Highlights, MI vs CSK, IPL 2021, Match 27: Kieron Pollard's valiant innings powers Mumbai to 4-wicket win

Kieron Pollard is Player of the Match

Pollard: Thanks to the almighty for watching over me. It is a small ground and we just fell it was the time for a seamer to come and bowl. It was fantastic to get the wickets. I think what mattered was four overs of spin. I had to maximise the over against Jadeja. In a ground like this, couple of sixes were always going to keep us in the game. You have try to maximise that part of the field on the off side. I can’t say I am 360 player now but I am trying to maximise on all angles. We have done this time and again. Two wins here gives us a good bit of momentum.

Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma: I think this was probably one of the best T20 games I’ve ever been a part of. I’ve never seen a chase like that before. One incredible innings from Kieron Pollard, I’m happy with the effort everyone put in. It was always going to be tough for the bowlers, with the good pitch and small boundaries. These are games in which bowlers will be hit for runs, but you have to keep backing the core players.

We had a brief chat during the interval, we told ourselves it’s a good pitch. We wanted to go out and express ourselves, and take the game to the end. That partnership between Krunal and Kieron was huge for us. We back Krunal, we know he’s a good batsman and we wanted to give him an opportunity to go out there and do his thing. I thought he could do well and set it up perfectly for Kieron and Hardik.

Mumbai Indians win. Pollard hits it to long on and runs two and takes his side home.

What a spectacular win for MI. What a night. Possibly the best game of the season so far. Pollard has single-handedly taken his side over the finish mark. He had luck on his side but he made sure he took full advantage of it and batted till the last ball. MI have stolen this victory from the hands of CSK. Precious two points collected by the Men in Blue. They are defending champions for a reason.

After 19 overs,Mumbai Indians 203/6 ( Kieron Pollard 71 , )

The momentum keeps shifting in this match. CSK vs MI living up to the reputation as this goes to the last over. Hardik smashed two sixes off first two balls before getting out. Neesham out for a duck. MI need 16 off 6 balls. Ball-by-ball commentary of the last over coming up.

After 18 overs,Mumbai Indians 188/4 ( Kieron Pollard 70 , Hardik Pandya 2)

Thakur continues, his issues with wide continues. Rayudu forces Dhoni to take the review for caught behind and wastes a review. Pollard next clears rope and then smashes a boundary. Unlucky Thakur as Faf then drops Pollard at long on. Faf, of all people, drops a catch. Luck favours the brave and so it does here. Pollard knows no fear at this moment. 31 off 12 needed.

After 17 overs,Mumbai Indians 171/4 ( Kieron Pollard 56 , Hardik Pandya 1)

Sam Curran, you little beauty. Quality at display. He is bowling quick and is hitting the toes of the batsmen, aiming the bottom of the off stump. Some words exchanged between him and Pollard, who even in this mood, could not do much against the Englishman. Just two off the over. Wow. MI need 48 off 18 balls.

After 16 overs,Mumbai Indians 169/3 ( Krunal Pandya 32 , Kieron Pollard 55)

Ngidi continues. MI now racing towards the target. Pollard has shifted the momentum to his side. Krunal with a couple of mishits that travelled for a six and four respectively. 16 off the over. MI need 50 off 24 balls.

After 15 overs,Mumbai Indians 153/3 ( Krunal Pandya 17 , Kieron Pollard 54)

Alright Pollard has taken the charge here. It is as if he wants to win this game for MI on his own. Has smashed a fifty off jusy 17 balls and is still going strong. Equation does not matter till he is there in the middle. Thakur taken to the cleaners in the over. 23 off it. Mi need 66 off 30.

After 14 overs,Mumbai Indians 130/3 ( Krunal Pandya 16 , Kieron Pollard 35)

Ngidi back on. Pollard in beast mode. Two more sixes in the over. Ngidi started the over well, was mixing up the pace nicely, but Pollard took the challenge and smashed back to back sixes. 16 off the over. Time out called.

