IPL 2022: Giants, Rahul give Mumbai no respite

Suryakumar Yadav’s dismissal off a Ravi Bishnoi long-hop typified Mumbai Indians’ season so far. But as long as Kieron Pollard was there, there was life in MI. The big man tried his best, but gradually the asking rate climbed to 20-plus.
Twenty-six runs were required off the final over and MI lost 18 runs, chasing 200 for victory. Lucknow Super Giants won not only because KL Rahul led from the front and scored a mighty fine century, but collectively they played better cricket than their opponents to thoroughly deserve their victory. Super Giants went to eight points from six games, while after six straight defeats, MI’s fall from the perch has been spectacular.
Rahul’s classy ton
In the 16th over during Super Giants’ innings, as Jasprit Bumrah came back for his final spell, the Brabourne Stadium DJ belted out: ‘Boom, Boom Bumrah’. MI looked flat on the field and their fans were subdued.
In the MI dug-out, Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan were having a conversation. Of course, it’s not known if the conversation between the two former India stalwarts, now part of the MI support staff, was about Rohit Sharma’s use of Bumrah in this game. then, Rahul was bossing and the MI skipper probably missed a trick not using his best bowler against the Super Giants’ skipper right at the beginning.
Rahul’s unbeaten century in his 100th IPL appearance was a result of keeping things simple and steadily growing into the game. In top fettle, his batting is very easy on the eye and 66 runs in boundaries and over-boundaries, out of 103 not out off 60 balls, attested a fine conversion rate in terms of putting away loose deliveries. But MI barely attacked him upfront, when like most batsmen he was vulnerable.Twice in this tournament, Rahul has got out to golden ducks and one of those was against Rajasthan Royals in the previous game. Sunil Gavaskar on air was imploring Rohit to start the proceedings with Bumrah: “Confront the man who got out twice in the first ball in this tournament with your best bowler.”
The MI skipper started off with the part-time off-spin of Tilak Varma instead. Rahul was very keen to get off the mark. He got a short delivery from the offie and pummelled a pull for a four. When Bumrah was eventually brought into the attack in the fourth over, both Rahul and Quinton de Kock had played themselves in.

Leading from the front, @klrahul11 scored an unbeaten hundred & bagged the Player of the Match award as @LucknowIPL beat #MI in Match 2⃣6⃣ of the #TATAIPL. 👏 👏 #MIvLSG
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/8aLz0owuM1 pic.twitter.com/zXenTXjVLh
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 16, 2022
The hallmark of Rahul’s batting was the way he converted the hittable balls to optimum effect. MI bowlers, bar Bumrah, were generous enough to bowl an overdose of loose deliveries. Tymal Mills was the culprit-in-chief; offering width, bowling in the slot and not bowling to his field. His final over, 19th of the innings, was particularly poor. He bowled length outside off, bowled an ill-disguised slower delivery to Deepak Hooda to concede a six, missed his line completely to bowl a big wide and served a half-volley outside off to Rahul to give away another four. The last four took Rahul to his century. That 22-run-over ensured that MI would have to chase 200. Mills went for 54 runs without a wicket in his three overs. Used to Trent Boult’s quality, this has been a serious let-down for the five-time champions.

KLassy💯 🙌🏻Back to Business 🔥♥️A hundred in his 100th IPL game 😍KL Rahul brings up his third IPL hundred, his second against MI 👏#KLRahul #IPL2022 #MIvsLSG@klrahul11 @LucknowIPL @maurya815 pic.twitter.com/SeeIoFd7Ke
— Pawan Singh (@aspirant_pawan1) April 16, 2022
Rahul was always looking to bat long and once he got into the groove, there was no stopping him. He took his singles and doubles well, allowing fours and sixes to take care of themselves. He also thrived on partnership batting – 52 runs (33 balls) with de Kock to start with followed a 72-run (47 balls) association with Manish Pandey and a 43-run (21 balls) partnership with Hooda at the death. MI’s ground fielding was average. Misfields came thick and fast. Super Giants’ fielding, on the contrary, was excellent.

A return to winning ways for @LucknowIPL! 👏 👏
The @klrahul11-led unit beat #MI 18 runs and reger their 4th win of the #TATAIPL 2022. 👍 👍 #MIvLSG
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/8aLz0owuM1 pic.twitter.com/sNTUkJNNYB
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 16, 2022
Deeper in the mire
In the end, after another batting failure from Rohit and one more disappointing knock from Ishan Kishan, it had become Surya-or-bust for MI. Rohit showed intent, when he regally clipped Avesh Khan over mid-wicket. But he got out a couple of balls later, trying to run one down to third man and getting a thin edge to wicketkeeper. Dewald Brevis came and readily took the attack to the opposition. Dushmantha Chameera bowled a peach to beat the youngster. Brevis’ response was a stunning six over long-on. Back-to-back fours ensued before Brevis turned his attention to Avesh with consecutive boundaries. It was incredible hitting, but inexperience came to the fore. Brevis made room but mis-hit an Avesh full-toss straight to Hooda at extra-cover. The teenager got ahead of himself.

Kishan seems to be bogged down his Rs 15.25 crore price tag. It has made his batting cagey. After a laborious 17-ball 13, the southpaw dragged a Marcus Stoinis off-cutter on to the stumps. At 57/3, MI looked to Surya to get out of the woods. Over-reliance on individuals cost the team dear.