Mumbai Indians (MI) have not won their opening match in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 10 years. However, they were in striking distance of making amends to this dubious streak before Delhi Capitals (DC) turned the odds in match 2 at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai.
The IPL 2022 continues to be a grand affair for the Yadavs. After Umesh Yadav’s brilliant spell in the tournament opener on Saturday, the second game was about Kuldeep Yadav’s brilliant spell (4-0-18-3) and Lalit Yadav’s (48* off 38) composure at the crease.
DC lost half their wickets inside 10 overs, and needing 75 from the last seven overs with Jasprit Bumrah’s overs left. MI had the game in their grasp. But Lalit and Axar Patel added an unbeaten stand of 75 in just 30 balls to complete the win.
After having an ordinary day with the ball, Axar (38* off 17) and Shardul Thakur (22 off 11) turned the game around with their willows to help DC with two points.
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Mumbai Indians 177/5 in 20 overs
Sent to bat by Rishabh Pant, MI were off to a strong start courtesy of Rohit Sharma (41 in 32 balls) and Ishan Kishan (81* in 48). They added 67 in 50 balls before Kuldeep got Rohit, and went on to make merry.
After been picked by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2014, but his performance went downhill over the last three seasons. He finally came good in his first game for DC, his new franchise. He made inroads in the MI middle order, dismissing Anmolpreet Singh (8 off 9) and the experienced Kieron Pollard (3 off 6).
MI felt Suryakumar’s absence on Day Yadav. Catering to the need of the hour, Kishan held one end and built essential partnerships with MI debutants Tilak Varma (22 in 15) and Tim David (12 in 8) before cutting loose in the death overs, where he scored at a strike rate of 227.
Despite their short stays at the crease, Varma and David gave good accounts of themselves to the IPL audience. Both were dismissed by DC debutant Khaleel Ahmed (4-0-27-2), who lived up to his reputation of picking up critical wickets.
For DC, national stars Thakur (4-0-47-0) and Axar (4-0-40-0) went wicketless and were plundered for runs. Even Kamlesh Nagarkoti, playing his first game for the Capitals, went for 29 in two overs.
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Delhi Capitals 179/6 in 18.4 overs
DC lost wickets in clusters early on. All seemed to go well for them until the fourth over, when they were going at 10 an over. Tim Seifert (21 in 14) was taking the pacers, including Bumrah, to the cleaners. Sensing the need to change the pace, Rohit introduced MI debutant M. Ashwin (4-1-14-2) into the attack.
Standing in for the injured Kishan, wicketkeeper Aryan Juyal dropped Seifert off the second ball. Ashwin’s next ball, a googly, hurried on to Seifert’s stumps. Two balls later, Mandeep Singh slapped a juicy full toss to mid on.
Pant’s stay lasted two more balls. The first ball of Tymal Mills, playing his first match in the IPL since 2017, was short and wide. However, the extra bounce beat Pant as DC lost three wickets in the space of three balls.
Keen to improve his terrible record against MI, opener Prithvi Shaw kept DC’s hopes alive by mixing caution with aggression before falling to Basil Thampi in the 10th over. Two balls later, Thampi removed DC debutant Rovman Powell for a duck.
Lalit held one end as Thakur launched an assault. His cameo lasted 11 balls before Axar and Lalit targeted the pacers, not even sparing Bumrah, who went for 43 in his 3.2 overs. The duo looted 24 off Daniel Sams’ last over: Sams finished with 57 runs from his four overs.
The win with 10 balls remaining will play a big role in boosting DC’s net run rate. Their fortunes look bright with David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, and Anrich Nortje set to join the setup in the coming days.
Brief Scores
Mumbai Indians 177/5 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 81*; Kuldeep Yadav 3-18) lost to Delhi Capitals 179/6 in 18.2 overs (Lalit Yadav 48*; Basil Thampi 3-35) by 4 wickets with 10 balls to spare. Player of the Match: Kuldeep Yadav.