After 13 overs,Mumbai Indians 114/3 ( Krunal Pandya 14 , Kieron Pollard 21)

This is brilliant from Dhoni. He has fielders placed at the right position but Pollard decides to go big and hits three maximums in the over, records the highest six hit in the match, 97 meter one. MI collect 20 off the over.

After 12 overs,Mumbai Indians 94/3 ( Krunal Pandya 13 , Kieron Pollard 2)

Thakur back on and Krunal welcomes him with a six off the first ball of the over. Thakur does well to bowl two back to back dots. 10 off the over. Mumbai Indians need 125 runs in 48 balls.

After 11 overs,Mumbai Indians 84/3 ( Krunal Pandya 4 , Kieron Pollard 1)

Jadeja continues. CSK spinners have slowed things down in the middle. Another good over. Just three off it. Just 4 off the last 12 balls. MI need to move on. They have only 54 balls left.

After 10 overs,Mumbai Indians 81/3 ( Pollard 0 , Krunal Pandya 2)

Moeen Ali, right-arm off break, comes into the attack now as there are two left-handers in the middle. The offie would look to bowl wider and turn it away. And that plan works straightaaway, de Kock dismissed trying to play on the leg side. Pollard has joined Krunal in the middle. Just one off the over and a wicket.

After 9 overs,Mumbai Indians 80/2 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 38 , Krunal Pandya 1)

Ravindra Jadeja, Left arm orthodox, comes into the attack now. Surya swept him and almost gave a catch to Ngidi at long leg. But he does not last long, two balls later he is caught behind. A wayward throw from Thakur evaded a run out chance on the last ball. Good over for CSK. A wicket and just six runs.

After 8 overs,Mumbai Indians 74/1 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 34 , Suryakumar Yadav 2)

Shardul Thakur, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack and he is looking better tonight. Bowled tight line, gave just 3 off the first three balls and that prompted Rohit to play a big shot, it came on the fourth ball but it led to his fall. A rare occurence on the cricket field as Jadeja misfields and lets batsmen take an extra run. Suryakumar has come in to bat.

After 7 overs,Mumbai Indians 68/0 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 31 , Rohit Sharma (C) 34)

Yes, as expected, Chahar has finished his spell. Started well in the over, two singles but went fuller on third ball and was hit for four runs. Bowled a peach to Rohit who was beaten all ends up. Time out called. Dhoni needs to regroup his players and give a pep talk. They need a wicket.

After 6 overs,Mumbai Indians 58/0 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 25 , Rohit Sharma (C) 31)

Lungi Ngidi, right-arm fast, into the attack and Rohit welcomes him with a maximum off the first ball. De Kock collects one more boundary in the over on the penultimate ball. MI go past fifty inside powerplay. Good start in the chase of 219. 14 off the over.

After 5 overs,Mumbai Indians 44/0 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 19 , Rohit Sharma (C) 23)

Chahar continues. Looks like Dhoni will complete his quota as he looks in some sort of discomfort and may soon go off the field. Chahar has bowled well. Just four from the over, all singles.

Ravindra Jadeja has a very good record against Rohit Sharma in IPL.

Sharma v Jadeja in IPL:

Runs : 71
Balls : 72
Dismissals : 3
SR : 98.61

Will we see Jadeja in PP overs today?

After 4 overs,Mumbai Indians 40/0 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 17 , Rohit Sharma (C) 21)

Curran continues. MI have pulled things back brilliantly in the last two overs after a sedate start. 10 off the over. Rohit is not looking at his best but he is still managing two boundaries a over.

After 3 overs,Mumbai Indians 30/0 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 16 , Rohit Sharma (C) 12)

Some issue with Chahar certainly. He has pulled out thrice now from the run up. Probably has a niggle it seems. A tight LBA call. Rohit saved by the review. Third umpire heard bat on to the pad. Ultra edge confirmed. Good over for MI. 15 off it.

