indians basically need to take a template from what CSK did against RCB and copy that going forward” Swann said on Star Sports.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “If they can go with an ultra-aggressive intent, they will be able to win (their upcoming matches),” the former off spinner said.

    Swann further added that for teams like Mumbai and Chennai – who suffered four consecutive defeats in as many games – body language has to be positive going forward.

    “Any coach or any captain would demand from his players to show more intensity (on the field), more hard work and want them to show that they mean it (when it comes winning)even if you’ve lost a few games. So the body language is a good way to go.”

  • Transition phase every team goes through: Mumbai Indians vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah

    By PTI

    PUNE: Mumbai Indians vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah understands and accepts the hard truth that Mumbai Indians is indeed going through a “transition phase” and the new kids in the block need to understand how to react to pressure situations in a high intensity tournament like IPL.

    MI have already lost four games on trot and lack of bowling options is hurting the five-time champions badly.

    “It’s a transition phase that every cricketer understands, and every team goes through that. We are in that phase; we have got a new group,” Bumrah said.

    “So understanding the format of the IPL, how you have to handle pressure and achieve success in this league.

    “We are going through that. We are looking forward that we go through this transition, and then we have all the players we had and the quality will come back again,” he said.

    For Bumrah, it is important that MI lives in the present rather than stressing on the past “Right now, we live in the present.

    Yes, things have not gone according to plan so far, but we keep on fighting and we keep on finding a way,” Bumrah was quoted as saying in media release issued by the franchise.

    “That is the way the game of cricket works. Whenever a challenge comes, you try to find solutions to the challenge and we are trying to do that,” he added.

    Bumrah feels that the tracks have been heavily loaded in favour of batters this time and the toss has proved to be crucial so far.

    “This year when the wickets are helping the batters and it’s difficult to take wickets, you have to find your ways. We are no different. We are trying to find new ways. We’ve come up with a few plans,” the right-arm speedster said, without divulging the plans.

    Toss indeed has become a crucial factor.

    “If it was up to me, I would say win the toss. That really helps. But yes, whenever you come into this scenario, there is a little bit of help with the new ball, so maintaining a good line, trying to swing the ball upfront, I think will help you,” he quipped.

    “As soon as you come to the later stages, be it the first innings or the second innings, the wicket settles down (due to dew). So then maybe you have to start your death bowling a little early.

    “All of these pointers might help the other bowlers as well, so we’re looking to address that as soon as possible and then use it to our advantage,” he added.

    PUNE: Mumbai Indians vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah understands and accepts the hard truth that Mumbai Indians is indeed going through a “transition phase” and the new kids in the block need to understand how to react to pressure situations in a high intensity tournament like IPL.

    MI have already lost four games on trot and lack of bowling options is hurting the five-time champions badly.

    “It’s a transition phase that every cricketer understands, and every team goes through that. We are in that phase; we have got a new group,” Bumrah said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “So understanding the format of the IPL, how you have to handle pressure and achieve success in this league.

    “We are going through that. We are looking forward that we go through this transition, and then we have all the players we had and the quality will come back again,” he said.

    For Bumrah, it is important that MI lives in the present rather than stressing on the past “Right now, we live in the present.

    Yes, things have not gone according to plan so far, but we keep on fighting and we keep on finding a way,” Bumrah was quoted as saying in media release issued by the franchise.

    “That is the way the game of cricket works. Whenever a challenge comes, you try to find solutions to the challenge and we are trying to do that,” he added.

    Bumrah feels that the tracks have been heavily loaded in favour of batters this time and the toss has proved to be crucial so far.

    “This year when the wickets are helping the batters and it’s difficult to take wickets, you have to find your ways. We are no different. We are trying to find new ways. We’ve come up with a few plans,” the right-arm speedster said, without divulging the plans.

    Toss indeed has become a crucial factor.

    “If it was up to me, I would say win the toss. That really helps. But yes, whenever you come into this scenario, there is a little bit of help with the new ball, so maintaining a good line, trying to swing the ball upfront, I think will help you,” he quipped.

