IPL 2021: MI vs PBKS Review – Hardik Pandya and Mumbai get back in form

After three losses, Mumbai Indians got back to winning ways by beating Punjab Kings by six wickets in Abu Dhabi on September 28. It was another low-scoring affair in the IPL 2021, but Mumbai batted well and bowled with discipline to get their fifth win in 11 matches. For Punjab, this was their seventh loss in 11 games.

Earlier in the evening, Mumbai Indians won the toss and Rohit Sharma elected to bowl first. Punjab started decently but soon slipped from 36 for 0 to 48 for 4. The collapse was forced by some good collective bowling displays. Aiden Markram, who made 42 runs and Deepak Hooda who scored 28 runs took Punjab to a good enough total. They ended on 135 for 6, which was enough to force some pressure on Mumbai.

Rahul Chahar and Krunal Pandya got a wicket each while Jasprit Bumrah and Kieron Pollard picked up two scalps each. Punjab Kings then started a good and disciplined show with the ball. Mumbai lost Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav in the fourth over, both to Ravi Bishnoi, as they found it difficult to get the scoreboard going on. At the halfway stage, they were at 61 for 3.

Quinton de Kock got out for 27 while Saurabh Tiwary made a good contribution of 45 runs from 37 balls. Mohammed Shami and Nathan Ellis also got a wicket each as four wickets down, Mumbai had Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard at the crease. As the innings went deep, Pandya gained momentum and ended the chase with some glorious shots in the 19th over. He made 40 runs from 30 balls while Pollard stayed unbeaten at the other end for 15 runs.

Top performers:

Kieron Pollard:

The Big West Indian doesn’t bowl all that much nowadays but when he does, he manages to get a wicket or two. Two is what he got in one over he bowled in this game. He got the huge wickets of Chris Gayle and KL Rahul. One can only wonder why he wasn’t given another over. Later in the game, he came and smashed 15 runs from 7 balls helping the chase.

Hardik Pandya: His batting this season hadn’t been that good and even in this game it got to a point where it seemed he was struggling. He was on 12 off 17 and then he ended up adding 28 runs from the next 13 deliveries. It was his attack on Shami in the penultimate over which ended the game with six balls to spare.

Personal achievement/records:

• Kieron Pollard became the only player to have 10,000+ runs and 300+ wickets in T20 cricket.
• Krunal Pandya completed 50 wickets in IPL.

Way ahead:

Punjab will now play Kolkata on October 1 and Mumbai Indians will play on October 2 against Delhi.