Mumbai Indians dethroned Delhi Capitals at the top of the table after a comfortable 5 wicket win. Let us answer some questions you may or may not have.
1) Why was Shimron Hetymer dropped and was it a good move?
Hetmyer, who had a great game vs Rajasthan Royals, was dropped to accommodate wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who replaced the injured Rishabh Pant. In retrospect, it wasn’t a good move. A settled team rarely makes two changes unless it is forced. DC was forced to bring in a replacement for Rishabh Pant. They had an able batsman in Ajinkya Rahane but still needed a keeper. Thus Hetmyer made way for Carey. DC lost their finishing prowess with both Pant and Hetmyer out, and inform Stoinis getting run out. They barely scored 80 runs in their last 10 overs because of the lack of finishing abilities. Carey was a disappointment. Maybe Hetmyer could have stayed in the team with Shaw keeping wickets.
2) Was Shikhar Dhawan to blame for a below-par score?
162 wasn’t a below-par score, but considering the start DC got, they would have liked 20 more runs. Iyer and Dhawan had to stabilise the innings after two early wickets, but did a good job, with 80 runs coming in the first 10 overs. From there, Dhawan lost partners regularly could only take DC that far. He could have provided more impetus but was stifled by Bumrah and Boult.
3) Who has a better bowling line up, DC or MI?
MI, they have superior death bowling and 5 solid bowling options. They also have a very reliable 6th bowling option in Pollard and Hardik, who isn’t fit to bowl yet, might feature soon too. DC meanwhile has raw pace with Rabada and Nortje and have a great spin line up. But their 5th and 6th bowling options, Harshal and Stoinis aren’t as good as MI’s. Nortje was exposed today by his fellow South African Q de Kock who used his pace against him. DC’s 5th and 6th bowling options were exposed, especially after Ashwin had an off day.
4) Could DC have defended this score?
They did well to take regular wickets but some poor fielding let them down. Ashwin dropped an easy return catch of Suryakumar and Rahane missed a simple chance to run Kishan out quite early. Nortje was unsettled by de Kock early on and MI always had the chase under control (unlike some teams that make a 160 run chase look like a 220 run chase).
5) Is MI vulnerable while chasing?
They did show signs of choking at the end when Surya threw his wicket away when 35 was needed off 32 and B’day boy Hardik got out for a duck. The chase went till the last over, where 7 was needed but Stoinis showed his inexperience with the ball. It was more of DC’s good bowling that made MI struggle a bit at the end, rather than MI themselves being vulnerable. MI was pushed till the end because of DC’s good bowling.
6) How did this MI team lose to CSK?
It is 2020 so anything can happen. Looking at this MI team, it is very surprising to see they had lost to a very unsettled CSK team. Probably MI needed that kick in the back to get their campaign off to a good start. Since then, they have been the most balanced team in all 3 departments. At least 3 of their first 6 batsmen always click in each game and 3 of their 5 bowlers go at an economy of 6-7 every game. It is going to take some effort to beat them this season.
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