    “As soon as you come to the later stages, be it the first innings or the second innings, the wicket settles down (due to dew). So then maybe you have to start your death bowling a little early.

    “All of these pointers might help the other bowlers as well, so we’re looking to address that as soon as possible and then use it to our advantage,” he added.

  • Transition phase every team goes through: Mumbai Indians vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah

    By PTI

    PUNE: Mumbai Indians vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah understands and accepts the hard truth that Mumbai Indians is indeed going through a “transition phase” and the new kids in the block need to understand how to react to pressure situations in a high intensity tournament like IPL.

    MI have already lost four games on trot and lack of bowling options is hurting the five-time champions badly.

    “It’s a transition phase that every cricketer understands, and every team goes through that. We are in that phase; we have got a new group,” Bumrah said.

    “So understanding the format of the IPL, how you have to handle pressure and achieve success in this league.

    “We are going through that. We are looking forward that we go through this transition, and then we have all the players we had and the quality will come back again,” he said.

    For Bumrah, it is important that MI lives in the present rather than stressing on the past “Right now, we live in the present.

    Yes, things have not gone according to plan so far, but we keep on fighting and we keep on finding a way,” Bumrah was quoted as saying in media release issued by the franchise.

    “That is the way the game of cricket works. Whenever a challenge comes, you try to find solutions to the challenge and we are trying to do that,” he added.

    Bumrah feels that the tracks have been heavily loaded in favour of batters this time and the toss has proved to be crucial so far.

    “This year when the wickets are helping the batters and it’s difficult to take wickets, you have to find your ways. We are no different. We are trying to find new ways. We’ve come up with a few plans,” the right-arm speedster said, without divulging the plans.

    Toss indeed has become a crucial factor.

    “If it was up to me, I would say win the toss. That really helps. But yes, whenever you come into this scenario, there is a little bit of help with the new ball, so maintaining a good line, trying to swing the ball upfront, I think will help you,” he quipped.

    “As soon as you come to the later stages, be it the first innings or the second innings, the wicket settles down (due to dew). So then maybe you have to start your death bowling a little early.

    “All of these pointers might help the other bowlers as well, so we’re looking to address that as soon as possible and then use it to our advantage,” he added.

  • Royal Challengers Bangalore march on as Mumbai Indians lose four on trot

    By PTI

    PUNE: Mumbai Indians’ season of woes just got a tad worse after the five-time champions followed another high-profile team Chennai Super Kings to lose their fourth match on the bounce as Royal Challengers Bangalore cantered to an easy seven-wicket win in an IPL match on Saturday.

    It was Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 68 that gave Mumbai Indians a respectable total of 151 for 6 but that was never going to be enough as young Anuj Rawat (66 off 47 balls) struck his maiden IPL fifty, anchoring the team to the target in just 18.3 overs.

    He had two fifty plus partnerships — 50 for opening stand with skipper Faf du Plessis (16) and 80 with former skipper and his West Delhi Cricket Academy senior Virat Kohli (48 off 36 balls) for the second wicket to seal the issue.

    Rawat scored at a decent strike-rate if not rollicking one and had two fours and six maximums in his kitty.

    Mumbai Indians are currently last in the table of 10 teams because of inferior net run-rate compared to CSK but the road towards redemption is becoming difficult with every passing match.

    Whether it is skipper Rohit’s lean patch or a poor sentimental call by the MI management to retain a non-performing asset like Kieron Pollard for one season too many, there are too many loopholes that needs plugging.

    The next set of young batters are getting ready but the current attack with Murugan Ashwin, Basil Thampi and Jaydev Unadkat bowling at least 12 out of 20 overs, doesn’t give the confidence that it can actually become a side in contention for a silverware.

    If MI is in a mess, it is because of the decisions taken before and during the auction.

    Retaining Pollard and letting all-rounder Hardik Pandya go is coming back to haunt them.

    So is the decision to not bid aggressively for the likes of Krunal Pandya or Trent Boult or for that matter Rahul Chahar.

    Earlier, Rohit and Ishan Kishan’s flamboyant start was followed by an inexplicable batting collapse before the indomitable Suryakumar gave MI’s total semblance of respectability.

