Mumbai Indians are the most successful IPL side in history. In what was a clash of the titans against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday, May 12, Mumbai did their utmost to mess it all up – they posted a middling total and dropped Shane Watson a couple of times, allowing him to take Chennai to the brink.
However, Lasith Malinga bowled one hell of a final over, despite goofing up with a poor effort earlier, and Rohit Sharma lifted the trophy a fifth time, four of those leading Mumbai. Cue the confetti, the fist pumps, the bear hugs, the victory laps and cricketers playing with their toddlers on the field.
It was a fine final, and another match in an entertaining season that went down to the last ball.
What’s hot
#VIVOIPL 2019 Champions ? – @mipaltan ? pic.twitter.com/XPl5dzh2H6
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 12, 2019
Jasprit Bumrah. In terms of wickets, the paceman didn’t really shine as much as others: he had 19 wickets in 16 matches, while Kagiso Rabada had 25 in 12, and Imran Tahir, the highest wicket-taker, finished with 26 in 17 matches. But the wicket charts don’t tell the whole story.
He was run out by Ishan Kishan, when attempting to steal a second run after an overthrow. It was as close as run-outs can get – one frame showed he was caught short, another suggested he had just a shade of his bat over the line – but ultimately, the third umpire decided to press the red button.
It was the game-changing moment for Chennai, especially given Ambati Rayudu and Suresh Raina had fallen before Dhoni for single-digit scores. You can’t fault Dhoni for attempting to steal that second run – every run counts – but when it doesn’t come off, and the team falls a run short in the final reckoning, it all comes into focus.
The result left Chennai with four losses against Mumbai this season. The IPL’s so-called El Classico is already too one-sided.
What they said
FIFTY!
Back to back half-centuries for @ShaneRWatson33 ?? pic.twitter.com/om78JeoIXH
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 12, 2019
“It was quite funny – we were just passing the trophy to each other.”
– MS Dhoni summing up the mistake-ridden final as only he can.
What they didn’t say
“If it wasn’t for Nita Ambani praying so intensely, we would never have made it.”
– Nobody at Mumbai Indians.
What’s next
Well, nothing. At least as far as the IPL goes. The World Cup is just a couple of weeks away, though. See you then. This was fun.
