IPL 2020: 3 Mistakes committed by the losing side in MI vs KXIP

One of the greatest and the longest games of IPL ended dramatically to finally provide us with a winner. KXIP defeated MI in as close a contest as it can get as it took two Super Overs to determine the winner. MI and KXIP were on two different ends of the points table before this encounter began but a stunning victory for KXIP proved that this sport doesn’t count anything that happens before the last ball is bowled.

For Mumbai, there were a very few takeaways, as even after losing the game, the team looked well balanced. With three losses and six wins against their name, Mumbai is quite close to qualifying for the playoffs. However, they would want to work on the issues that this defeat has highlighted to prepare for the knockout games.

Here are the three mistakes committed by MI in Match 36, MI vs KXIP:-

1. Sending Krunal Pandya ahead of Kieron Pollard

MI has one of the strongest middle orders in the tournament with Kieron Pollard and Pandya brothers providing it immense solidity. It has been a set template for MI that if the third wicket falls before ten overs, Krunal Pandya comes out and if it falls after 10 overs, Kieron Pollard comes to the crease. However, Kieron Pollard has been in amazing form in this season and he scored unbeaten 34 off 12 balls in this game as well. If MI would have decided to bat the Trinidadian at number five, he would have made more impact.

2. Dropping catches at the end

MI pulled the things back in a stunning fashion as they dismissed KL Rahul, the set batsman in the death overs. They were looking all set to defend the total but their dismal fielding effort let them down. In the last two overs, MI dropped two important catches which not only led the momentum to shift towards KXIP but also helped them to score the much-needed runs to reach MI’s total.

3. Trent Boult bowing the second Super Over

Trent Boult is known for his brilliant swing bowling in the powerplay and he has been quite impressive in this season as well. However, the left-arm pacer is not a reliable death bowler and he was not having an ideal day on the field as well. The Kiwi speedster went for 48 runs in his four overs in the game.

Also, with Chris Gayle on the crease, the angle that a left-hander generates makes it easier for the southpaw to go for a big shot towards the cow corner. With several many reasons going against Boult, Rohit Sharma should have opted for Nathan Coulter-Nile, another decent bowler in his line-up. But they went for Boult and KXIP found it easy to snatch a famous victory.