IPL 6: Heroes of the match- MI v/s DD

What I witnessed on TV, the match live from the Wankhede Stadium, was nothing short of carnage. Bowlers on the ropes, batsmen pummelling them for runs aplenty, and the IPL has finally come alive after a string of low-scoring humdingers. Similar to the previous game at Bangalore, this one too was a high scoring one (by IPL standards), and, in the end, Mumbai ran out winners by 44 runs. It was a clinical effort by the home side after they lost ‘Pondulkar’ early – I kind of like this moniker attached to both the legends. Delhi did try to make a match of it, but kept losing wickets at regular intervals, and eventually were overwhelmed by the sheer mountain of a target – 210 runs in 20 overs.

Let’s take a look at the Heroes for this game:

1. Dinesh Karthik – Power Packed Dynamo (86 runs off 48 balls; 14 * 4s, 2*6s)

Orange Cap holder DK’s innings was sublime by IPL standards. The early loss of Ponting and Tendulkar spurred him on to produce one of the greatest innings seen in this year’s edition. His sheer display of power hitting (even teammate Pollard would have enjoyed that!) and quick running between the wickets enabled Mumbai to post the first ever 200+ score this season. DK seems to have made the T20 format his own, and is another example of players performing at the highest level against their former team. His efforts gave rise to a 132-run alliance with Rohit Sharma, scored off just 79 balls – extremely rapid even by regular T20 standards. Unlucky to miss out on an IPL hundred, DK’s superlative knock was the cornerstone of Mumbai’s imposing 209/5.

2. Rohit Sharma - Anchoring Warrior (74 n.o. off 50 balls; 4 * 4s, 5*6s)

He comes into his own when the IPL takes off. Rohit was the perfect partner for DK as they launched into the Daredevils attack, heeding no reputation and sending them on a leather hunt. The highlight of his innings was the 3 sixes he struck off left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra – the bowler must be cursing his stars for having to bowl at the death- each hit one better than the other. Even the fiery Morne Morkel wasn’t spared as he was hit for plenty. Rohit Sharma needs to maintain the consistency now if he wishes to secure a place in the Indian squad, at least for the T20s.

3. Ambati Rayudu – The Cameo Specialist (24 runs off 8 balls; 2 *4s; 2 * 6s; 1 catch)

This guy’s brutal towards the end of the innings. Not only did he pair up well with Rohit, he played some magnificent shots. How many times have you seen a batsman smashing 21 runs off Irfan Pathan? Rayudu didn’t stay too long, but he made sure the MI innings finished on a high. And he also took a good catch to dismiss the dangerous David Warner.

4. David Warner (61 runs off 37 balls; 5 * 4s, 4 * 6s)

Warner was Delhi’s mainstay if they were to chase down 210. And boy, did he give MI a scare. Batting the way only he can, the pocket dynamo bludgeoned the Mumbai bowling on the way to a rollicking 61. A smart effort by Rayudu saw the Australian depart, and his dismissal can rightly be said to be the turning point in the game.

5. Manprit Juneja (49 runs off 40 balls; 6*4s)

Juneja is turning out to be a good find in this IPL. Undaunted by the target, he went about collecting his runs in a manner belying his young age. His run-out effectively sealed the deal for MI.

6. Morne Morkel (1/43 in 4 overs; 23 n.o. off 9 balls; 3*4s, 1 * 6s)

It’s not very often that you see Morne Morkel getting tonked around in a T20 game. But stranger things have happened in cricket. Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard both got stuck into the young man – hammering him for fours. He decided to finish the game on his own terms though - slamming 3 consecutive boundaries off left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson before finishing the game with a massive six off Kieron Pollard. A really bad day in the office for the Purple Cap holder of last year’s edition.

What both of today’s fixtures have shown is that the batsmen are slowly starting to find their bearings. Strike bowlers such as Sunil Narine, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel have been taken to the cleaners during the death overs. It means that captains would have to be a lot more innovative in their thinking – slower tracks won’t work all the time. Till then, IPL 6 is anybody’s game.