    For RCB, Harshal Patel (2/23 in 4 overs) was brilliant with his variations as most of the MI batters had no idea about his slower deliveries, which were primarily off-cutters with occasional loopy block-hole balls that drifted.

    MI were 50 for no loss after Powerplay but in the next four overs lost as many as five wickets to become 62 for five and subsequently 79 for six before Suryakumar (5×4, 6×6) with his 15th IPL fifty, took them to a decent total.

    Suryakumar took charge with MI tottering at 79 for 6 and added 72 off 41 balls with Jaydev Unadkat (13 no off 14 balls).

    For Rohit (26 off 15 balls), this IPL so far has been about playing some breathtaking shots but not getting a big score as he raced to 26 before Harshal’s slow off-cutter did the trick.

    The Indian skipper after having hit four fours and a pulled six couldn’t check his stroke with the bowler taking a smart return catch.

    Playing the second fiddle, Kishan’s (26 off 28 balls) attempt to use the pace of Bengal speedster Akash Deep in his bid to play the ramp shot became his undoing as he was caught in the third man region.

    Dewald Brevis (8 off 11 balls) found it difficult to negotiate the wrist spin of Wanindu Hasaranga (2/28 in 4 overs) and was rapped on the back-pad.

    Tilak Verma had his first real failure due to miscommunication with Pollard which resulted in a run-out and the big West Indian then got fooled by a Hasaranga googly.

    Rookie Ramandeep Singh then dangled his bat at a wide slower from Harshal to end his 12-ball stay.

    Harshal cleverly changed his arm speed regularly which deceived the batters as the balls started drifting.

    A slog swept six over deep mid-wicket off Hasaranga and a near 100-metre slog flick off Mohammed Siraj (4-0-51-0) were absolute treat for the eyes as Suryakumar followed it up with a ramped six as 23 came off the penultimate over.

    PUNE: Mumbai Indians’ season of woes just got a tad worse after the five-time champions followed another high-profile team Chennai Super Kings to lose their fourth match on the bounce as Royal Challengers Bangalore cantered to an easy seven-wicket win in an IPL match on Saturday.

    It was Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 68 that gave Mumbai Indians a respectable total of 151 for 6 but that was never going to be enough as young Anuj Rawat (66 off 47 balls) struck his maiden IPL fifty, anchoring the team to the target in just 18.3 overs.

    He had two fifty plus partnerships — 50 for opening stand with skipper Faf du Plessis (16) and 80 with former skipper and his West Delhi Cricket Academy senior Virat Kohli (48 off 36 balls) for the second wicket to seal the issue.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Rawat scored at a decent strike-rate if not rollicking one and had two fours and six maximums in his kitty.

    Mumbai Indians are currently last in the table of 10 teams because of inferior net run-rate compared to CSK but the road towards redemption is becoming difficult with every passing match.

    Whether it is skipper Rohit’s lean patch or a poor sentimental call by the MI management to retain a non-performing asset like Kieron Pollard for one season too many, there are too many loopholes that needs plugging.

    The next set of young batters are getting ready but the current attack with Murugan Ashwin, Basil Thampi and Jaydev Unadkat bowling at least 12 out of 20 overs, doesn’t give the confidence that it can actually become a side in contention for a silverware.

    If MI is in a mess, it is because of the decisions taken before and during the auction.

    Retaining Pollard and letting all-rounder Hardik Pandya go is coming back to haunt them.

    So is the decision to not bid aggressively for the likes of Krunal Pandya or Trent Boult or for that matter Rahul Chahar.

    Earlier, Rohit and Ishan Kishan’s flamboyant start was followed by an inexplicable batting collapse before the indomitable Suryakumar gave MI’s total semblance of respectability.

    For RCB, Harshal Patel (2/23 in 4 overs) was brilliant with his variations as most of the MI batters had no idea about his slower deliveries, which were primarily off-cutters with occasional loopy block-hole balls that drifted.

