IPL 2018, RCB vs MI: Four unnoticed things from the game

It was a clash between the bottom dwellers of this year’s IPL as the Royal Challengers Bangalore took on the Mumbai Indians at the Chinnaswamy stadium. It was a must-win clash for both the teams.

Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to field first. RCB had a good start as Manan Vohra took charge in the powerplay. A 60 run partnership between Virat Kohli and Brendon McCullum ensured that RCB were well on their way to cross 180 but a brilliant triple wicket over by Hardik Pandya applied the brakes on the scoring rate.Some lusty hitting in the last over by Colin de Grandhomme dragged RCB to a competitive score of 167.

In reply, Mumbai got off to a disastrous start as they lost their top order for just 21 runs. However, an excellent partnership between the Pandya brothers kept them in the game. But some excellent death over bowling by Mohammad Siraj and Tim Southee ensured that RCB won the contest by 14 runs. Sportskeeda takes a look at some of the things that the fans might have missed in today’s game.

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#1 Virat Kohli arrives too late at the crease

It is a well-known fact that in T20 cricket your best batsman should bat the maximum number of overs. Hence, teams employ their best batsman in the top order. RCB has also followed this funda in the past by sending out Virat as an opener.

However, RCB has got too many opening batsmen this season. Manan Vohra, Brendon McCullum, Quinton De Kock all are established opening batsmen. In trying to accommodate all of them at the top, the team management made Kohli bat at no. 4 today.

It turned out to be a blunder of sorts as Virat came to bat at the crease only in the 8th over. RCB’s team management would do well by making Kohli bat in the top 3 in future.

#2 Ishan Kishan’s big miss

Colin De Grandhomme is known for his big hitting down the order. RCB has drafted him in the playing XI to provide some momentum down the order. On the last ball of the penultimate over, Grandhomme tried to steal a bye but the non-striker sent him back. Grandhomme was way short of his crease but Ishan Kishan missed with his throw.

It turned out to be a big moment in the game as Grandhomme smashed Mitchell McClenaghan for 3 massive sixes in the last over as RCB posted a competitive score of 167 runs on a slow wicket.

#3 Ben Cutting not given the ball

Ben Cutting has been redrafted back in the playing XI by Mumbai Indians in place of Mustafizur Rehman to provide some big hits down the order. The big Australian all-rounder is very handy with the ball as well. He is a hit the deck kind of bowler and can surprise you with his pacy bouncer.

Cutting played a big part in the Sunrisers winning campaign of 2016. But Rohit Sharma did not show enough faith in his bowling abilities today as Cutting did not even bowl a single over. With Hardik Pandya playing an important role by picking up 3 wickets, there was a case for Ben Cutting being given the ball as well.

#4 Hardik Pandya becomes the joint leading wicket taker

Hardik Pandya has not had a great season with the bat but the maverick all-rounder has a happy knack of picking up wickets. He has consistently contributed with the ball this season.

Today as well, after having a disappointing first over, Pandya made a strong comeback by picking up crucial wickets of Mandeep Singh, Virat Kohli and Washington Sundar in the 18th over. By picking up these 3 wickets, Hardik Pandya increased his wicket tally to 11 wickets and became the joint leading wicket-taker in this year’s IPL.