Late blitz from Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard help Mumbai Indians overcome early jitters and post first win of IPL Phase 2 in UAE
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00:30This IPL just keeps severing up crackers. We'll go straight over to Anas and say hello.
00:37Thank you, Matt. Thank you for all the wait. Hello, Mr. Satish. Hello, Mr. Shyam. And hello to both the fans.
00:44Yes, a tight game in the end if you look at. Mumbai managed to sneak in 19 overs. But I'm afraid Punjab had the opportunity.
00:52They had Mumbai and they matched at 16-2. Bishnoi was on fire. And I don't know what happens to KL Rahul.
01:00Like his batting, his temperament in captainship is defensive, defensive, defensive. When you're defending at 36,
01:06you cannot be waiting for Christmas. You need to go for the kill. And that's what Rahul did.
01:10Rahul's partnership of 46 runs between Tiwari and De Kock. And that is where he lost the match.
01:16Okay. I mean, say hi to Aru and to Sai, our two fans today. One of them is very unhappy and one of them is very disappointed.
01:26But Shyam, can you just take us a little run through what happened?
01:34Actually, Punjab were on the back foot right from the beginning itself. Because their score of 135 was definitely not good enough to defend on this pitch.
01:46Actually, full credit to the Punjab bowlers for pulling it back. In fact, they made Mumbai sweat for every run.
01:54And part of the problem was, again, Mumbai's lack of form. Because the Mumbai middle order has been misfiring throughout this tournament.
02:02And this is what allowed them to come back in. And of course, that brilliant over from Bishnoi turned out nearly, nearly well and pulled it back for them.
02:11But even after 16 for 2, they were 94 for 4 when they again had another chance to come back into the game.
02:21But I think Aditya Pandya realized that he needed game time to put his head down, play the ball from the merit.
02:27And finally, when the crunch came or the slog of his game, he just turned it on. And Pollard was as usual there.
02:34And Arnath, we'll go to you first. We'll get the bad news out of the way first. Chris Gale, going out for one. Is there any solution?
02:48I think Gale is not working anymore, I guess. Because in the last two matches, since he's replaced, he's not performing.
02:57We were getting through the way only because of the bowlers. And as today also, the bowlers were very good.
03:06But the score of 135 is not enough. You know very well. That kind of score will not lead for a victory.
03:14But do you find that maybe your team is just always coming up that little bit short?
03:21Maybe. Yeah.
03:24Okay. And Sy, obviously, we'll go to the guy with more smile on his face. That was a tremendous job at the end of the day,
03:38both from Hardik and Pollard to get you guys over the line. Do you think that puts you back into the equation for the playoffs?
03:48Yes, definitely. I still believe that Mumbai have a chance. I mean, we have to win. I mean, Mumbai has to win all the three games that we are playing in the future.
03:57But actually, having said that, you know, in Abu Dhabi, 157 was the average score in the batting first.
04:02So, Mumbai did very well by restricting Punjab to 135. And also, that two wickets of Pollard, it set the tone and everybody got energetic and enthusiastic.
04:16Yes, come on. We can go for the kill. And after that, the batting. I think at times, I mean, it's surprising that Mumbai went up to the last over.
04:26And I mean, that says that we have to go back to the drawing board and see what tactics they lost.
04:33And like Mr. Anish was saying, Punjab lost it. I mean, from the jaws of victory, they've taken defeat.
04:41So, and Bishnoi's over was actually a game, would have been a game-changing over.
04:45And Mumbai was fortunate that Kelvin Pollard and Hardik Pandya held the game for them.
04:52Yeah, because it looked as though it could come right down to the actual, you know, last couple of moments. Satish, how did you see it?
05:03Yeah, first and foremost, from the Mumbai point of view, it's a pretty good win.
05:08In the sense, they got the point and now they will have that self-belief that, yes, they can turn the tide and they can win.
05:15Yeah, obviously, a win will boost your confidence. But still, the batting doesn't give me any confidence.
05:21I don't think the batting is clicking. The batting is very shaky. Right from the start, Rohit Sharma to De Kock, everybody, it's a pretty shaky batting line-up.
05:30The bowlers have been doing well for Mumbai. But batting, yes, maybe, you know, like the last couple of overs, Hardik Pandya and Pollard, they played well.
05:39But add another 20 runs to this total, maybe I don't think their body language would have been different as well.
05:46That's one aspect. But from the second aspect, the reason why Punjab lost is…
05:51They have dropped a few catches, important catches. We all know that catches win matches.
05:56Yeah, there was a brilliant effort from Makram. But still, these are the catches that you need to take to win the matches.
06:02And the last couple of overs, again, a few catches dropped. So, you can't bat badly, you can't bowl badly, and you can't feel badly and then say, I'll have to win.
06:12No, you can't do that. So, Punjab Kings might have changed their names. But the fact remains that the attitude of the players need to change.
06:20So, it doesn't just… Luck doesn't change by changing the name. Luck has to change by the attitude.
