The 2022 season may be shaping up as a season to forget for fans of the Mumbai Indians, but the fact remains that no franchise has enjoyed greater success in the IPL. And that winning sequence began when they became the fifth franchise to win the tournament, in 2013.
They had finished second in the regular season table, behind Chennai Super Kings. Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) filled the other play-off places.
Chennai beat Mumbai by 48 runs in Qualifier 1. However, after Rajasthan beat Hyderabad in the Eliminator, Mumbai beat Kolkata in Qualifier 2 by four wickets to reach the final for the first time.
The match took place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, with Mumbai considered the underdogs.
Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma won the toss for his side and chose to bat. They got off to a poor start, and soon found themselves at 16/3, Rohit being among the three wickets to fall. Dinesh Karthik and Ambati Rayudu helped steady the ship before Kieron Pollard gave them something to defend by making an unbeaten 60 from 32 balls, including three sixes. For Chennai, Dwayne Bravo starred with 4-42.
A total of 148/9 did not seem enough, but Chennai made an even worse start: they were reduced to 3/3 after 10 balls. That soon became 39/6 and it looked like the match would soon be over. That, though, was to reckon without captain M.S. Dhoni, who gave Chennai hope with a 45-ball 63 that included five sixes and three fours. He added 41 with R. Ashwin (9) for the ninth wicket and 26 more with Mohit Sharma (0*) for the tenth.
Unfortunately, Chennai could only muster 129/9. Mumbai had won the match by 23 runs and Pollard was named Player of the Match.