IPL 2018, KXIP vs MI: 3 masterstrokes from the game

Kings XI Punjab clashed against Mumbai Indians at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. Mumbai Indians won the toss and elected to field first. Kings XI Punjab put up a fighting total of 174/6 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to 50 from Chris Gayle and late order cameos from Karun Nair (23) and Marcus Stoinis (29).

In reply, Mumbai Indians chased the target with an over to spare to register a comprehensive win. This was a do-or-die game for Mumbai and this win keeps their hopes alive in this season.

In a game that ebbed and flowed let us look at 3 masterstrokes of this match.

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#3 Winning the toss and opting to bowl first

Both the sides clashed at the same venue in the previous season (2017) and it was a high scoring venture. Batting first, Kings put up a daunting score of 198 to which Mumbai Indians chased the target in just under 16 overs. Hence Rohit Sharma had no hesitation in opting to field first this time.

This decision turned out to be a masterstroke as the Mumbai bowlers bowled with tight line and lengths and didn’t let the Punjab batsman get away. With the start, Kings XI had they were well on their way to a score of above 180 but some tight bowling and wickets at regular intervals, the run rate was kept in check and Punjab ended with 174/6 in their allocated 20 overs.

#2 Slower deliveries and variations by Mumbai bowlers

Mumbai Indians picked up 6 wickets and amongst them, 4 wickets were off slower deliveries. Chris Gayle who was well set on 50 off 39 deliveries was out to a slower off-cutter from Ben Cutting, which caught the top edge of Gayle’s bat, who tried to pull it towards deep midwicket boundary.

Karun Nair, who was batting on 23 tried to loft one for six of a delivery from Mitch McClenaghan. The batsman was deceived due to lack of pace on the ball and in the end, was caught at long-off boundary.

Axar Patel who was promoted up the batting order to up the ante was dismissed in the 17th over as he chipped one straight into the hands of Hardik Pandya at the long-on region. Jasprit Bumrah bowled an off-cutter which prompted the batsman to check his shot that lobbed up in the air for an easy catch.

Hardik Pandya was handed over the last over. Despite getting clobbered for 22 runs, the medium pacer managed to pick up the wicket of Mayank Agarwal on the 4th ball of the over. The batsman sliced an off-cutter into the hands of the third man fielder, Krunal Pandya.

#1 Rohit dropping himself down to number 5 in the batting order

Rohit Sharma, who is generally slated to come at number 3 dropped himself to number 5 and this turned out to be a masterstroke. With more than 10 runs per over required off the last 5 overs, Rohit Sharma and Krunal Pandya threw caution to the wind as both the batsman tore apart the Kings XI Punjab bowlers to register a thumping victory.

It all started in the 17th over, when Rohit Sharma took charge against Mujeeb Ur Rahman by smashing him for 2 sixes; this over yielded 14 runs. With 36 to win off 18 balls, Krunal Pandya showed his batting prowess by smashing Marcus Stoinis for 2 fours and a gigantic six to bring the equation down to 16 of 12 balls.

The formalities were done in the penultimate over as Mumbai Indians won the game with an over to spare.

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