Follow UsAfter suffering eight consecutive losses, Mumbai are on their way to consolidation with two wins on the bounce. As for Gujarat, it hasn’t panned out well in their last two matches as they have suffered two consecutive losses.
Sams, from zero to a hero
Fortunes can change drastically and none can experience better than Daniel Sams. Exactly a month ago (April 6th), against Kolkata Knight Riders, Pat Cummins smashed 35 runs in one over, the third most expensive over in the history of IPL and the most expensive for a Mumbai bowler.
On May 6th, against a team that had never lost a game in a chase this IPL and to add more, a team that had scored at a run rate of 20 in the last over of a chase, Sams pulled off an unthinkable. Requiring nine runs to win off the last over, Sams conceded only three runs and fetched Mumbai a win by five runs. In the history of IPL, the nine runs defended in the last over is the joint lowest runs defended by a Mumbai bowler. Lasith Malinga in the 2019 IPL final against Chennai Super Kings, had defended nine runs.
Saha aces Bumrah challenge
Wriddhiman Saha opening the innings for Gujarat has been a boon. Since he started featuring in Gujarat’s XI, Saha has outscored the whole team in the powerplay. In six innings, he has scored 149 runs at a strike rate of 143.3 when the other batters of Gujarat have scored only 114 runs at a strike rate of 101.8.
In their match against Mumbai, Saha took a particular liking against Jasprit Bumrah, their best bowler. Inside the powerplay, Saha scored 25 runs against Bumrah at a strike rate of 277.8. These are the most runs scored by a batter in an innings in T20s against Bumrah inside the powerplay. Before this match, Saha had a strike rate of 84.1 against Bumrah. However, in this match alone, he scored at 277.8.
High flying Rohit
Throughout the season, Rohit has been aggressive at the start. However, the problem that is haunting him is the conversion from his start. In his match against Gujarat, once again, he got an excellent start, but didn’t convert.
In the powerplay, thanks to Rohit’s unbeaten 42, Mumbai registered their highest powerplay score of the season. On the other hand, this was the best start in terms of runs for Rohit in the history of IPL. The 42 runs he scored inside the first six is the most runs he has scored in an innings in the IPL.
Pollard stuck in a deep puddle
One of the most iconic players in the shortest format of the game, Kieron Pollard has been struck with a drought for runs. It's just not the runs, his strike rate has also dipped under 120 for the first time in a season since 2011.
In 10 innings, apart from the knock of unbeaten 22 off five balls, his innings never got going. His innings of four off 14 balls is one of the many this season. Hence, his strike rate in this season has dipped to 109.3 and has an average of 14.3, so far, his worst IPL season ever.
A valiant opening partnership in vain
Irrespective of how much a team is chasing, a good opening partnership lays the perfect platform for the chasing team. Gujarat had a similar start when Saha and Shubman Gill came good for them.
The openers stretched their good powerplay start (54/0) and converted to a century partnership. The 106-run partnership between Saha and Gill was the highest partnership for any wicket for Gujarat this season. Despite it, the middle order that has been so effective, couldn’t finish the game. By virtue of it, Saha and Gill’s partnership was only the fifth century opening stand in a chase that resulted in defeat in the IPL.
Sai Sudarshan dismissed in the most dreaded way
The young left-hander from Tamil Nadu was in the limelight with a sensible half-century against Punjab Kings in his previous match. However, in this match, he once again attained focus, but not in a way he would have wanted. Looking to pull a slower ball off Pollard, Sudarshan lost balance and hit the stumps with his bat and became the 14th batsman in the IPL to be dismissed through hit-wicket. The last batsman to suffer this was Jonny Bairstow in 2021 against Mumbai.