Ashok Kumar
- Apr 15
- 4 min read

IPL 2024, MI vs CSK: Pathirana's 4-28 derails MI chase; CSK reach 8 points

IPL 2024, MI vs CSK: Matheesha Pathirana's 4-28 derails Mumbai Indians chase; CSK remain at no. 3 with in Points table. Top takeaways for Chennai and Mumbai from the El Clasico.

IPL 2024, MI vs CSK: Matheesha Pathirana's 3-28 helped CSK beat MI in Mumbai | Walking Wicket (Images_ ©BCCI_IPLT20) — IPL 2024: Pathirana's 3-28 helped CSK beat MI (Images: ©BCCI/IPLT20)

Brief Scores: CSK 206/4 (Ruturaj Gaikwad 69, Hardik Pandya 2/43) beat MI 186/6 (Rohit Sharma 105 not out, Matheesha Pathirana 4/28) by 20 runs.

Rohit Sharma made a valiant 105*, but could not prevent Mumbai Indians (MI) from losing against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by 20 runs in Game 29 of IPL 2024 at Wankhede on Sunday. CSK posted 206/4, thanks to a late flourish from MS Dhoni (4-ball 20*), and then restricted MI to 186/6 to post their first away win of the tournament.

Key Takeaways from MI vs CSK, Match 29, IPL 2024 - Winning team (CSK)

Matheesha Pathirana impresses with his control

Matheesha Pathirana registered his best bowling figures in the IPL. He impressed with his control and varied his line and length cleverly. He bowled according to the field and made MI batters make errors and throw their wickets away.

First, he helped CSK claw back into the game when he dismissed Ishan Kishan to break the opening stand of 70 runs. He dismissed the dangerous Suryakumar Yadav for a 2-ball duck as the MI batter fell for a trap. Pathirana bowled wide and short, only for SKY to scoop it to third man. Later, he cramped Romario Shepherd for room to rattle his stumps.

What was impressive about Pathirana and CSK’s bowling in the death overs was that they bowled away from the hitting arc of the batters. They bowled wide and straighter making MI batters to reach out. Also, they created angles that were difficult to score off. For example, left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman bowled over the wicket angling away from the right-handers, making scoring difficult. Eventually, good bowling in the death overs made the difference.

Gaikwad-Dube steal the momentum

CSK didn’t have a great powerplay and were struggling at 60/2 in the eighth over. They needed a partnership to seize the momentum. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube put their hands up with a stand of 90 runs in 7.3 overs, bringing CSK back into the game.

Gaikwad led from the front, hitting some big sixes. He cracked 5 sixes and 5 fours during his 40-ball 69. Dube joined him in the fun, showing great timing to deal mostly in boundaries and sixes. He smacked 10 fours and 2 sixes during his 38-ball 66*. It was their partnership that set the platform for big-hitting Dhoni to cash in on the death overs.

Key Takeaways from MI vs CSK, Match 29, IPL 2024 - Losing team (MI)

IPL 2024, MI vs CSK_ Rohit Sharma's hundred (105) goes in vain as CSK beat MI _ Walking Wicket (Images_ ©BCCI_IPLT20) — Rohit's hundred (105*) goes in vain as CSK beat MI (Images: ©BCCI/IPLT20)

MI must find a way to include Nuwan Tushara and address their bowling woes

Mumbai have been struggling in the death overs. Except Jasprit Bumrah, Mumbai bowlers have leaked runs in the end overs, resulting in batters having to do extra work to make up for the damage. In today’s game, Mumbai captain Hardik Pandya leaked 20 runs in the 20th over. In the previous clash, Dinesh Karthik did the most damage against Mumbai in the death overs.

Other Mumbai bowlers such as Akash Madhwal and Gerald Coetzee didn’t inspire confidence in the death overs. Hence, they need another support for Bumrah in the death overs. Mumbai could try Sri Lanka pacer Nuwan Thushara for this particular role.

Thushara enjoys a successful T20 career, with 120 wickets in 87 matches. He is yet to make his IPL debut and could add another dimension to Mumbai’s attack. Thushara could replace Coetzee in the line-up. Although Coetzee has not done badly, considering the need to address death over woes, Thushara is worth giving a shot.

Statistical Highlights from MI vs CSK, IPL 2024

Dhoni boasts the best strike rate among CSK players in IPL 2024. He has a strike rate of 236 in 6 matches.
Dhoni struck three sixes against Hardik Pandya in the 20th over of CSK innings. This is the third time in his IPL career that Dhoni has smacked three sixes in the 20th over. The other two incidents were against RCB in 2019, and Rajasthan Royals in 2020.
Dhoni has also struck the most sixes in the 20th over in IPL – a total of 64 sixes, way ahead of the next best - 33 by Kieron Pollard.
Suryakumar recorded his ninth duck in his IPL career when he was dismissed for a two-ball duck during the CSK match.
Rohit struck his second IPL century when he scored 105* against Chennai. Overall, he has 7 centuries in T20s.
Pathirana registered his best bowling figures (4/28) in the IPL.

IPL 2024 Standings, IPL 2024 Points Table — IPL 2024 Points Table

Points Table Scenario & What's Next

With this win, CSK have moved to the third spot with 8 points, having won four matches out of eight. MI are placed eighth, with four points, having won two games out of six. Chennai will now play Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 19, while Mumbai will take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 18.

Up next, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will take on SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in a South Indian derby on Monday, April 15