Tonight’s match was a perfect example of cliché that a champion side always knows how to make a comeback when the chips are down. Five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 champions Mumbai Indians are clearly that side on whom this cliché is spot-on. Not only MI registered a win but did it in a way that they have every chance to still make it to the playoffs. It was a perfect all-round display from Rohit Sharma’s side as they restricted Rajasthan Royals (RR) for a score of 90/9 and then chased it down with 11.4 overs to spare.
Kishan back-in-form
Ishan Kishan came back in the side as an opener replacing Quinton de Kock. An out-of-form Kishan was given a chance to prove himself and he did with a quickfire 25-ball 50 to help his side make short work of the low target. This is Kishan’s first half-century of the season. It is a good sign for the Indian contingent as well as he has been picked in T20 World Cup squad to play the role of a floater.
Coulter-Nile’s IPL-best figures
Nathan Coulter-Nile rushed through Royals’ batting lineup taking four wickets in his spell including the wickets of opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and middle-order batters Glenn Phillips and David Miller. The Australian fast-bowler gave just 14 runs in his four overs. He returned to bowl in the death overs and got the wicket of tailender Chetan Sakariya as well. This is the kind of performance MI used to expect from their frontline bowler Lasith Malinga.
Neesham makes an impact
Replacing De Kock as overseas player, James Neesham was on point with his change of pace and lengths. Neesham bowled in tandem with Coulter-Nile and got the wickets of Royals’ skipper Sanju Samson, previous game’s half-centurion Shivam Dube and Rahul Tewatia. It seemed like Neesham took inspiration from Corey Anderson’s 2014 performance to help MI stay in contention of reaching playoffs. The all-rounder gave just 12 runs from his four overs and finished his spell as the most economical MI bowler.
Massive jump on points table
Before this clash, MI’s net run rate (NRR) was the worst amongst the teams still in the race of reaching playoffs. Only Sunrisers Hyderabad had a poorer NRR than MI. With a massive win against Royals, the defending champions have jumped from the seventh spot to fifth spot. If KKR win their last match against Royals, MI will have to win another match with big margin to grab the fourth spot when they take on SRH. On the other hand, Royals can be considered knocked out of the tournament with worst NRR to their name among all teams.