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Ice man heats up: Rahul's hundred sinks Mumbai
On this day, April 24, 2022, the Wankhede Stadium, usually a fortress for the Mumbai Indians, witnessed a change of guard. The newly formed Lucknow Super Giants, led by a defiant KL Rahul, snatched a convincing 36-run victory from the jaws of defeat. This win exposed the stark contrast between the two teams: Lucknow, brimming with youthful exuberance and a captain in red-hot form, and Mumbai, struggling with a winless streak and a batting order in shambles.
For a while, it seemed like the script might be flipped. The Mumbai bowlers, uncharacteristically disciplined this season, put the Lucknow batsmen on the back foot. Jasprit Bumrah, the fiery pacer, dismissed Quinton de Kock early, and the rest of the bowling attack kept things tight. KL Rahul, the Lucknow captain, found scoring difficult initially, managing just 29 runs off his first 30 balls.
However, the tide began to turn as Rahul shifted gears. Taking advantage of the short boundaries and the dew settling in, he unleashed a flurry of boundaries. He targeted the faster bowlers, particularly relishing short deliveries, which he dispatched over the ropes with disdain. His fifty came off just 37 balls, a testament to his aggressive intent.
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Rahul’s third hundred of 2022 season
While Rahul anchored the Lucknow innings, wickets kept falling around him. Deepak Hooda and Ayush Badoni, the young guns, failed to capitalize on the platform set by Rahul. However, the skipper remained unfazed, carrying the team on his shoulders. He reached his century in style, smashing two sixes in the final over off Riley Meredith. His unbeaten knock of 103, his second of the season and third against Mumbai, formed the backbone of Lucknow's total of 168.
Despite the daunting target, the prediction system gave Mumbai a near 50% chance of chasing it down. However, their batting woes continued. Ishan Kishan, usually a free-flowing opener, displayed unusual caution, managing a mere 8 runs off 20 balls. Rohit Sharma, the Mumbai skipper, provided some early hope with a steady start but was dismissed trying to break the shackles.
The turning point of the chase arguably came in the 11th over. KL Rahul, in a bold move, handed the ball to the uncapped Ayush Badoni, who had never bowled in a T20 match before. This gamble paid off spectacularly, as Badoni dismissed the in-form Suryakumar Yadav with his second delivery.
Tilak Varma, the young Mumbai batsman, emerged as a lone bright spark, playing a gutsy knock of 38 runs. He briefly rekindled Mumbai's hopes with a 57-run partnership with Kieron Pollard. However, once Varma was dismissed, the chase fizzled out. Pollard, usually Mumbai's saviour, could only manage a run-a-ball of 17, and Mumbai fell short by 36 runs. (MI 132/8)
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Tilak Varma shines but couldn’t make the finish
This match painted a clear picture of the contrasting fortunes of the two teams. The Lucknow Super Giants, with a fearless captain leading from the front, displayed a winning mentality. On the other hand, the Mumbai Indians, burdened by a string of losses and a dysfunctional batting order, looked like a shadow of their former selves. The win not only solidified Lucknow's position at the top of the table but also served as a stark reminder of Mumbai's need for a quick turnaround.
