Five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) crumbled under pressure and failed to close out the game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 16 (Tuesday). Chasing a target of 178 runs, the most successful team in the cash-rich tournament got off to a flying start with openers Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan laying the platform. The duo combined for 90 runs in 9.4 overs before Ravi Bishnoi sent the MI skipper packing. With Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav in the middle, and plenty of firepower sitting in the dugout, the Men in Blue were the favourites.
An inspired performance by LSG bowlers in the second half of the MI innings changed the game's momentum, and Rohit Sharma's men ended up losing the game.
LSG captain Krunal Pandya put on a masterclass of leadership. The way Krunal rotated his bowlers and instilled confidence in young Indian pacers played a pivotal role in LSG's victory. Yash Thakur and Mohsin Khan delivered for their sides in death overs in sublime fashion. It was Krunal who trusted his bowlers despite them going for plenty of runs earlier in the game.
Looking at Krunal's leadership, former Indian captain and legendary batter, Sunil Gavaskar was mightly impressed by LSG captain's ability to read the game.
"Whatever I have seen of Krunal Pandya, he is a terrific reader of the game. Before he was the captain, he used to play for Mumbai Indians, even there his reading of the game, of the situation is great. He bowls a different sort of line depending on the batters' strength so that is all about being aware and also about the fact that he reads the opponents well, he reads his own game well," Gavaskar said on Star Sports.
With the win over Mumbai Indians, the Lucknow-based franchise rose to third place in the points table. After 13 matches, LSG have seven wins and five defeats while one of their matches ended in No Result (NR). The franchise has 15 points at a Net Run Rate (NRR) of 0.304.
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