Classy Yadav and Boom Boom Bumrah sink Bangalore

By K.R. Nayar

 Mumbai Indians' batting and bowling overcome the royal challenge from Bangalore

Mumbai Indians stopped Royal Challengers Bangalore by creating a debate as to who deserved the player of the match award. Mumbai’s one-drop batsman Suryakumar Yadav played a classy unbeaten knock of 79 with shots worthy of being watched repeatedly while their pacer Jasprit Bumrah produced a splendid spell taking three valuable wickets at a crucial juncture of the game to tilt the match in Mumbai’s favour.

Yadav was adjudged the player of the match for staying at the wicket with a body language of a determined man and steering his team to the target,  but it was Bumrah’s Boom Boom deliveries that put on the brakes to Bangalore’s run flow.

Bangalore was smoothly sailing towards a big total after opener Devdutt Padikkal, the sensation of this IPL, gave a great start with Josh Philippe.  Through an opening partnership of 71, Bangalore was strongly placed at 95 for 1 when Bumrah dismissed skipper Virat Kohli for his 100th IPL wicket. After Mumbai skipper Kieron Pollard dismissed the dangerous AB de Villiers cheaply, it was Bumrah all the way.

In the 17th over, Bumrah produced a double-wicket maiden, and that included the wicket of Padikkal, who carried the Bangalore innings on his young shoulders. The dominance of Padikkal’s knock can be measured from his score of 74 because when he fell he had scored more than half of Bangalore’s score of 134 runs at that juncture.  Bangalore could only add 35 runs in the last five overs and lost four wickets in the process. Bumrah’s spell of four overs one maiden, 14 runs, and three wickets was not only splendid but the game-changer of the contest.

The only way Bangalore could have won with a total of 164 for 6 was to pick up early wickets and bowl out Mumbai. They tried to do it with Mohammad Siraj and Yuzvendra Chahal taking two wickets each, but found Yadav stand like a giant preventing their win. His innings was an answer to Indian selectors who have ignored him for the Australian tour. It is also remarkable that his innings was played in front of Indian skipper Kohli.  Even though wickets fell around him at frequent intervals he held his nerves. The way he got behind every ball to execute his shots was a treat to watch especially a backfoot punch off Dale Steyn.  He showed how a T20 innings can be played without slogging but through perfect well placed shots. 

The result is that Mumbai has all but secured their place in the playoff.  Bangalore will need to royally challenge their opponents in the coming match to stay in the race.