After 2 overs,Mumbai Indians 15/0 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 10 , Rohit Sharma (C) 3)

Curran continues. He is looking to bowl wider on the off side, asking de Kock to reach out to him. De Kock did well on one occasion to adjust quickly and collected a boundary behind square on the off. Seven off the over.

After 1 over,Mumbai Indians 8/0 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 5 , Rohit Sharma (C) 2)

Deepak Chahar is struggling for line here. He is looking under pressure as he has seen the MI bowlers struggle on this batting track. Pulled off twice in the over at the bowling mark. De Kock got off the mark quickly with a boundary. Eight off the first over.

After 20 overs,Chennai Super Kings 218/4 ( Ambati Rayudu 72 , Ravindra Jadeja 22)

Dhawal Kulkarni to bowl the final over. Rohit Sharma has opted for experience in his bid to do a bit of damage control. Single to start off. Another single. Two back to back yorkers. The third one is wide, very very wide. It’ll be bowled again. It’s a little less wide this time, and it’s just a single. Good start so far, but Rayudu is at the crease, and you never know what he could do when he’s in this type of form. Oof, well bowled! A precious dot ball, there have been few of those in the last couple of overs. Oh, alright, Rayudu’s just hit another huge six! Pulled over square leg and Rohit Sharma can only shake his head. A boundary on the last ball following a misfield, and the Chennai Super Kings put up a total of 218/4. Faf du Plessis and Moeen Ali played crucial roles in getting here, but the star of the night so far has been Ambati Rayudu, whose blistering innings really pushed them to a massive score.

Most expensive bowling figures for Bumrah in IPL:

56/1 v CSK, Delhi, 2021*

55/1 v DC, Delhi, 2015

After 18 overs,Chennai Super Kings 195/4 ( Ambati Rayudu 59 , Ravindra Jadeja 13)

Can CSK aim for a 200+ score here? They’re on 174, with three overs yet to go, so it looks more than likely that they’ll get there as long as they don’t lose wickets cheaply. Trent Boult is going to bowl his last over, so you know Rohit Sharma is desperate for a wicket. Three singles off the first three balls, before Rayudu goes into berserker mode yet again and wallops a six over midwicket! This guy is just too good! He then brings up his half-century on the very next ball with a boundary, he’s gotten to this mark in just 20 balls. A wide, and then another big six, this one over cover-point! 20 runs from the over, they have more than made up for those slow couple of overs in the middle of the innings.

Fastest fifties for CSK in IPL: (By balls)

16 : Suresh Raina v PBKS, Mumbai, 2014 

20 : MS Dhoni v MI, Bangalore, 2012

20 : Ambati Rayudu v MI, Delhi, 2021*

After 17 overs,Chennai Super Kings 174/4 ( Ambati Rayudu 42 , Ravindra Jadeja 11)

If Rayudu can continue in this vein, a big total looks very, very manageable for Chennai. Jasprit Bumrah to bowl his third over, and he begins by conceding two singles. His third delivery is a perfect recreation of the one that took out Moeen Ali, angled into the batsman. Jadeja deals with it a lot better than Ali did though, he pushes it past the reach of the wicketkeeper and races off to the boundary rope. A wide and a single follow, before Rayudu and Jadeja show some incredible athleticism to run a double in lightning-quick speed. Rayudu then unleashes a flat and hard hit six over extra cover on the final delivery. Wait, that was a no-ball! A free-hit, and Rayudu gets to go again. He swings and misses, but gets a big inside-edge on it and sees it go for four. 21 runs off the over, this was costly for MI

After 17 overs,Chennai Super Kings 174/4 ( Ambati Rayudu 42 , Ravindra Jadeja 11)