    MI were 50 for no loss after Powerplay but in the next four overs lost as many as five wickets to become 62 for five and subsequently 79 for six before Suryakumar (5×4, 6×6) with his 15th IPL fifty, took them to a decent total.

    Suryakumar took charge with MI tottering at 79 for 6 and added 72 off 41 balls with Jaydev Unadkat (13 no off 14 balls).

    For Rohit (26 off 15 balls), this IPL so far has been about playing some breathtaking shots but not getting a big score as he raced to 26 before Harshal’s slow off-cutter did the trick.

    The Indian skipper after having hit four fours and a pulled six couldn’t check his stroke with the bowler taking a smart return catch.

    Playing the second fiddle, Kishan’s (26 off 28 balls) attempt to use the pace of Bengal speedster Akash Deep in his bid to play the ramp shot became his undoing as he was caught in the third man region.

    Dewald Brevis (8 off 11 balls) found it difficult to negotiate the wrist spin of Wanindu Hasaranga (2/28 in 4 overs) and was rapped on the back-pad.

    Tilak Verma had his first real failure due to miscommunication with Pollard which resulted in a run-out and the big West Indian then got fooled by a Hasaranga googly.

    Rookie Ramandeep Singh then dangled his bat at a wide slower from Harshal to end his 12-ball stay.

    Harshal cleverly changed his arm speed regularly which deceived the batters as the balls started drifting.

    A slog swept six over deep mid-wicket off Hasaranga and a near 100-metre slog flick off Mohammed Siraj (4-0-51-0) were absolute treat for the eyes as Suryakumar followed it up with a ramped six as 23 came off the penultimate over.

  • Royal Challengers Bangalore march on as Mumbai Indians lose four on trot

    By PTI

    PUNE: Mumbai Indians’ season of woes just got a tad worse after the five-time champions followed another high-profile team Chennai Super Kings to lose their fourth match on the bounce as Royal Challengers Bangalore cantered to an easy seven-wicket win in an IPL match on Saturday.

    It was Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 68 that gave Mumbai Indians a respectable total of 151 for 6 but that was never going to be enough as young Anuj Rawat (66 off 47 balls) struck his maiden IPL fifty, anchoring the team to the target in just 18.3 overs.

    He had two fifty plus partnerships — 50 for opening stand with skipper Faf du Plessis (16) and 80 with former skipper and his West Delhi Cricket Academy senior Virat Kohli (48 off 36 balls) for the second wicket to seal the issue.

    Rawat scored at a decent strike-rate if not rollicking one and had two fours and six maximums in his kitty.

    Mumbai Indians are currently last in the table of 10 teams because of inferior net run-rate compared to CSK but the road towards redemption is becoming difficult with every passing match.

    Whether it is skipper Rohit’s lean patch or a poor sentimental call by the MI management to retain a non-performing asset like Kieron Pollard for one season too many, there are too many loopholes that needs plugging.

    The next set of young batters are getting ready but the current attack with Murugan Ashwin, Basil Thampi and Jaydev Unadkat bowling at least 12 out of 20 overs, doesn’t give the confidence that it can actually become a side in contention for a silverware.

    If MI is in a mess, it is because of the decisions taken before and during the auction.

    Retaining Pollard and letting all-rounder Hardik Pandya go is coming back to haunt them.

    So is the decision to not bid aggressively for the likes of Krunal Pandya or Trent Boult or for that matter Rahul Chahar.

    Earlier, Rohit and Ishan Kishan’s flamboyant start was followed by an inexplicable batting collapse before the indomitable Suryakumar gave MI’s total semblance of respectability.

    For RCB, Harshal Patel (2/23 in 4 overs) was brilliant with his variations as most of the MI batters had no idea about his slower deliveries, which were primarily off-cutters with occasional loopy block-hole balls that drifted.

    MI were 50 for no loss after Powerplay but in the next four overs lost as many as five wickets to become 62 for five and subsequently 79 for six before Suryakumar (5×4, 6×6) with his 15th IPL fifty, took them to a decent total.

    Suryakumar took charge with MI tottering at 79 for 6 and added 72 off 41 balls with Jaydev Unadkat (13 no off 14 balls).

