IPL 2024, MI vs KKR, Key Takeaways: Spinners & Andre Russell send Mumbai Indians packing. KKR beat Mumbai and remains at no. 2 in points table. Mumbai Indians all but out of IPL 2024.
Brief Scores: KKR - 169 (Venkatesh Iyer 70, Manish Pandey 42, Jasprit Bumrah 3/18) beat MI - 145 (Suryakumar Yadav 56, Tim David 24, Mitchell Starc 4/33) by 24 runs.
Player of the Match: Venkatesh Iyer (70 off 52)
In a spectacle of bowling excellence, Mumbai Indians (MI) crumbled as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defended their modest score. The home team is now on brink of elimination after their disappointing 24-run loss.
MI won the toss and opted to bowl first. It was a disastrous start for KKR as they lost four wickets in the powerplay and then another in the very first delivery of the seventh over. Nuwan Thushara claimed three wickets inside the powerplay to dent KKR's start but a solid partnership of 83 runs between Venkatesh Iyer and Manish Pandey led the two-time champions' fightback.Â
With their valuable contribution, KKR managed to reach 169. Iyer kept fighting till the last over before getting dismissed for 70 runs. Meanwhile, Mumbai bowlers displayed phenomenal bowling prowess with Jasprit Bumrah and Thushara claiming three wickets each.
In the second innings, MI opener Ishan Kishan departed early as Mitchell Starc struck in the second over of the innings. The home team found themselves in deep trouble after they were reduced to 71/6. Suryakumar Yadav raced to his valuable half-century before getting dismissed. His lone-ranger innings of 56 gave Mumbai some hope, but once he departed, the hosts’ batting order was folded by the KKR pacers to pick up their first win at the Wankhede in 12 years. Mitchell Starc emerged as the top bowler for Kolkata as he took four wickets.
Key Takeaways from MI vs KKR, Match 51, IPL 2024 - Winning team (KKR)
Venkatesh Iyer and Manish Pandey come good for KKR
Venkatesh Iyer and Manish Pandey emerged as crucial assets for the Knight Riders against the dangerous MI pace attack. Pandey and Iyer stabilised the KKR innings with their 83-run stand as the latter went on to finish with 70 in 52 balls to put the visitors in contention. Iyer's aggressive batting style complemented Pandey's calm and composed approach, creating a perfect balance in the middle order. They built a solid partnership on a surface where other batters struggled. Their mature display helped KKR post a competitive total.
Read More: IPL 2024, KKR vs DC, Key Takeaways: Salt's busy 68, bowlers' effective returns keep KKR at no. 2
Spinners & Andre Russell sprinkle salt on Mumbai’s poor campaign
The ongoing IPL season has witnessed Mumbai Indians, the five-time champions, facing a turbulent journey marked by defeats and inconsistencies. To add salt to the wound, Andre Russell and KKR spinners, in particular, posed a significant challenge for them. They dominated the MI batting lineup with match-winning performances.Â
Russell bowled a brilliant spell, picking two wickets. His heroics have played an important role in reviving the Knight Riders' campaign. MI found themselves in a spin conundrum, with their batters struggling to tackle the onslaught. Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine were magnificent with the ball claiming two wickets each, maintaining an outstanding economy rate of 5.50.Â
Key Takeaways from MI vs KKR, Match 51, IPL 2024 - Losing team (MI)
Mumbai pacers finally come to the partyÂ
Mumbai Indians’ pace bowling unit showcased their prowess, as they wreaked havoc on the opposition's batting unit. The pacers displayed their skills with a stellar bowling performance, grabbing the spotlight with their accuracy and pace. Their ability to consistently hit the right areas and generate movement troubled the opposition batters, setting the tone for Mumbai's dominance on the field.
Nuwan Thushara took three wickets in the powerplay to halt KKR's start. Jasprit Bumrah showcased his prowess at the death by taking three wickets. Hardik Pandya also made a notable contribution with two important breakthroughs. The numbers spoke volumes about Mumbai pace battery's impact. They shared eight wickets among them, dismantling the opposition's batting lineup.
Read More: IPL 2024, DC vs MI, Key Takeaways: DC beat MI by 10 runs in high-scoring affair, reach no. 5
Statistical Highlights from DC vs MI, IPL 2024
Venkatesh Iyer has scored 320 IPL runs vs Mumbai Indians with a strike rate of over 161.
Jasprit Bumrah now has the second-most wickets (52) in IPL at Wankhede Stadium.
Eighth time in T20s, Rohit Sharma got out to Sunil Narine.
Points Table Scenario & What’s Next
With their seventh victory of the tournament, the Knight Riders are now at the second position on the points table with 14 points. At the same time, Mumbai Indians are still at the ninth spot with just six points.
Next up, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will be facing Gujarat Titans (GT) in Match 52 at their home ground, M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on May 04.