If Rayudu can continue in this vein, a big total looks very, very manageable for Chennai. Jasprit Bumrah to bowl his third over, and he begins by conceding two singles. His third delivery is a perfect recreation of the one that took out Moeen Ali, angled into the batsman. Jadeja deals with it a lot better than Ali did though, he pushes it past the reach of the wicketkeeper and races off to the boundary rope. A wide and a single follow, before Rayudu and Jadeja show some incredible athleticism to run a double in lightning-quick speed. Rayudu then unleashes a flat and hard hit six over extra cover on the final delivery. Wait, that was a no-ball! A free-hit, and Rayudu gets to go again. He swings and misses, but gets a big inside-edge on it and sees it go for four. 21 runs off the over, this was costly for MI

After 16 overs,Chennai Super Kings 153/4 ( Ambati Rayudu 29 , Ravindra Jadeja 5)

Been a while since we’ve seen him, it’s Dhawal Kulkarni’s turn to bowl. He concedes three singles off the first three balls, but he won’t mind that too much. As long as they can keep the pair of Jadeja and Rayudu from scoring boundaries, the Mumbai bowlers should be quite happy. The fourth delivery is way, way over Jadeja’s head and the umpire says it’s a wide. Kulkarni bowls the delivery again, and it’s a single. It’s a good over so far, but Rayudu isn’t having it at all. The Chennai batsman comes racing out of his crease and hammers back to back sixes! Huge shots from Rayudu, he looks intent on making things happen tonight.

Chennai Super Kings’ SR of 193.79 in the death overs (16-20) in this season of IPL – the highest among all the teams so far. 

Mumbai Indians’ economy rate of 8.38 in the death overs (16-20) in this season of IPL – the second best among all the teams so far. 

Ravindra Jadeja has scored 97 runs at a SR of 202.08 in the death overs (16-20) in this IPL so far.

After 15 overs,Chennai Super Kings 136/4 ( Ambati Rayudu 15 , Ravindra Jadeja 3)

More Rahul Chahar for us to enjoy, watching him bowl is always a treat. It’s his last over of the night, and he’ll be hoping to end his spell with a wicket. The first couple of balls are dangerous, going for a single and a dot, but the third is a wide. Another single follows, before Rayudu swivels and sends the ball straight over square leg and into the very highest of stands. That was big! Dot and single to end the over, and Chahar closes out his spell with figures of 4-0-32-0.

After 14 overs,Chennai Super Kings 126/4 ( Ambati Rayudu 7 , Ravindra Jadeja 2)

Kieron Pollard on a hat-trick here. Everyone watches with baited breath, but in the end, it’s not even close, it’s a tame delivery that’s driven to sweeper cover by Rayudu. Don’t be too disappointed though, he’s got another wicket! Jadeja LBW and the umpire gives it straight away. Jadeja seems to think he might have got some bat on it, he reviews. Hmm, there appears to be some contact with wood. It’s pitching outside leg, the decision is overturned. A wide and a single follow, before Rayudu gets his first boundary of the night after thrashing a loose ball through backward point. Dot and single to end the over, and we head into a strategic timeout. Mumbai are in a pretty decent position thanks to the happenings of the last couple of overs, what will be their gameplan for the death overs?

After 12 overs,Chennai Super Kings 116/4 ( Ambati Rayudu 0 , Ravindra Jadeja 0)

Two new batsmen out at the crease in the shape of Ravindra Jadeja and Ambati Rayudu. Not the worst batsmen by any stretch of the imagination, but still, even for cricketers of their calibre, they have a tough task ahead of them. Chahar to bowl, can he get a wicket or two when CSK are looking so vulnerable? Nope, but still a very good over. Only two singles, two runs off it.

After 11 overs,Chennai Super Kings 112/2 ( Faf du Plessis 48 , Suresh Raina 0)

Jasprit Bumrah is back into the fray, and Sharma really needs him to deliver. He can’t on the first ball though, Faf du Plessis has just hit a monster six over midwicket. Wait, he’s done it again! Back to back sixes for the South African, it’s hit into the same area. Add a four to that, du Plessis is running riot! It’s caressed exquisitely between the keeper and short third man. A single, and Moeen Ali is on strike. BUMRAH GETS THE BREAKTHROUGH! It’s bowled into Ali, and the English batsman ends up guiding the delivery straight into de Kock’s hands. Costly over, but that wicket puts a positive spin on it.