    For Rohit (26 off 15 balls), this IPL so far has been about playing some breathtaking shots but not getting a big score as he raced to 26 before Harshal’s slow off-cutter did the trick.

    The Indian skipper after having hit four fours and a pulled six couldn’t check his stroke with the bowler taking a smart return catch.

    Playing the second fiddle, Kishan’s (26 off 28 balls) attempt to use the pace of Bengal speedster Akash Deep in his bid to play the ramp shot became his undoing as he was caught in the third man region.

    Dewald Brevis (8 off 11 balls) found it difficult to negotiate the wrist spin of Wanindu Hasaranga (2/28 in 4 overs) and was rapped on the back-pad.

    Tilak Verma had his first real failure due to miscommunication with Pollard which resulted in a run-out and the big West Indian then got fooled by a Hasaranga googly.

    Rookie Ramandeep Singh then dangled his bat at a wide slower from Harshal to end his 12-ball stay.

    Harshal cleverly changed his arm speed regularly which deceived the batters as the balls started drifting.

    A slog swept six over deep mid-wicket off Hasaranga and a near 100-metre slog flick off Mohammed Siraj (4-0-51-0) were absolute treat for the eyes as Suryakumar followed it up with a ramped six as 23 came off the penultimate over.

  • Loose ball bearing behind Mumbai Indians’ bumpy ride

    Express News Service

    CHENNAI: When broadcaster Danny Morrison started a question with ‘you’ve been in this position before’ while speaking to Rohit Sharma after Mumbai’s defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday, their third successive loss of the season, referring to the past performances, the Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma did not even let him finish. “I don’t want to be in this position all the time,” he laughed with his typical humour. 

    But his frustration was evident. Although Mumbai had come back from the consecutive defeats to win the title in the 2010s, Rohit and the team management knows that this time it is different. With ten teams in the mix, the crowd in the middle of the table will be huge unlike the past, where a bunch of wins in the second half would get them through the top four. More importantly, the bigger difference is how they were able to take the games to last overs even in defeats in the past, but they have been comfortably outplayed by all three teams this season.

    And as their head coach Mahela Jayawardene pointed out, Mumbai haven’t been able to execute their plans with the ball as they did in the last couple of years. “There are concerns, especially with the ball we are not executing at the back end under pressure. Our execution has been poor so we need to make sure we brush up on that,” he said.

    While a part of it was expected when they went after Jofra Archer — who wasn’t going to be available this year — in the auction, the lack of support from the other end in the pace department meant that they had to use Jasprit Bumrah differently and it hasn’t helped.

    In 2020 and 2021, Bumrah and Trent Boult shared 86 wickets between them with the latter operating through the powerplay, allowing Rohit to use the Indian pacer as an enforcer in the middle and death overs. One look at their bowling card this season tells a story. With Basil Thampi and Daniel Sams not making early inroads, Mumbai is forced to use at least one or two overs of Bumrah in the powerplay, leaving them searching for bowlers in the middle-overs. It meant that teams were happy to play out Bumrah without giving any wickets.

    The Indian speedster has taken just three wickets in a game and gone without any in the other two. He also has operated at 8.32 RPO this season, which wasn’t the case in 2020 and 2021 (7.07). That all the other pacers concede over 9.5 RPO doesn’t help either. To compensate, they might bring in someone like Jaydev Unadkat into the mix sooner than later.

    But it’s not just the pace department that has issues. Although M Ashwin has bowled well, considering being the lone spinner in the side, the absence of extra bowling options isn’t helping Rohit either. But that’s the card they’ve been dealt with and he will have to find a way to make the most of it.

    One way to do that is their batting, especially the skipper, to step up and take the onus to post big totals. Rohit’s record in the last few years if compared to the other top-order batters in the league would fall short by a significant margin. Though Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma have performed so far, with no Quinton de Kock and Pandya brothers to provide cushion, Rohit will have to score consistently for them to maintain the intent through the course of the innings.

    If Rohit and Mumbai don’t want to be in a position to win matches on the trot, it’s about time their captain fired with the bat and found a way to get the best out of their bowling attack. 

