Rohit Sharma turned the clock back to younger men’s clothes by smashing a match winning Player of the Match 81 runs bludgeoned off 50 balls hitting 9 boundaries and 4 over the top as Mumbai Indians ran up 228 for 5 wickets to putting Gujarat Titans out of the IPL title contention by a margin of 20 runs restricting their opponents to 208 for 6 in the 20 overs in yesterday’s Eliminator (N) at New Chandigarh.
Making the most winning the toss Mumbai Indians were off to the ideal ominous start of 84 in just 7.2 overs with Johnny Bairstow an equal to the task blaze of 47 off 22 with 4 fours and 3 maximums.
New Zealander Trent Boult had the prize wicket of Shubman Gill trapped leg beforet wicket for 1 in a 2 wicket grab for 56 runs before Jasprit Bumrah delivered a toe crushing Yorker described as the ball of the tournament to knocking Washington Sundar’s leg stump for 48 that was the moment of the match in a telling economic spell of 1 for 27. in breaking a decisive 84 run fourth wicket partnership between Sai Sudarshan.
Mumbai Indians made the final difference by their hitting depth 17 sixes to the Titans 8 for the second highest total in any IPL play off games to ensuring the Titans were way behind in that equation.
The headline is not a teaser but a dedication to the thousands of Gujrati fans who came to Chandiger stadium only to see their team bow out of the tournament after leading the points table 60 % during the league stage and the absence and value of Jos Buttler due to a international commitment at home.
Difficult pill to swallow, but the tears in the faces of the fans were visible.
Jos Buttler was replaced by Kusal Mendis, and the forced substitution did not bear any fruit.
As it was, Mumbai Indians had a field day making merry on a placid batting conditions, and they thumped 17 sixes in their total of 228 for 5 wickets, the highest team score at Mohali
The opening pair stitched a partnership of 84 runs before Jhonny Bairstow, who replaced Ryan Rickleton, departed in the 8th over having and done his duty smashing 47. Rohit Sharma hung around till the 16th over and departed with MI on 186 for 3 wickets.
Mumbai Indians approach to the game was see ball hit ball. Suriyakuma Yadev 33 , Thilak Varma 25, and Hardick Pandya 22 off 9 deliveries indicates the poor areas Gujrat Titans bowled.
Prasad Krishna had a weak day in the park 2 for 53 , Ravi Sai 2 for 42, and Mohd Siraj 1 for 37 accounted for the 5 scalps.
We do accept 229 as a target in a must win game, is herculean. Kusal Mendis was not only disappointing behind the stumps missing sharp chances but was hit wicket, out for 20 on a tailor-made surface for batting. He has become a bunny for Mitch Santner over the years.
Sai Sudharshan and Washington Sunder, the two boys from Tamil Nadu, batted with responsibility and were 2 for 151 in the 13th over. No doubt the crowds expected the rabbit out of the Gujrat Titans hat.
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Then Hardick Pandya decided to reintroduce his man Friday Japrit Bumrah into the attack.
All that the crowd herd and the millions of television viewers eye balled was the tickle of timber Washington done and dusted by a Bumrah yorker. Bumrah ends his spell with 1 for 27. Exceptional to state the least.
There was still hope, but Sai Sudharshan during the run of play was bowled off a full toss when he tried to improvise a Gleeson long hop that too bowled round his legs with the score on 170.
Still, in the dugout, the players in the Gujrati camp indicated hope against hope because big boundary merchant Shefane Rutherford was at the wickets unbeaten on 25.
It was a disaster when he mistimed a ball within his hitting arch and was caught at mid wicket. Thus, the story ends for Gurarat Titans 208 for 6 wickets, lost by 20 runs.
There are no IF’S AND BUTS in cricketing analysis, but the Gujarati fans would have had a late night supper thinking of a consolating thought wish Buttler had been there for us ?
Thank you, Gujarat Titans, for the memories. The Jos Buttler loss had its toll. Lesson learnt, over dependent can boomerang.