Suresh Raina career SR at the start of every milestone IPL match:

50th match : 141.86

100th match : 141.37

150th match : 138.20

200th match : 136.99

After 10 overs,Chennai Super Kings 95/1 ( Faf du Plessis 31 , Moeen Ali 58)

Jimmy Neesham’s back for his second over, and the first ball is sent soaring into the night sky by Moeen Ali! He swivels and hammers it over midwicket. It’s been a real masterclass of a performance from the CSK batsman. He takes a single on the next ball to bring up his half-century. Uh oh, wait, that looks like a run out! Faf du Plessis was scrambling to get to the striking end, and Quinton de Kock whips off the bails with his lightning-quick hands. It’s very, very close, just a nanosecond or two in it. It really did look out at the first time of viewing, but ultimately, after much deliberation, the third umpire says Faf is safe. De Kock can’t believe what he’s seeing, he’ll be rewatching this as soon as he’s back at the hotel tonight. Anyway, at the other end, Moeen Ali continues to unleash boundary after boundary, he’s hit back-to-back fours on the last two balls.

After 9 overs,Chennai Super Kings 77/1 ( Faf du Plessis 28 , Moeen Ali 43)

Rahul Chahar returns, he had a great first over but can he improve on it by picking up a wicket? Well, not in the first couple of balls at least. He starts by conceding a single, before Moeen Ali unleashes a fearsome six that flies over long off and into the stands. Three singles in a row, and then Faf du Plessis, who has been a bit quiet so far, unleashes a six of his own! It’s pulled over midwicket.

After 8 overs,Chennai Super Kings 61/1 ( Faf du Plessis 20 , Moeen Ali 35)

Jimmy Neesham’s turn to bowl and make his first contribution for his new team. Can he make it a debut to remember? His first delivery is absolutely hammered by Moeen Ali, but it’s hit straight to extra cover, who didn’t really know much about the stop. The next one’s hit even harder, and it’s hit for 6 over midwicket. Krunal Pandya was jumping and reaching for it, but his 6'2 frame was just a couple of inches too short. Two singles and two dots to end the over.

After 8 overs,Chennai Super Kings 61/1 ( Faf du Plessis 20 , Moeen Ali 35)

Jimmy Neesham’s turn to bowl and make his first contribution for his new team. Can he make it a debut to remember? His first delivery is absolutely hammered by Moeen Ali, but it’s hit straight to extra cover, who didn’t really know much about the stop. The next one’s hit even harder, and it’s hit for 6 over midwicket. Krunal Pandya was jumping and reaching for it, but his 6'2 frame was just a couple of inches too short. Two singles and two dots to end the over.

After 8 overs,Chennai Super Kings 61/1 ( Faf du Plessis 20 , Moeen Ali 35)

Jimmy Neesham’s turn to bowl and make his first contribution for his new team. Can he make it a debut to remember? His first delivery is absolutely hammered by Moeen Ali, but it’s hit straight to extra cover, who didn’t really know much about the stop. The next one’s hit even harder, and it’s hit for 6 over midwicket. Krunal Pandya was jumping and reaching for it, but his 6'2 frame was just a couple of inches too short. Two singles and two dots to end the over.

After 7 overs,Chennai Super Kings 53/1 ( Faf du Plessis 19 , Moeen Ali 28)

Alright, so what can Mumbai Indians do here to break up this settled pair? Rohit Sharma will be desperate for another wicket or two in the next few overs. As he has done so many occasions in the past, Sharma turns to his go-to guy Rahul Chahar. Chahar really can make things happen, and CSK would do well to proceed with caution. Single, dot and single to begin the over, and bring up the fifty-run mark for CSK. Ali charged out of his crease for the third delivery, but he almost got done by the delivery, and only managed to push it away with a frantic improvised shot. A couple more singles and it’s just four runs from the over, great stuff from Chahar.

