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Missed catches and tactical blunders cost Mumbai as Chennai reigns supreme in a historic IPL night.
The floodlights blazed over the stadium on April 25, 2010, casting a dramatic spotlight on the third edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) final. The stakes were high, and the tension was thick. On one side, there are the Mumbai Indians, a star-studded franchise led by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
On the other hand, the Chennai Super Kings, a team helmed by the enigmatic MS Dhoni, a captain with a reputation for his cool head under pressure, This night, however, would belong to Chennai, etched forever in IPL history as a night of grit, grace, and Mumbai's missed opportunities.
Chennai's innings began with cautious optimism. M. Vijay and Matthew Hayden provided a steady start, accumulating a decent 40 runs in the Powerplay. But just as it seemed Chennai was laying a solid foundation, wickets began to tumble.
Hayden, struggling against the Mumbai Indians' bowling attack, fell for a sluggish 17 off 31 balls. Suresh Raina, the left-handed maestro, and S. Badrinath followed in quick succession, leaving Chennai in a precarious position at 68/3 after 12 overs.
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MSD and Albie Morkel after CSK’s innings
Enter MS Dhoni, the man with ice in his veins. Walking in amidst the mini-collapse, Dhoni initially mirrored the cautious approach of the top order. He weathered a test from Dilhara Fernando, the Sri Lankan seamer, who had been wreaking havoc with his deceptive slower balls. But the Dhoni of old, the finisher known for his audacious strokeplay, was just beneath the surface. In Pollard's next over, Dhoni decided to up the ante.
Dhoni's aggression seemed to be contagious. Suresh Raina, Chennai's middle-order mainstay, who had come in at the fall of the second wicket, watched and absorbed his captain's masterclass.
He began to play his shots with greater freedom, finding boundaries with increasing ease. However, a stroke of luck played a crucial role in his knock. With Raina well set, a misjudged delivery from Zaheer Khan resulted in a dropped catch.
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Raina’s innings was a match winning one
Another dropped catch by Zaheer, followed by a hat-trick of boundaries from Raina's willow—a four, a six, and another four—further dented Mumbai's spirit.
Chennai's strategy throughout their innings was a masterclass in calculated risk-taking. They prioritised building a solid platform, even if it meant a slow start. Openers Vijay and Hayden absorbed the initial blows from the Mumbai attack, consuming deliveries and ensuring they didn't lose wickets in a cluster during the crucial powerplay.
Dhoni's arrival at the crease marked a turning point. His initial measured approach ensured Chennai didn't lose further wickets, while his later explosion, coupled with Raina's stroke of luck and brilliant batting, propelled the team to a respectable total of 168 for 5.
Mumbai's chase, in stark contrast, was riddled with questionable decisions and missed opportunities. Promoting inexperienced players like Abhishek Nayar and Harbhajan Singh ahead of the in-form Kieron Pollard backfired miserably.
Sachin Tendulkar, the batting maestro of Indian cricket, struggled throughout his innings. Playing with a split webbing in his hand, he was visibly hampered, managing a laborious 48 runs off 45 balls. The frustration was evident as the required run rate climbed past 12. His dismissal, a well-judged catch by Raina running in from deep midwicket, was a significant blow to Mumbai's hopes.
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A frustrated Sachin Tendulkar after the IPL final
The crucial wickets of Abhishek Nayar and Harbhajan Singh in the 12th over left them with a mountain to climb. Kieron Pollard, finally unleashed in the later stages, tried his best to resurrect the inning with a powerful 27-run knock.
However, by the time he was dismissed in the 19th over, caught by Albie Morkel at mid-off, the writing was already on the wall. Mumbai fell short by 22 runs, their chase faltering in the face of Chennai's well-rounded performance.
