IPL 2018, KXIP vs MI: Hits and Misses

It was Indore's first game of IPL 2018 (Kings XI Punjab’s home for the rest of the season). Mumbai Indians won the toss and opted to field first. KXIP once again had a good start as KL Rahul and Chris Gayle shared a solid 54-run opening stand. However, none of the other batsmen converted their good starts.

In reply, after sitting out from injury, Evin Lewis struggled in his 13-ball stay at the crease but his opening partner Suryakumar Yadav made a very good 57 and put the MI chase back on track. But KXIP bowlers picked up wickets at regular intervals to put the pressure back on the visitors.

With 55 needed in less than 5 overs, Krunal Pandya walked in and calmly finished off the run-chase as he struck a 12-ball 31. Rohit Sharma played a good hand as well towards the end of the innings and helped Mumbai register their third win of the season.

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#5 Hit: Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah was easily the pick of the bowlers.

Jasprit Bumrah has become India’s premier fast bowler across formats in the last few years. His performances in this season haven’t been stand-out but he has been quite consistent. Before the game, Bumrah had taken 9 wickets from 8 matches.

In this game, Bumrah bowled the second over of the innings and conceded a six off his first delivery. However, he then came back well and then gave just one run in the next five deliveries. The Gujarat pacer then conceded just 4 runs (four singles). Bumrah was superb his last two overs.

At the death, Bumrah was superb as he conceded just 8 runs and picked up the wicket of Axar Patel. Hence, he finished with figures of 1/19 and played a big part in keeping the KXIP batsmen in check.

#4 Miss: Ankit Rajpoot

Ankit Rajpoot didn't have a great game.

Ankit Rajpoot has been very good in this season of the IPL. In KXIP’s last game, he took a fifer as he rattled Sunrisers’ Hyderabad batsmen. With Mohit Sharma struggling for form, KXIP found a reliable option in Ankit Rajpoot

In this game, Rajpoot was below-par as the 24-year-old pacer went for 31 runs in his 3 overs. He bowled the second over of the innings and started well as he bowled 4 dot batts.

However, he was hit for a four and a six in his next over and that over may have given MI the impetus to their innings. That was a 12-run over and when he came back for his 3rd, that over was identical to his second as well (yielding 12 with one four and one six).

Overall, it was a disappointing outing for the Uttar Pradesh pacer as he failed to take wickets and contain runs.

#3 Hit: Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle top-scored with 50

Another game, another half-century for Chris Gayle. The big West Indian has certainly kit up the IPL with his exhilarating stroke-play. Before the week-long break KXIP got, Gayle had scored a couple of fifties and a hundred in the four games he played.

Once again, Gayle was superb in this game. Gayle started in typical fashion, taking his time at the start. He was 1 off 8 balls at one point in the powerplay before he went after Hardik Pandya. The Indian seam bowling all-rounder was hit for three consecutive fours as Gayle got going.

He then took calculated risks and found the fence regularly and got to 42 in 29 balls, after which he slowed down considerably. The big Jamaican took another 9 deliveries from that point to get his half-century (his third of the tournament) shortly after which he was dismissed.

However, it was a good knock from Gayle as he top-scored once again for KXIP.

#2 Miss: Evin Lewis

Evin Lewis once again looked scratchy.

Evin Lewis was one of the much-hyped overseas players just before this season. He started with a duck but he was gradually picking up the pace and scoring freely. However, since the 65 scored against RCB (on April 17), Lewis has just one score of more than 10.

He did score a 47 against CSK in Pune but it was a very uncharacteristic innings where he struggled to even rotate the strike freely. Lewis sat out of the last game due to a wrist injury. He once again struggled to get going as he made a 13-ball 10 in this game.

He opened the batting and got off the mark on the first ball he faced. Despite rotating strike decently, Lewis didn’t seem to be at his best as he registered another low-score.

#1 Hit: Krunal Pandya

There was a sense of calmness when Krunal Pandya walked out to the middle.

Krunal Pandya was the highest paid uncapped Indian player after the auction this year. MI used their RTM card to retain the Baroda all-rounder and much was expected from him. However, after a promising unbeaten 41 in the opening game, the senior Pandya disappointed with the bat. He often threw away good starts. However, he came into his own in this game against KXIP.

He came out to bat at No. 6 with MI still needing 55 runs off 27 deliveries. Skipper Rohit Sharma had played 6 deliveries till then. Krunal came in and took the pressure off the MI skipper as he found the fence with ease. Krunal started with an elegant clip to square-leg and got off the mark with a boundary.

After Rohit Sharma hit Mujeeb Ur Rahman for a couple of sixes, Krunal got stuck into Marcus Stoinis in the 18th over. The 27-year-old all-rounder hit a couple of fours and a six to reduce the equation down to 16 in 12 balls. And in the 19th over, he finished off the game as he struck a four and a six. Pandya ended with a calm 31 in 12 balls and took MI home.

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