Chennai Super Kings’ batting SR of 147.84 in the middle-overs (7-15) this IPL – the highest among all the teams. 

Rahul Chahar is the highest wicket-taker in the middle-overs (7-15) in this IPL – the most by any bowler.

After 6 overs,Chennai Super Kings 49/1 ( Faf du Plessis 17 , Moeen Ali 26)

Okay, last over of the powerplay, who’s going to bowl it? Looks like it’ll be Boult with his third over. First ball’s a single, and then there’s a shout for LBW on the second. Boult looked convinced, but the umpire is not having it. Leg byes called. Oh lord, that was some risky running from Chennai, Moeen Ali was almost caught out by an inch-perfect throw from Suryakumar! The umpire decides to go upstairs with it and take a better look, and in the replay, Ali is clearly safe. Still, he’ll have been sweating bullets for a minute. Ali gets a boundary at deep backward square leg. Krunal Pandya should have stopped that, but he overcommits and ends up running past it. He’s cost his team three runs here. Dot to end the over, and we head into a strategic timeout.

After 5 overs,Chennai Super Kings 42/1 ( Faf du Plessis 15 , Moeen Ali 22)

First bit of action for Jasprit Bumrah tonight, he’ll bowl the fifth over. A dot, a single and a dot to begin the over, before Moeen Ali casually flicks a shot over square leg for six. This is fine work from Ali, he’s really keeping the scoreboard ticking along nicely. A couple of singles to end the over, 9 runs come from it. This is not bad at all from CSK, they’ll be very happy with this.

After 4 overs,Chennai Super Kings 33/1 ( Faf du Plessis 13 , Moeen Ali 16)

Dhawal Kulkarni to continue. The first ball of his second over is a great deal better than the opening over’s was. Just a single. Another single off the second delivery. Two dots. He’s really switching things up, he’s bowled a slower delivery, a bouncer and a yorker. Moeen Ali is struggling a bit, it’s another dot. Ah finally, Ali takes a bit of pressure of himself by hitting a four on the last ball, he takes advantage of the powerplay fielding set up and finds the gap left of midwicket.

After 3 overs,Chennai Super Kings 27/1 ( Faf du Plessis 12 , Moeen Ali 11)

Chennai Super Kings have lost an early wicket in the shape of Ruturaj Gaikwad, but they will have confidence in themselves to soldier on and still put together a sizeable total. Faf du Plessis and Moeen Ali are no slouches, and if the two of them can put together a decent stand, it could be a problem for MI. Boult will continue with his second over. Single and dot, before Moeen Ali sends the ball straight into the stands with an exquisitely timed six. The next one’s a boundary too, Ali lofts it over mid-off for four! This is great stuff from the Englishman, Dhoni will be praying there’s a lot more where that came from.

After 2 overs,Chennai Super Kings 15/1 ( Faf du Plessis 11 , Moeen Ali 0)

Dhawal Kulkarni to make his IPL return in the second over, and he’s greeted with a four by Faf du Plessis. That was an inventive little scoop, nicely done by the South African. A dot, and then Faf goes big with a huge, huge six! That was sent sailing over mid-off with aplomb. Dot, single and dot to end the over, 11 from it.

Gaikwad’s third dismissal against left-arm seamers this season. 

Arshdeep Singh, Mustafizur Rahman and now Trent Boult.

After 1 overs,Chennai Super Kings 4/1 ( Faf du Plessis 0 , Moeen Ali 0)

Oof, Boult’s first delivery is a peach. it’s swerving and moving away from Gaikwad, and it’s a dot. The next one isn’t quite as perfect, and Gaikwad whacks a gorgeous cover-drive for four. That was pitch perfect from the Indian batsman, he looks like he’s gearing up for another big performance. Never mind, he’s out and it’s Boult who has the wicket! It was awkward for Gaikwad, and he ended up sending it straight into the grateful hands of Hardik at point. Two dots to finish off the over.

