Mumbai Indians suffered a disappointing loss against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) despite having a strong batting lineup. Chasing a modest target of 170 runs, MI’s batting faltered, raising questions about their approach and player selection.
Tim David’s Struggles
The spotlight falls on Tim David, who was brought in to fill the finisher’s role vacated by the legendary Kieron Pollard. While David has shown glimpses of brilliance, like his match-winning 45 against Rajasthan Royals last year, he hasn’t been consistent. In this match, his slow knock of 24 runs from 20 balls left Mumbai needing an improbable total in the final overs.
Questionable Calculations
The decision to hold David back and take the match to the final overs seems like a miscalculation. With only the lower order remaining, scoring a significant number of runs became extremely difficult. Mumbai perhaps missed Pollard’s ability to single-handedly win matches from precarious situations.
Mumbai Indians have Terrible Batting Woes
Beyond David, the entire batting unit, except for Suryakumar Yadav who scored well against Andre Russell, struggled against KKR’s spinners, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. Openers Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan, along with youngsters Tilak Verma and Nehal Wadhera, failed to capitalize on a decent start in the powerplay.
KKR’s Bowling Dominance
Credit must be given to KKR’s bowlers, particularly Narine and Chakravarthy, who choked the MI batsmen with their tight bowling. They restricted the flow of runs, forcing Mumbai to take unnecessary risks.
Hardik Pandya’s Disappointing Season
Adding to Mumbai’s woes is the underwhelming performance of skipper Hardik Pandya throughout the season. His lack of runs and leadership has put the team under pressure. He definitely bowled decently but the onus is on him to win match for MI when the top order fails.
A Match to Forget for Mumbai Indians
This loss against KKR, especially after a good bowling performance, could be a major setback for Mumbai Indians’ confidence. They need to find solutions to their batting woes and identify the right players for specific roles if they are to turn their season around.
This is the 6th time Mumbai Indians have lost a game while chasing. Tim David and Hardik Pandya, both designated finishers have failed completely to get the job done for 5 time title winners.