06:27Like, you need to make the luck work for you by doing this.
06:30Absolutely spot on.
06:31Aditya, believe in numerology, huh?
06:34Yeah. Yeah, well, do you know what wins matches? Getting more runs than the other team.
06:41Now, Anas, now that we're getting a bit of a clear picture in terms of where we're going to be, there's still a bit of a bunch there.
06:50But I think we can agree that Chennai and Delhi are both in the playoffs. Who do you think are the other two teams that are going to join them there?
07:03Well, it looks quite realistic that RCB should get in. They have four games. They need to win two to get into the playoffs.
07:10And tomorrow, they are not playing a very confident RR. Once they beat them, they also have 16 points.
07:16So, they also have put one foot into the door.
07:1914 points.
07:20Now we're talking about the last few. Pardon?
07:22They'll be on 14.
07:23They'll be on 14.
07:24Yeah, almost. But they still have three games, right?
07:26Yeah, they've got a game in hands.
07:29They've got a game in hands.
07:30Yeah, they can easily make 16.
07:31Correct.
07:33And mind you, what is very important, the loss of today for Punjab.
07:40Now, even if they win the next three matches, they have a mathematical chance.
07:45Because if Mumbai win all four matches, they go through.
07:48So, they have to hope that the next match which they play against KKR, Punjab, they need to beat them.
07:54Because KKR has won today.
07:55And have hope that Mumbai loses one match.
07:58Okay, the batting is suspect.
07:59But like we all know, if Mumbai comes to the party, they will be unstoppable.
08:04Okay, their batting is shaky.
08:06But you saw Hardik Pandya coming into form.
08:08Pollard is already doing runs.
08:09And if… I don't know.
08:10There are no ifs and buts in cricket.
08:11But I'll back Mumbai as a fourth team.
08:15Okay.
08:15And Sai, we'll come straight to you as the Mumbai boy.
08:21Do you back your team?
08:23100 percent.
08:24And like Mr. Anish is saying, if Mr. Anish says, he's Mr. Cricket UAE.
08:28No, no, no.
08:29My predictions are wrong.
08:30Don't go on that.
08:32And being a Mumbai fan, I cannot say no to Mumbai, you know.
08:35And I agree that RCB is the other one in the playoffs.
08:40And Delhi, Chennai, RCB and Mumbai is my predictions.
08:47Okay.
08:47And Shyam, what's your call?
08:50I mean, I've been saying this right from the start of the tournament.
08:53I mean, I've been a huge admirer of Mumbai.
08:56Their quality in the ranks, their work ethic.
08:59And so, I mean, not for nothing, they have five titles there.
09:04I mean, I would want RCB there.
09:07And they're looking out there for the third spot.
09:10Because I have a…
09:13Bangalore has a huge soft spot in my heart.
09:15So RCB should be there.
09:17But Mumbai, I'm seeing is…
09:19I've seen some green shoots of what I call confidence there.
09:23But like I said yesterday, if they make the playoffs,
09:27then you have to really, really…
09:29I would really back them to win it.
09:31I wouldn't worry too much about the batting and the opening batting over Dalla.
09:35Because except for these two matches, the previous two matches,
09:38Rohit and what do you call…
09:41Quinten Dikhoff had done well.
09:43And this is precisely how they operate.
09:46One of them or both try to have a go during the power play.
09:52And even if one gets out early, you have Surya Kumar or Ishan Kishan coming in,
10:00filling in the breach adequately.
10:01But the problem which is happening now is,
10:03both Ishan Kishan and Surya Kumar have not been firing.
10:06Which is why this is a problem.
10:08But Ishan Kishan has dropped.
10:10And I wouldn't have expected Surya Kumar to come in.
10:14Because number three is a very, very, what do you call…
10:17Very important slot in any batting lineup.
10:20In any format of cricket.
10:22So, to have a completely out-of-form batsman come in and play that slot,
10:26I thought that was a very bad move.
10:28I would have actually sent in Saurabh Tiwari.
10:32And I would even have kept somebody like Surya Kumar Yadav for number five.
10:38I know it looks odd.
10:39It will be protecting him, I think.
10:41But he needs that protection at this point of time.
10:43Because he is very, very vulnerable.
10:45But once…
10:47I don't expect Surya Kumar to run into form straight away.
10:49Because the way he has played over that Googly today…
10:52He needs to be dropped, Shyam.
10:53He needs to have some game out of the game.
10:56Exactly.
10:57Or as Shyam said, he could have come in later in the order.
11:00Maybe throw his bat around.
11:02Get some ball on the bat.
11:05Let's accept the fact, when you are out of form, you need to be sitting out.
11:08Give yourself some…
11:10My worry is, if they straight take him to the World Cup with no form,
11:14it's going to be a big problem.
11:15Yeah, it is a point of concern for India.
11:19And I think that is precisely the reason why they are keeping him.
