CSK vs MI – often referred to as the El Clásico of IPL – turned out to be bowlers’ delight as 15 wickets fell in just 30.5 overs. Bowlers from both teams put up an exhibition, but the game was highlighted by the controversy surrounding the unavailability of DRS during the initial overs of the first innings. We look at some of the key moments from match 59 of the 2022 IPL
Mukesh Choudhary – The Powerplay specialist
Mukesh Choudhary has been the find of the season for CSK. The left-arm pacer has picked up 16 wickets so far, including the match against MI, and has an economy rate of 9.22 after 11 innings. While not extraordinary, these numbers are encouraging for a bowler playing his first season of IPL. Choudhary’s biggest strength lies in the Powerplay.
In the Powerplay, Choudhary has picked up 11 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 8.22 RPO. In the rest of the innings, he has picked up just five wickets at an economy rate of 11.57, and it gets worse in the overs 16-20, where he concedes runs at 15.78 RPO. This is primarily because of his skills, which is swinging the new ball by bowling it on the good length area. CSK have realised this through the season and have often bowled him out inside the first 10-12 overs.
Tilak Varma – MI’s mature youngster
Like Mukesh Choudhary for CSK, Tilak Varma, another left-hander, has been the find of the season for MI. Not only the southpaw has amassed 346 runs at an average of 43.2 and a strike rate of 132.1, but he has also scored these runs in various situations, mostly when his team has been under pressure.
A target of 98 runs might not seem tricky to chase, but with help on offer for the seamers from the surface, CSK were in the game, especially after picking up early wickets. Coming in at two-down in the fourth over, Varma played a mature knock of unbeaten 34 runs and was a calming figure amidst the chaos at the other end. Although the wickets kept falling at the other end, Varma kept ticking the scoreboard and helped MI get over the line.
The hallmark of Varma’s batting this season is not just his range of shots on both sides, but also his temperament. Add his game awareness to these attributes, and he makes for an exciting prospect for MI in the years to come.
Kieron Pollard – End of the line?
With just 134 runs in 11 innings, this IPL season is Kieron Pollard’s second-worst in terms of runs scored where he has batted in more than 10 innings. His batting average of 14.4 is his worst in his 13 seasons of IPL, and so is his strike rate of 107.5. His dot ball percentage of 47% is also the most he has consumed in all the seasons of IPL.
MI have backed Pollard through his ups and downs, and the West Indian all-rounder has often justified this backing through his performances. But his axing on his birthday, especially against CSK, a team that Pollard has favoured a lot (583 runs at a strike rate of 172), could mean that the time might be running out for the Trinidadian.
Rohit Sharma, the skipper of MI, mentioned at the toss that they’re now looking to give youngsters some opportunities to see how they shape up and included Tristan Stubbs in the playing XI. Will this season see the end of an extremely fruitful association between MI and Kieron Pollard?