IPL 2018: MI vs RCB - Three best decisions from the game

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The 14th match of the IPL saw Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore face each other at the Wankhede. Mumbai were yet to register a victory this season and RCB were coming from a disappointing loss to RR at home.

For the fourth consecutive time, Mumbai Indians were asked to bat. In spite of early strikes by Yadav, Mumbai got to 213 thanks to some astonishing big hitting by Lewis and a captain’s knock from Rohit.

Chasing 214, RCB were never in the match due to some early strikes by Mitchell, and world-class spin bowling by Krunal Pandya and Markande. Kohli waged a lone battle from one end, but it wasn’t enough as RCB slumped to a 46-run defeat.

Here are the masterstrokes from this game.


#1 Giving Yadav the 1st over

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Umesh Yadav’s bowling in this IPL has been incredibly inconsistent. He has either bowled some unbelievable spells, like he did against Punjab, when he picked up the wickets of Agarwal, Finch and Yuvi in a single over, or bowled some juicy half volleys and full tosses like he did against RR when he conceded 59 runs.

But Kohli kept his faith in Umesh Yadav and gave him the very first over. The move paid off big time as he picked up two wickets of the first two balls, thus silencing the crowd and putting pressure on the Paltans.

The first ball went through the defence of Suryakumar Yadav with a huge inswinger and the very next ball clattered the off-stump of Ishan Kishan, with the ball swinging back into the southpaw after pitching on a good length.

After a meek start to their campaign, RCB was expecting something special from their bowlers and Yadav provided the same.

#2 Picking Mitchell McClenaghan

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Mitchell McClenaghan has been a vital component of this Mumbai lineup for three years. He has been a wicket-taker and has always stood up when it mattered, even though his economy is on the higher side. He had a disastrous start to the 2018 campaign as he went for 44 runs in the first match and was dropped for the subsequent matches.

But Rohit Sharma took a risky decision of picking McClenaghan in spite of the star-studded RCB batting lineup. Chasing 214, Kohli and de Kock were in attacking mode and this was when McClenaghan came in to bowl. He bowled an outstanding first over as he mixed the slower off-cutters and cross-seam deliveries with some wide yorkers.

In the next over, he picked the wickets of de Kock and de Villiers. This over completely took the momentum from the RCB chase and helped Mumbai Indians win the match.

#3 Deep square leg trap for ABD

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After a disastrous 2016 where he missed a majority of the matches with a back injury, ABD was breathing fire coming into this IPL. He singlehandedly won RCB the match against Punjab; when he is in full flow, there is no player in the world who can match de Villiers.

RCB lost de Kock in the 4th over and ABD came to bat on a pitch tailor-made for big hitting. This was the moment when Rohit Sharma proved why he is the most successful captain in IPL history as he set a short ball trap for ABD.

The South African fell for this well-planned tactic as he failed to notice the deep square leg fielder. He instinctively went for the pull shot and holed out to Pandya. It was the moment that changed this match as RCB failed to score at a higher rate and eventually lost by 46 runs.

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Edited by Nishant Jayaram