WAOW!!!
Sheer applauding is needed to appreciate the feet that Rohit Sharma and his
paltan (team) has achieved in later phase of the league. No one could have even
predicted more than imagined a place in playoff’s after their poor show of
performance in UAE when they lost all their matches and returned to India at
bottom of the table with five matches down and yet to open their account in
winning points. Skipper of MI (Sharma) kept hoping and performing in front of
more familiar crowds, with fans support and better contributions from batters
now MI were challenging other teams and started competing like we have known
them in past seasons of IPL.
MI’s
first win came against the team who looked unbeatable and were also positioned
at the top of the table were they defeated KXIP by 5 wickets in 22nd
match of the league, then against RCB in 27th match by 19 runs. But their streak was again disturbed by CSK. With
that loss it meant MI had to win all their matches and hope some opposition’s
results in their favour to seek a place in playoff.
In
India, MI won six matches out of eight and it came to last match of the league
to decide the final four teams to play for the title. It was Rajasthan Royal vs
Mumbai Indians. With all the calculations and methods applied it was clear
that:
- If RR wins they are the one to qualify, simple as it can get
- But, if MI has to qualify, they need to win with a margin to better off the run rate with RR.
- If MI would have batted first they had to restrict RR and win the match by at least 45 runs and if MI opted to bowl (what they did) they had to case whatever the target set by RR in 14.3 overs.
For
Raj Royals, it was the partnership of Samson and Nair that set a tone of
scoring runs and gathered 100 runs before Nair (50) got out then followed by
Samson (74). It was Faulkner and Hodge’s partnership that accounted for 49 runs
but also challenged MI to get it in 14.3 overs.
It
was a taunting task, but batsmen were positive and d only one option to case
than to win and unable to qualify. Their task was cut-out. Simmons and Hussey started
aggressively and soon Simmons perished and the man who is known for his fastest
hundred on the new year day against West Indies were he scored 100* off 36. Corey
was replacing M de Lange and he started his innings the way situation demanded
from him. He struck 16 runs off 6 deliveries he faced and continued to pace his
innings. On the other hand, MI kept losing wickets. Hussey (22) and Pollard (7)
fell to cooper in the same over after Pollard been promoted in the batting
order ahead of skipper. R Sharma showed some form but soon he too fell in
catching up the required run rate and got out to Kulkarni. Raydu came to the
party and scored 30 off 10 balls.
It
came down to the wire were MI needed 10 runs off 3 balls when Raydu got run out
on which was supposed to be last delivery to qualify but it was confirmed by
the umpires that net run rate is tied and the next ball had to cross the rope
for Mumbai Indians to qualify and vice versa for Rajasthan Royals. Batsman on
strike was Tare who flicked the ball from Faulkner which was pitched full-toss
on outside leg stump and it went to sail over the fine leg boundary. It meant
MI qualified for playoff after not only levelling the score in 14.3 overs but
also having a tie in NRR.
Logically,
in the calculation of net run rate (NRR), the final score, and not the target,
is the relevant number. For Mumbai Indians, the requirement to finish the chase
in 87 deliveries was only subject to their final score being 190. The chasing
team, if they take a few extra deliveries to get home, can still push their NRR
up to the required fraction if they manage to achieve a final score that is
sufficiently higher - by finishing things off with a boundary.
It
was a match were unbelievable shots were played, strategies were made & executed
and immense energy was shown from both side and a game was played within the
spirit but many would say it wasn’t just a game of cricket, it was war between
two sides and no soldiers were harmed from the outcome (physically rather than mentally).
A man without him this case couldn’t have been possible and was truly rewarded
as the Man-of-the-Match for his unbeaten 95 of 44 balls.
Has
Mumbai Indians performed their best in the match that mattered or is there
anymore special innings stored from the likes of Simmons, Pollard, R. Sharma
and C. Anderson in the playoff?
We
will see it on 28th when they take on much familiar competitors in
the playoff’s CSK.
Other News and Facts:
- Uttapa is wearing orange cap and Narine is also owing purple cap both for KKR, but the past records states cap holders team is unlikely to win the league especially the orange cap holder.
|
Season
|
Orange Cap Holder
|
Mat
|
Runs
|
Purple Cap Holder
|
Mat
|
Wkts
|
Teams won
|
|
11
|
616
|
11
|
22
|
Rajasthan
Royals
|
|||
|
12
|
572
|
R.P. Singh (DC)
|
16
|
23
|
Deccan
Chargers
|
||
|
(MI)
|
15
|
618
|
16
|
21
|
Chennai
Super Kings
|
||
|
12
|
608
|
16
|
28
|
Chennai
Super Kings
|
|||
|
15
|
733
|
16
|
25
|
Kolkata
Knight Riders
|
|||
|
16
|
733
|
18
|
32
|
Mumbai
Indians
|
- On a personal note, three out of four team that were predicted way before IPL-7 was even started to enter into playoffs have made it to the stage. (you can check in my earlier post)
- Now it’s just a matter of four matches, then whether we will see CSK for their third title or will it be KKR or MI to lift the trophy for second time or will the KXIP make this their season.
Following is the personal prediction of the playoffs:
Match 57: KKR vs KXIP-
KXIP
will win in their home ground in front of home fans. KXIP have made it to
playoffs by dominating their opponents with sheer power in batting but still
their bowling line up is unpredictable and with KKR playing in home ground it
would be difficult for Bailey & co. to out class KKR fans.
Match 58: MI vs CSK-
Once
again these two teams meet in the playoffs were the story changes from the
league. Here, MI has ruled over CSK but CSK would be looking for some payback.
MI wins in front of home ground of Mumbai Indians.
Match 59: MI vs KKR-
MI wins (for their winning momentum)
For
all you reader it’s me signing off. Keep supporting by keep reading
Tc
cya
#$D
