IPL 2018: SRH vs MI: 5 reasons why Mumbai Indians lost

The 7th match of the IPL 2018 was a clash between the three-time champions Mumbai Indians and the Kane Williamson led Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.

Kane won the toss and put the defending champions Mumbai into bat. Mumbai got off to a strong start courtesy some lusty hitting by Evin Lewis. However, Sidharth Kaul’s double-wicket over changed the complexion of the game.

Mumbai failed to get any momentum going in their innings and could only post a paltry score of 147 in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, Hyderabad got off to a flier with the help of some excellent batting from Shikhar Dhawan.

However, an astonishing collapse brought the game back in Mumbai’s favor. Deepak Hooda then showed Dhoni like composure to take his side home in a thrilling contest. The match turned out to be an all-time classic.

Let us have a look at the 5 reasons why the defending champions Mumbai lost such a tight contest.

#1 Game-changing over by Siddarth Kaul

After losing Rohit early in the innings, Mumbai started to get their innings going through some excellent batting by Evin Lewis and Ishan Kishan. The scorecard read 48/1 of the first 5 overs when the ball was thrown to Siddarth Kaul.

Kaul dismissed Kishan of his second ball of the over as the young lefty played a wild slog and could only manage to find Yusuf Pathan at third man. Sensing that Lewis would come after him as it was the last over of the powerplay, Kaul outfoxed Lewis. He bowled a very well-disguised knuckleball. Lewis was through his shot too early and his stumps were shattered. It turned out to be a big moment in the match.

#2 Suryakumar’s Struggles

Number 4 is a key batting slot in a T20 game. The guy batting at 4 should be able to rotate the strike as well as strike it big when needed. Unfortunately, Suryakumar Yadav struggled to do both in today’s game.

Mumbai had a healthy run rate of 9 after the first 6 overs. However, Suryakumar’s struggling innings sucked all the momentum from Mumbai’s innings as he played too many dot balls. In the end, he could only manage 26 runs of the 31 balls he faced which applied the brakes on Mumbai’s scoring rate.

#3 Outstanding spell by Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan is the number 1 T20 bowler for a reason. He not only keeps the run rate down but also picks up crucial wickets. He can bowl in the powerplays as well as at the death.

Rashid Khan is in the league where Narine was during 2012-2014. Such is his effect these days that the opposition batsmen try to play out his overs. Today, Pollard also looked intend not to lose his wicket and blocked everything from Rashid.

Rashid exercised total control today with his variations and went for just 13 runs of his 4 overs, which included 18 dot balls!

#4 Dhawan’s blistering start

It would not be wrong to say that Shikhar Dhawan has been in the form of his life. He has carried forward his good form from the South Africa tour to the IPL. Shikhar went after the Mumbai’s bowlers from the word go, scoring runs all around the wicket.

He dispatched his first ball through the covers for four and never looked back. Shikhar slammed his Indian teammate Jasprit Bumrah for three fours in the 6th over which brought the required run rate under control. His 45 of 28 balls laid a strong foundation for Hyderabad’s chase.

#5 Ice cool Deepak Hooda

Deepak Hooda came to the crease with Hyderabad still needing 60 to win with 4 wickets already back in the hut. The wickets kept falling at the other end but Hooda stayed cool throughout the chase. He reduced the risk-taking aspect of his game and nudged the ones and twos.

Needing 11 runs off the last over, Hooda played a gorgeous lofted cover drive for a six. He then showed nerves of steel to take his side home. Indian team is looking for a finisher in the limited overs format and with a knock like that, Hooda did not do any harm to his chances.