Chennai Super Kings got off to a winning start in the eighteenth edition of the Indian Premier League. The hosts defeated their arch-rivals, Mumbai Indians, at the Chepauk in Chennai. The fixture marked the 18th victory for the men in yellow over their rivals. Chennai Super Kings won the toss and elected to chase in the spinner’s paradise. Mumbai posted below par total of 155 runs for the loss of 9 wickets which Chennai chased with 5 balls to spare. The match also marked Mumbai’s 13 consecutive losses in their opening match fixture.
Here are the three reasons that played a crucial factor in Mumbai’s loss at the Chepauk.
3. Absence of Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah
Mumbai Indians missed the services of their two key players in the likes of ace bowler Jaspreet Bumrah and charismatic all rounder Hardik Pandya. Jaspreet Bumrah, who is largely dubbed as the best pacer in the world across formats, is still in the process of rehabilitation from a back injury he sustained in the last test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Mumbai felt his absence right at the start of Chennai’s chase when Deepak Chahar and Trent Boult conceded runs at 9 runs per over. Bumrah also boasts a very good record against Chennai, and the results could have been different if he was spearheading the run defence.
Mumbai also missed the services of their regular captain, Hardik Pandya, who provides a much-needed balance to the team. Hardik excels at playing in different positions of the batting order, and he was missed when Mumbai’s batting order collapsed in the middle phase between the 11th and 14th over.
2. No show from the Hitman
Mumbai Indians’ all-time top run scorer, Rohit Sharma went out for a duck in the opening fixture of the Indian Premier League. He lost his wicket on the fourth delivery of the innings as he chipped an easy catch off Khaleel Ahmed’s ball, directed towards his pads. Mumbai Indians always rely on their former skipper to give the team a solid start, but his early dismissal exposed Mumbai’s weakened middle order on a slow pitch at Chepauk.
1. The Left didn’t prove to be ‘Right’
Mumbai Indians middle order had a string of left-handed batters. Tilak Verma, Robin Minz and Mitchel Santner formed the trio who came into bat at numbers 5,6 and 7. The trio fell victim to Afghanistan’s talented spinner Noor Ahmed and Australian pacer Nathan Ellis. Mumbai certainly needed a right-handed batting option in the middle overs to make things more difficult for Chennai’s settled bowling lineup. Chennai Super Kings wasted no time in exploiting this minute management fault, and most of it during the building phase of the innings.
Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.
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