  • Pat Cummins equals record for fastest IPL fifty as KKR beat Mumbai Indians by 5 wickets

    Express News Service

    CHENNAI: Pat Cummins’ record in death overs is no secret. In 26 innings, he has operated at 10.23 RPO in death overs in the Indian Premier League. But, on Wednesday, against Mumbai Indians, it was different. Going into the final four overs, Cummins had bowled three, conceding 26 runs up until then. On a pitch that had a bit of extra bounce, the Australian Test skipper, along with Umesh Yadav and Rasikh Salam had bowled extremely well in the first half of the innings.

    Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma had accelerated since and Mumbai was pushing towards the 150-run mark when Cummins came on to bowl the final over. First ball, full and wide, Suryakumar edges one behind. In comes Pollard. Cummins delivers a wide yorker, dugout for two. Another wide yorker follows, but this time Pollard was ready for it. He gets under it and smacks it over long-on. Eight off three.

    Cummins tries to go wider and bowls a wide, forcing him to change the length for the next. A couple of runs followed off the fourth. 11 off four deliveries against Pollard isn’t all that bad. But the story wasn’t over. The pacer went short and wide, Pollard pulled with all his might only to top-edged it over third-man for a six. 17 off five now. Cummis reacts and goes fuller. Pollard once again goes hard and this time the leading edge brings the same result.

    In an over where he did hardly anything wrong, Cummins ended up conceding 23 runs from five balls and a wicket. From 138 for three, Mumbai went on to finish with 161/4. But he knew, such things happen in the shortest format.

    “Welcome to T20 cricket,” he would say after the match, before adding, “we would have taken 160 at the start of the innings.”

    In fact, at that point, he wouldn’t have known that his more significant performance in the match was yet to come.

    Mumbai had reduced Kolkata to 101/5 in 13.1 overs. Tymal Mills had removed Andre Russell. Venkatesh Iyer was still batting, but they still needed 61 runs from 41 balls. In comes Cummins and sneaks a single of his first. That was the only inconsequential ball of the innings. From there one, every ball he faced was an event.

    The fifth ball of that over was on the slot and Cummins smacked it over the shorter boundary on the leg side for six. Mills went fuller and wider. Cummins followed, slicing it between gully and third-man for a four.

    Mumbai still had two overs of Jasprit Bumrah. But that didn’t bother the Australian. He played out a couple of deliveries before launching the Indian pacer over deep-midwicket. Much like Mills, Bumrah, too, went full and wide, but an outside edge was enough for Cummins to secure a boundary. By the end of that over, the equation had come down to 35 off 30 with Cummins batting at 22 from 8 balls. It seemed like it was his day with the bat. And everything he’s touched would turn gold.

    What followed was just madness. Rohit Sharma brought Daniel Sams and Cummins was ready for it. Six, four, six, six followed off his bat, all on through the leg-side. The chase was all but done in those four deliveries. The pressure led Sams to bowl a no-ball, off which Cummins scored just two, thanks to Suryakumar’s effort on the ropes.

    A four and a six followed as Cummins brought up the joint-fastest fifty ever in the IPL, smashing 35 runs in that over. It was an exhibition of ball striking, especially against pace. From 101/5 after 13.1, Kolkata went to 162/5 in just 18 balls.

    Mumbai had one over of Murugan Ashwin left at that point. They could have used him against Cummins, but it was all irrelevant as their head coach Mahela Jayawardene said after the match.

    “Hindsight is a great thing, but with short leg-side boundaries, Cummins could hit those sixes with the equation that was there. Maybe, we could have stuck with those hard lengths rather than using variations,” he said after the match.

    Maybe Ashwin could have made a difference, maybe not. Either way, the way Cummins started with the bat, it was just one of those days where all one could say was that the knock was just meant to be.

    Brief Scores: MI 161/4 in 20 overs (Suryakumar 52, Tilak 38 n.o; Cummins 2/49) vs KKR 162/5 in 15 overs (Cummins 56 n.o, Venkatesh 50 n.o)