IPL 2018, CSK vs MI: 5 talking points

#2 A disappointing 19th over by Shardul Thakur

Thakur's bizarre 19th

over turned

the match in

favor

of the Mumbai Indians

At the end of the 18th over, Mumbai Indians needed 22 from 12 deliveries. Skipper MS Dhoni had two pacers to choose from to bowl the 19th over, both of whom had conceded 21 runs from their 3 overs. They were Dwayne Bravo and Shardul Thakur.

Both bowlers conceded few runs in their respective last overs. However, MSD opted for Shardul Thakur to bowl the 19th over.

Thakur began well with a yorker which Hardik Pandya sent towards deep cover for a single. However, Thakur's next three deliveries saw Rohit Sharma hitting as many boundaries. The equation was now 9 from 8.

The 26-year old bowled a dot ball before being hit for a fourth boundary by Rohit Sharma who reached his fifty. Thakur's over yielded 17 runs and MI now needed just 5 from the final over.

This was Shardul Thakur's third consecutive expensive spell of the tournament, having conceded 45 and 46 runs against SRH and RCB respectively. Provided Thakur continues to bowl this way, his place in the playing XI might be in jeopardy.