11:23I think between Surya Kumar and Ishan,
11:26this guy, Surya Kumar is more likely to play for India, to be in the Indian 11.
11:32So, that's why they are keeping him, so that he runs into form.
11:35But this is the wrong thing to do right now.
11:37Because his form is…
11:39His confidence is dipping even more.
11:42So, if you put him down to five, like Satheesh said, he will be under no pressure.
11:48And he can just come and throw his bat around.
11:50And if he gets a few fouls, like you saw, like Hande Pandey today, he could regain form.
11:56Okay.
11:57Kind of like a Nasser Hussain or a Moeen Ali.
12:01You know, guys that can come in anywhere during the batting order,
12:05but still also do a bit of damage.
12:08If that makes any sense to any of you guys.
12:10All right.
12:10Now, let me go to Aru again.
12:12No, it makes sense.
12:13It makes sense.
12:14Why I say that is, Moeen Ali can bat anywhere.
12:17So was Surya Kumar.
12:18Surya Kumar, when he was playing for KKR, he used to come late down the order.
12:22And he used to do what Hardik Pandey and Pollard was doing.
12:25So, he is no stranger to that role.
12:28Because, I mean, what I want to ask Aru is about getting over the line.
12:33Obviously, you guys did not get over the line today.
12:38How does that change?
12:39And how do you get a line-up in place that will have a Hardik and Pollard there?
12:46That will sort out a very, very tight match?
12:51As per now, there are very minute chances that Punjab might go to playoffs.
12:58If only all the other teams like Mumbai, RR, RCB, they lose every other alternative matches,
13:06then only we have a fair chance to go to playoffs.
13:08Otherwise, we don't find any chance.
13:10We might end up coming into sixth position, for sure.
13:17Okay.
13:21The other key is, I mean, obviously, Delhi are looking good.
13:25But how does anyone stop Chennai?
13:28I'll ask with you, Aru.
13:29Chennai is unstoppable.
13:32I think that question should go to Satish.
13:36I was about to say, I can't go to Satish because he is so biased.
13:41So, which is why I throw it at him.
13:47No, I think Chennai is trying to make up for whatever has happened last time,
13:54which I think Mumbai is going through.
13:56It's a good turn of foot, which they have shown.
14:00Yeah, see, again, one more thing which I would like to add is,
14:05the team that faces more troubles during the phase and entering the playoffs
14:10will succeed better than the team that is doing everything well.
14:14So, in that way, I would like to see Chennai stuttering here and there in some matches.
14:20Because only then, even if they lose, for that matter,
14:23then the playoffs, they'll be able to play better.
14:26In the past as well, the Royal Challengers were depending on Chris Gayle and Nolik.
14:30He used to hit every match, big runs.
14:33And once in the playoff, he failed.
14:35They were clueless and they didn't know how to go about it.
14:39OK, so that brings me to the next point to Anas, just so we can wrap up.
14:45Anas, if you think that carrying momentum into the playoffs is more important than,
14:55is it better to get slip-ups out of the way early?
14:58And if that's the case, now that we've had such a disjointed tournament,
15:04is the momentum now with Chennai and are they going to go all the way?
15:09Satish is spot-on that you better have problems now than going into the playoffs
15:13or probably into the knockout.
15:15But maybe if you're like Mumbai, it was winning everything last year
15:18and till the end, they won.
15:20So, it's all about how your team is gelling.
15:23If you have one bad game, you might lose that tournament.
15:28But I would still back Chennai because they have been playing
15:31totally different cricket compared to the rest of the teams.
15:35Even though Dhoni has not been scoring.
15:37I don't see Chennai faltering here just to ensure that they get better into the playoffs.
15:44I will see them playing the same round of cricket,
15:46knowing Fleming, they will not drop any of their players
15:49unless somebody has a nickel like they did with Dwayne Bravo.
15:53OK, and Shyam, just to wrap up again.
15:58Anything to add before I say thank you to our two guest readers?
16:04Nothing special to add.
16:05I think there is at least that fourth slot is still open.
16:10Like, you have Delhi and Siviyal and Chennai taking the first three slots.
16:18So, the fourth slot is up for grabs, really.
16:21So, I think we'll see some interesting matches because of the scramble for the fourth slot.
16:27I would go for Kolkata, Shyam, sorry.
16:30And, Sti and Dharu, anything to add just before I sign off?
16:37Yeah, we hopefully too. Chennai will lose against Mumbai Palterns in the next match.
16:43OK, we shall see.
16:45One of the two slip-ups will be with Mumbai.
16:47Sardesh, you should say sorry to Sai.
16:51No, no, let him sleep.
16:53Alright, alright. Before we get out of hand, thank you very much everybody for watching as usual.
16:59And you can go on to gulfnews.com, catch all our latest updates, previews and reviews and analysis.
17:07And also all the live matches as well.
17:11And we shall catch you again tomorrow evening.
17:17Bye-bye.
17:23Bye-bye.