MS Dhoni: We were looking to field as well. We noticed that this pitch became slightly better to bat on as the game progressed.

Each and every clash in this league is a big clash. That’s the beauty of the IPL. It just comes down to how good the team is on that particular night. 

We’re playing the same side, no changes.

Playing XI

CSK XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Shardul Thakur, Lungi Ngidi, Deepak Chahar

MI XI: Rohit Sharma(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, James Neesham, Rahul Chahar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult

IPL on Pod, Season 2: Continuing tournament amid COVID-19 surge, CSK’s turnaround, MI’s struggles and more

With the COVID-19 pandemic causing massive disruptions in the country and some players leaving the league, there have been contrasting views on whether IPL should continue in this situation. R Ashwin announced that he was taking a break from the league to be with his family, Australian cricketers Andrew Tye, Kane Richardson and Adam Zampa have left for home citing personal reasons. In the latest edition of IPL on Pod, Firstpost Sports’ Anish Anand, Jigar Mehta and Shantanu Srivastava discuss whether a T20 spectacle in these tough times feels right.

If you’ve got a bit of time to spare, click here to check out the latest episode of our IPL podcast.

Defending champions Mumbai Indians face acid test against rampant Chennai Super Kings

Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) head into the match after identical seven-wicket wins over Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively and both teams would be keen to continue their winning streak.

The biggest positive for Mumbai has been the return to form of opener Quinton de Kock (117 runs), who made a blistering, unbeaten 70 against Rajasthan here.

The faltering Mumbai middle-order also clicked in the previous game, on a comparatively easy batting track compared to the one at the Chepauk.

Click  here to read more of the preview of tonight’s match-up!

Mumbai Indians feel at home in Delhi on Feroz Shah Kotla pitches

After a few overs, one could sense the Mumbai Indians felt more comfortable in Delhi than in Chennai. Since the start of the IPL, the reigning champions have played their opening five matches on the slow Chennai pitches. The surfaces have not been ideal for batting and the free flowing Mumbai batsman had not been able to chalk up the runs like previous seasons.

But on Thursday afternoon at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Mumbai looked like the dominant force that had won the previous two IPLs. A large factor was due to the nature of the track. By no means does Kotla have the bounce and pace like the Wankhede Stadium, but it was certainly more conducive to batting and pace bowling than Chennai.

Also the fact it was only the second game to be played in Delhi meant there was decent carry at the start of the match, allowing Jasprit Burmah and Trent Boult to set the tone. Tactically, for the first time this season, Mumbai had Bumrah bowl two overs up front. The first four overs laid the foundation as Rajasthan Royals could only conjure 20 runs.

Click  here to read more of Gaurav Joshi’s analysis of MI’s win over RR.

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, and Kane Williamson show there is room for silken touch in T20 power game

It is the big-hitting batsman that is often the star in cricket’s briefest format; the muscular, trained-to-the-minute player who has broken hitting down to a science; the player who deals in sixes and disdains singles; the batting marvel capable of hitting the ball far and often, clearing the boundary as a matter of course.

Names like Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, and Glenn Maxwell immediately come to mind. They are, indeed, highly sought after and highly valued players. They have, on occasions, bludgeoned teams into the dust and stomped all over them, winning games almost on their own. Russell, for example, was once dubbed Superman due to his electric fielding and rapid bowling, but mostly because of his brutal ball-striking and an ability to bring his team to victory when all seems lost.

And yet, as valuable as big-hitters like Russel and Kieron Pollard are, the T20 game also has a place for batsmen who are purists first. Time and again we have seen the worth of the batsman whose game is built on proper technique and a solid foundation; the batsman who doesn’t always try to clear the boundary, but who often seeks to run the twos and find the gaps.

Wednesday’s game between the Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad brought that lesson to the fore. Set a target of 172 by Hyderabad, the Super Kings romped home by seven wickets with nine balls to spare.

Click  here to read more of Garfield Robinson’s analysis of CSK’s win over SRH.