Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) wrapped up their TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season with a commendable performance, defeating the Mumbai Indians (MI) by 18 runs in a nail-biting contest at the Wankhede Stadium. This victory marked a fitting end to LSG’s campaign, reflecting their fighting spirit and resilience.
Mumbai Indians won the toss and opted to bowl first. The decision introduced a few changes to their lineup, most notably bringing Arjun Tendulkar into the squad in place of the seasoned Jasprit Bumrah. The LSG innings unfolded in dramatic fashion, divided into two distinct phases. Initially, they struggled to gain momentum during the first 10 overs, as MI’s bowlers executed a tight game plan, picking up wickets at regular intervals. At the halfway mark, LSG seemed to be in a precarious position, with the scoreboard reading 69 for three.
Nicholas Pooran stepped into the crease with the responsibility to invigorate the innings while KL Rahul, who had settled in, needed to anchor the innings. The team had promoted Devdutt Padikkal to the opening slot; however, his stint was short-lived as Nuwan Thushara trapped him leg-before in the very first over. LSG’s attempt to establish a firm footing during the powerplay suffered further blows when Marcus Stoinis, who had gotten off to a positive start with 28 off 22 balls, was dismissed by Piyush Chawla, who trapped him leg-before off the last ball of the powerplay.
Chawla’s efficient bowling spell continued in his third over as he induced an edge from Deepak Hooda’s bat, which was neatly caught by Nehal Wadhera at point. The tight bowling from MI saw LSG struggling, with Nicholas Pooran finding his rhythm after playing out three initial dot balls. Remarkably, Pooran soon displayed his prowess, amassing his half-century in only 19 balls. His aggressive batting was characterized by powerful horizontal bat shots, launching the ball to the boundary with consistent precision.
The match took a dramatic turn in the 13th over when Pooran hammered two sixes, amassing 22 runs from it. Arjun Tendulkar, experiencing cramps, bowled the 15th over. Pooran seized the opportunity, smashing two more sixes over the leg-side to reach his fifty.
. Tendulkar was subsequently taken off the field, and Naman Dhir completed the over, which went for a total of 29 runs as Pooran continued his assault.
KL Rahul, meanwhile, achieved his fifty off 37 balls. Thushara’s return to the attack proved fruitful for MI, as he dismissed the rampaging Pooran for a robust 75 off just 29 balls. Arshad Khan, who had been LSG’s hero in a previous match, was promoted up the order but fell on his first ball. Chawla struck again in the following over to dismiss Rahul, leaving LSG at 178 for six, still eyeing the 200-run mark.
However, Krunal Pandya and Ayush Badoni steadied the innings with some crucial boundaries, propelling LSG to a competitive total of 214 runs.
Mumbai Indians’ innings began with promising prospects, courtesy of an 88-run opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and Dewald Brevis. Brevis, stepping in for Ishan Kishan, contributed 23 runs while Rohit took charge with an impressive array of shots, reaching his fifty off just 28 balls. Rohit’s commanding performance during the Powerplay set a solid foundation, essential for the daunting run-chase.
However, the departure of Brevis slowed MI’s momentum, coinciding with LSG chipping away at the MI batting line-up. Suryakumar Yadav’s dismissal by Krunal Pandya in the 10th over, followed by Rohit Sharma’s crucial wicket by Ravi Bishnoi in the next over (caught at short third-man for 68), shifted the balance in LSG’s favor.
As the asking rate increased, MI’s remaining batters struggled to keep pace. Amid rising pressure, Naman Dhir emerged as a bright spot for MI. He showcased resilience, reaching his half-century with a six off Naveen in the final over. Despite his valiant effort, scoring an unbeaten 62 off 28 balls, MI faced an insurmountable task of needing 34 runs from the final over. The match concluded with LSG’s bowlers executing a team effort, featuring standout performances from Krunal Pandya and Ravi Bishnoi, whose middle-overs spells were instrumental in clinching the victory for LSG.
In sum, Lucknow Super Giants’ strategic bowling and adept handling of their batting crisis led to a triumphant end to their TATA IPL 2024 journey, leaving fans and analysts alike marvelling at their performance.