IPL 2019: Kumar Sangakkara congratulates Mahela Jayawardene after MI’s victory in the Final

The game went down to the last ball where Lasith Malinga trapped Shardul Thakur in front to bring the curtains down on the encounter.

Published - 13 May 2019, 14:43 IST | Updated - 13 May 2019, 14:43 IST

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It goes without saying that Mumbai Indians (MI) has been one of the most popular teams in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Back in 2013, Rohit Sharma was appointed as the captain of the franchise after Ricky Ponting flattered to deceive. However, he was able to change the tide and helped Mumbai to their maiden championship that year itself.

Rohit hasn’t looked back ever since and has gone from strength to strength. In 2015, 2017 and 2019, he captained Mumbai to glory, thereby making it the most successful team in the T20 tournament. Yesterday, he had a memorable day as well as MI beat MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Final at the RGI Stadium in Hyderabad by a mere one run.

The game went down to the last ball where Lasith Malinga trapped Shardul Thakur in front to bring the curtains down on the encounter. Shane Watson scored 80 runs under pressure, but his efforts went in vain. The contest had several twists and turns and it kept everyone at the edge of their seats, including MI owner Nita Ambani, who couldn’t watch the last ball.

Sangakkara heaps praise on Jayawardene

Apart from the men in the park, credit should also go to the MI support staff, who have worked relentlessly in order to make MI a powerhouse. Back in 2016, the former Sri Lankan cricketer Mahela Jayawardene was appointed as the head coach of the franchise, replacing Ricky Ponting, who recently worked with the Delhi Capitals. It was also Mahela’s first stint as the coach of any team.

In the meantime, retired Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara congratulated Mahela after MI’s victory. Sanga was happy with the way his former teammate led from the front and coached the team. Sangakkara took to Twitter and wrote, “Wonderful achievement by you machan. Well led and well coached,”