IPL 2019, KXIP vs MI, Turning Point: Where did it go wrong for MI?

Mumbai Indians met Kings XI Punjab at the PCA Stadium, Mohali in the 9th match of IPL 2019. The hosts went on to achieve a clinical win against the 3-time champions. It was a chase for KXIP guided by KL Rahul’s fifty and some timely fireworks by Chris Gayle and Mayank Agarwal.

Initially, Ravichandran Ashwin elected to bowl first after winning the toss. The MI skipper Rohit Sharma was at his classy best as he hit some delightful shots. He seemed in the mood today at the venue where he had scored an ODI double hundred against Sri Lanka. After 5 overs, the score reached 50.

The Turning Point

But Rohit’s stay ended when Hardus Viljoen got him out LBW for 32 in the 6th over. Rohit opted not to review the decision. However, the replays suggested that the ball would have missed the leg stump. Suryakumar Yadav came in to join Quinton de Kock as the score read 62/1 after the powerplay ended.

Yadav, after hitting a couple of boundaries, departed off the bowling of Murugan Ashwin for 11. De Kock, who had been quiet thus far, came into the act and pressed on the accelerator. The 50-run stand between him and Yuvraj Singh came up in the 13th over. But Yuvraj had contributed only 13 in that.

Mohammed Shami ended de Kock’s knock of 60 off 39 balls. Murugan Ashwin came back to bag his second wicket in the form of Yuvraj for 18 off 22. Kieron Pollard couldn’t get going and the run-scoring took a dip before the slog overs. Pollard, as well as Krunal Pandya, fell in quick succession that affected the scoring. Hardik Pandya’s cameo of 31 from 19 helped MI set a target of 177. The visitors were 120/3 after 13 overs and should have crossed 190. The lackluster batting by the middle-order as well as Rohit’s decision not to review his LBW hurt MI.

The hosts began their chase with KL Rahul taking his time initially. Chris Gayle was the aggressor as he struck Mitchell McClenaghan for two consecutive sixes in the 3rd over. But the MI pacers kept the scoring in check and restricted the score to 38 after 6 overs. Gayle went after Hardik Pandya and hit 2 sixes in the over.

Agarwal the catalyst, Rahul the architect

However, it was the other Pandya who took revenge. Krunal brought the first breakthrough when he sent back Gayle for 40. Rahul was batting at 15 from 22 balls at that stage. The No.3 batsman Mayank Agarwal took the initiative by being aggressive from the outset. He played the perfect knock for the situation as KXIP reached 109/1 after 13 overs.

Krunal struck again when he got Agarwal out for 43 from 21 balls. The hosts needed 56 from the last 6 overs. That’s when Rahul decided to take control of the proceedings. He collected 19 off Hardik’s 15th over and then Malinga’s next went for 12. He brought up his fifty and even Jasprit Bumrah wasn’t spared. It became too easy with the pressure of required run-rate being lifted. In the end, KXIP cruised past the line with 8 wickets in hand.

KXIP vs MI Match Summary

Kings XI Punjab won the toss and opted to bowl first

Mumbai Indians: 176/7 in 20 overs

Quinton de Kock 60 (39), Rohit Sharma 32 (18)

Murugan Ashwin 25/2 (4), Hardus Viljoen 40/2 (4)

Kings XI Punjab: 177/2 in 18.4 overs

KL Rahul 71* (57), Mayank Agarwal 43 (21)

Krunal Pandya 43/2 (4)

Kings XI Punjab won by 8 wickets

Player of the Match: Mayank Agarwal

KXIP vs MI Match 9 Full Scorecard of both innings

Mumbai Indians Innings Full Scorecard

Did not bat:- Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Malinga

Kings XI Punjab Innings Full Scorecard

Did not bat:- Sarfaraz Khan, Mandeep Singh, Hardus Viljoen, Ravichandran Ashwin, Murugan Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Andrew Tye