In a riveting encounter at the Wankhede Stadium, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) concluded their TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign with an 18-run victory over the illustrious Mumbai Indians (MI). The victory was a testament to their grit and resilience, ending their season on a triumphant note.
Winning the toss, MI skipper Rohit Sharma opted to bowl first, introducing some strategic changes to the line-up, most notably bringing in Arjun Tendulkar for the seasoned Jasprit Bumrah. The stage was set for a fascinating battle between bat and ball.
LSG’s innings progressed through a tale of two halves. The initial phase was a struggle, as MI’s bowlers exerted their dominance, keeping the LSG batters under a tight leash. The wickets fell at regular intervals, and by the halfway mark, LSG found themselves in a precarious position. The responsibility to steer the innings fell upon Nicholas Pooran and the well-set KL Rahul to stabilize and steer the innings towards a respectable total.
Devdutt Padikkal was promoted to open the innings. However, his stay was cut short as he found himself trapped leg-before by Nuwan Thushara in the very first over. As LSG sought momentum during the powerplay, Marcus Stoinis showcased some intent with a flurry of boundaries, racing to 28 off 22 deliveries. However, his rapid innings was curtailed by Piyush Chawla, who trapped him leg-before off the last ball of the powerplay, thus stining MI’s grip on the match.
The scene was set for Pooran, who made his way to the crease. Initially, he took his time to settle, playing the first three balls as dot deliveries. But soon, he unleashed his trademark aggressive style. Pooran’s wagon wheel was a spectacle to behold as he brought up his half-century in a mere 19 balls, effectively taking only 16 balls to reach the milestone. He bludgeoned the MI bowlers, sending the ball rocketing across both sides of the wicket.
The 13th over saw Pooran in full flight as he plundered 22 runs, striking two towering sixes. He continued his onslaught, with Arjun Tendulkar, battling cramps, becoming his next victim. Tendulkar was dispatched for consecutive sixes, propelling Pooran to his fifty. Tendulkar had to leave the field, and Naman Dhir completed the over, only to face Pooran’s wrath as he conceded a six and a four. That over, shared by two bowlers, yielded 29 runs.
KL Rahul, building steadily at the other end, brought up his fifty off 37 balls.
. As LSG aimed for a formidable total, Thushara’s return spell brought Mumbai back into the game, dismissing the rampaging Pooran for a scintillating 75 off 29 balls. Arshad Khan, who had impressed earlier in the tournament, was promoted up the order. However, his stay was brief as he skied the first ball he faced. Rahul too perished soon after, dismissed by Chawla, leaving LSG at 178 for six.
In the closing overs, Krunal Pandya and Ayush Badoni combined effectively to push LSG to a competitive total of 214, with crucial boundaries coming at key moments.
Chasing a daunting target, MI’s innings started on a promising note. With Dewald Brevis promoted to open alongside Rohit Sharma, the duo provided a solid foundation. Rohit, in particular, looked in sublime touch, unleashing an array of breathtaking shots that had the Wankhede crowd on their feet. He raced to his fifty off just 28 balls, setting the tone with a clinical and aggressive approach during the Powerplay.
The 88-run opening stand, dominated by Rohit, provided MI with a solid platform. Brevis contributed 23 before falling, and his dismissal triggered a slight wobble in MI’s innings. Suryakumar Yadav’s wicket in the 10th over off Krunal Pandya’s bowling further compounded MI’s troubles, especially as Rohit followed suit soon after, dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi for a well-compiled 68, caught at short third-man.
Facing a rising required run rate, MI’s middle-order struggled to keep up the momentum. In the final over, Naman Dhir, one of MI’s promising young talents, offered a glimmer of hope with a gutsy half-century. He reached his fifty with a six off Naveen in the last over, an indication of his fighting spirit. Dhir’s efforts, however, were too late as MI needed an improbable 34 runs off the final over. Despite his valiant effort, finishing an unbeaten 62 off 28 balls, MI fell short of the target.
LSG’s bowling unit deserves credit for their collective effort. Skipper Krunal Pandya led by example with figures of 1 for 29 in his four overs, crucially stemming the flow of runs in the middle overs. Ravi Bishnoi’s 2 for 37 also played a pivotal role in restricting MI’s powerful batting lineup. It was the disciplined and cohesive effort from LSG’s bowlers that eventually sealed their victory.
As the curtain falls on LSG’s IPL 2024 campaign, this victory over MI underscores the thrills and unpredictability of the tournament, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the next season.