Sundaram Ravi (India), Chris Gaffaney (New Zealand), Virender Sharma (India, TV)
The IPL 2020 opener proves that the Abu Dhabi pitch is not a high scoring one. Bowlers will hold the edge in the formative overs but, batsmen will find it easier once they see themselves in. The dew factor will come into play in the second innings but, considering the firepower both MI and KKR have, something around 170 to 180 will be a par score.
The weather will be hot and humid with evening temperatures varying between 33 and 32 degress celsius. There isn't any possibility of rain, so we are in for full 40 overs.
After losing the match against CSK, MI would look to bounce back against their bogey team - they lead the head-to-head record against KKR 19 times to six. Dinesh Karthik sounded relieved yesterday that they are playing MI early in the tournament and, KKR would give in their all to begin IPL 2020 on a winning note. MI definitely have a more well-rounded outfit, but KKR hold the edge in the spin department. While MI can avail of the services of Rahul Chahar and Krunal Pandya - both of them are comparatively inexperienced - KKR have Sunil Narine and Kuldeep Yadav in their ranks. If the Rohit Sharma-led side can play spin well and not let KKR's explosive middle order cut loose, MI will be back on the winning track tonight.
Last 5 Head To Head
0
0
0
Venue Stats
44
137
19
128
25
Expert Comment
Prasen Moudgal
Big boundaries and the dew factor will make the captain who wins the toss bowl first. MI have a more balanced side but, KKR have the firepower in their middle order to dismantle any opposition. While KKR would look to make early inroads, MI would be wary of not leaking too many runs at the death.
That's all from us for the day. Hope you enjoyed the exciting match up between MI and KKR. We will be back tomorrow with Kings XI Punjab taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore, it's their second game of IPL 2020 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The match will start at 07:30 p.m. IST. Do join us for some exciting action. Until then, it is Pradeep Somashekar and Shashwat Kumar signing off! Goodnight!
Who would've thought the team that has Andre Russell and Eoin Morgan in the line up would lose the match with a huge margin, it just wasn't their day for the KKR today, they couldn't contain the onslaught of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav earlier on and with the chase, well, they never got going, did they.
Dinesh Karthik, feels like, missed out on a trick by promoting himself up the order as Gill and Narine didn't provide the start that they would've wanted to. Narine was peppered with short deliveries and edges one finally to depart but before that Gill looked all set to get in and get this chase on but he struggled against Boult, pulls one straight to Pollard, KKR were tottering at 25-2 when Nitesh Rana and Dinesh Karthik got their act together to get KKR to a decent position after the half way mark, but that wasn't enough as they failed to keep up with the NRR, the pressure was mounting on both the batsman as Karthik fell for a slider from Chahar and Rana followed him sooner who had to get on and perished trying loft one towards deep extra cover.
Although, MI were in driving seat at that moment, they had the Russell's threat looming all over them. At the start of the 12th over KKR needed 118 of 8 overs when they had their best power hitters in the middle, Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell, what happened from there on is a magical story for Jasprit Bumrah who kept them quiet in one of the over and with some excellent change of pace meant he rewards himself with a big fish, later on in that over, Morgan follows him too as he edges one to the keeper which is again a brilliant slower delivery. It looked like Mumbai Indians did their homework really well against Morgan and Russell, they executed them with such finesse.
Once Russell and Morgan perished, it was almost but over for KKR, but Cummins didn't let the spirit go as he pounded Bumrah for 4 SIX'es of one over before he perished in the next over as Pattison sends him back to the dug out. In the end Mumbai Indians win this easily and register their points in the points table. KKR needed to get as much close to the target as possible to not hurt their NRR, it'll all boil down to this at the business end of the tournament.
Anyways, Mumbai Indians strolled through this match and beat Kolkata Knight Riders as they got their act together in this match after their loss in the first game against Chennai Super Kings!
Rohit Sharma is adjudged the man of the match for his brilliant knock which set the tone for the match with 80 of 54 balls!!
At the presentation he says, it is all about executing plans, they were in good position and they knew that the wicket is better and hang in there to make the most of it, Rohit also talked about how much he loves playing those pull shots. He says 6 months is a long gap without holding the bat or playing the game, to come here and execute plans right from the word go has been tremendous, it becomes easy when their pacers execute the plan accordingly!
Dinesh Karthik at the presentation says, they have been a bit rusty today and their players know where they need to get better and Cummins and Morgan finished their quarantine today and it's tough come back and play so soon.
There it is, Mumbai Indians clinched the victory convincingly in the end as they beat Kolkata Knight Riders by a whopping 49 runs!
19.6 Rahul Chahar to Shivam Mavi, OUT! Given lots of air on a length outside off stump and Mavi steps down the track! He then has a huge go at it but misses the ball by a country mile. De Kock does the rest and whips the bails off! That's it then! Mumbai Indians win for the first time in IPL history in the UAE!
19.5 Rahul Chahar to Shivam Mavi, back of a length delivery outside off. Mavi waits on it and then cracks it past extra cover for a couple
19.4 Rahul Chahar to Kuldeep Yadav, full delivery at the stumps. Kuldeep gets forward and drives down the ground for a single
19.3 Rahul Chahar to Kuldeep Yadav, OH HELLO! Tossed up on a length on off stump and Kuldeep brings out the reverse sweep. Makes no contact though
19.2 Rahul Chahar to Shivam Mavi, back of a length delivery on middle and leg. Mavi heaves at it and gets a single to deep square leg
19.1 Rahul Chahar to Shivam Mavi, back of a length delivery outside off. Mavi camps in his crease and cuts it to the man in the ring at point
Pattinson sends Cummins back in that over after that brilliant hitting in Bumrah's over as Cummins look to repeat it in this over too. Just 3 runs from that over! Final over coming up!
Over: 19 |
Summary: 1 1w W 0 0 0 1
Bowler: James Pattinson
Score: 142/8
18.6 James Pattinson to Shivam Mavi, another off pace delivery on a length outside off stump. Mavi lets the ball come to him before knocking it beyond the outstretched palms of Pattinson for a single
18.5 James Pattinson to Shivam Mavi, length delivery outside off stump and Mavi slashes at it hard. He blazes it towards point, where Rohit puts in the dive and stops a boundary!
18.4 James Pattinson to Shivam Mavi, another slower delivery on a back of a length outside off. Mavi throws his hands at it but only gets an inside edge to the keeper
18.3 James Pattinson to Shivam Mavi, slower bumper on middle and off stump. Mavi is completely deceived by the lack of pace and swings at least a couple of days early
Cummins perishes after a little cameo, could've proved handy if KKR's top order had managed to score briskly early on in the chase! In comes Kuldeep Yadav!
18.2 James Pattinson to Pat Cummins, OUT! CUMMINS' BATTING FAIRY TALE COMES TO AN END! Full delivery on middle stump and that seems to be in the slot. However, Cummins gets this one off the toe end of the bat and can only offer a regulation catch to Hardik at deep mid wicket, who makes no mistake!
