IPL 2019: Three talking points from KXIP’s eight-wicket win over MI
Kings XI Punjab showed their might with the bat as they cruised to an eight-wicket win over Mumbai Indians at the PCA Stadium, Mohali. Batting first, MI enjoyed a solid start with Captain Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock adding quick runs. After their dismissal, the middle order capitulated and once again Hardik Pandya had to rescue the side. Chasing 177, Gayle generated momentum with his 24-ball 40. Mayank Agarwal’s 43(21) and KL Rahul 71 not out allowed KXIP to breeze past the target.
1. Ashwin – not Ravichandran – does the trick
KXIP had a forced change in their side. Their mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy had an injury, and the team filled the vacancy with another spinner from Tamil Nadu. Leg spinner Murugan Ashwin was selected in place of Varun, and it proved to be a masterstroke. The leggie accounted for Suryakumar Yadav on the second ball of his spell. M Ashwin kept Yuvraj Singh quiet for a long time and eventually snared his wicket. His spell of 2/25 from four overs was the best spell from KXIP.
2. MI messes up DRS – twice
The IPL governing council added DRS (Decision Review System) last year to avoid umpiring errors. However, Mumbai Indians failed to use it correctly, and lost two key wickets. First up, Rohit Sharma was rapped on the pads by Hardus Viljoen. Rohit decided not to review the decision. The replays showed that the ball would’ve missed the stumps. In contrast, Quinton de Kock incorrectly used the review on his LBW dismissal, and the team lost its solitary review in vain.
3. KL Rahul vs Hardik Pandya
In January 2019, the ‘Coffee with Karan’ controversy led to the suspension of KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya. Both had to work hard and regained their spots in the Indian team. In this match, the duo confronted each other on the cricket field. Hardik was introduced in the sixth over of Punjab’s innings, and he conceded only one run in the first three balls. Later, Rahul found his form and welcomed Hardik in the 15th over with a six. He struck another boundary on the fourth ball of the same over, and took KXIP closer to the win.
