IPL 2018, MI vs CSK: 5 reasons why Mumbai Indians lost 

The inaugural match of IPL 2018 was a clash between the heavyweights. Three-time champions Mumbai Indians took on the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium.

Chennai won the toss and put the defending champions Mumbai into bat. The Mumbai side struggled to get going in the powerplay but some excellent hitting by the likes of Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, and Krunal Pandya propelled them to a competitive 165.

In reply, Chennai had a disastrous start and were nowhere near the target but some outrageous hitting by Dwayne Bravo, in the end, got them over the line with a ball to spare.

The match turned out to be an all-time classic. Let us have a look at the 5 reasons why the defending champions Mumbai lost the contest, which they were never looked like losing.

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#5 Poor death bowling by Mumbai

Mumbai probably has the best death bowling attack in the tournament. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mustafizur Rahman and Mitchell McClenaghan have shown time and again that they can keep their nerves under pressure.

Unfortunately, this was not the case against Chennai. With 47 runs needed off the last 3 overs, everyone thought that the game was done and dusted. However, DJ Bravo had other plans.

He went hell for leather and the Mumbai’s pacers lost the plot. They could not ditch out yorkers and served juicy half volleys or length deliveries that were taken care of by Bravo.

Bumrah, probably the best death bowler in the world, went for 3 sixes, missing his length on every occasion. This eventually resulted in Chennai winning the tense encounter.

#4 Bravo’s death bowling

Dwayne Bravo, one of the most successful bowlers in IPL history was brought into the attack in the 12th over. However, he did not have the best of the starts and went for 14 runs in his first over.

However, he made a sterling comeback and conceded only 11 runs in his other 3 overs. Hardik Pandya especially struggled to get rid of his toe-crushing yorkers. Bravo conceded just 3 runs of the 18th over and 5 runs of the last over. These two overs were instrumental in restricting Mumbai’s score to 165.

#3 Hardik Pandya’s struggle with the bat

Hardik came into bat in the 12th over after the fall of Suryakumar Yadav. He got himself going right away with 2 quality fours off Mark Wood's bowling. However, thereafter he struggled to connect the ball properly and could only manage 22 of 20 balls.

He was especially troubled by the yorkers of Dwayne Bravo and struggled to get him away. This led to Mumbai’s score being restricted to 165. To add insult to injury, he collided with Bravo on the last ball of Mumbai’s innings and had to be carried off the field. His slow innings put the brakes on the scoring rate in the last few overs.

#2 Poor start with the bat

They say well begun is half done. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case with the Mumbai Indians. Mumbai got off to a poor start with the bat as the debutant Evin Lewis was trapped in front of the wickets by Deepak Chahar.

Evin reviewed the decision but it went against him. Then, in the very next over, Rohit Sharma, in an attempt to lift the run rate, holed one out to Ambati Rayadu at the point, leaving the Mumbai side in trouble. A disciplined effort by Chahar and Watson with the ball ensured that Mumbai could only manage 39 runs off the powerplay overs.

#1 DJ Bravo’s sensational hitting

Bravo came into bat when CSK needed an improbable 91 runs off 8 overs, with 5 wickets already gone. He started by launching the young leggie Mayank Markande straight over his head for a six.

However, the real show began in the 18th over. With 47 needed off the last 3, the ball was given to Mitch McClenaghan who had been excellent till then. Bravo walloped him for 2 sixes and a four and suddenly the equation was down to 27 runs needed off the last 2 overs.

Then, the charismatic West Indian all-rounder launched Jasprit Bumrah for 3 sixes before being out caught off the last ball of the over. His sensational innings of 68 runs off just 30 balls ensured that Chennai was in touching distance of the target.