The IPL final on Sunday, between Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiant, resembled a gladiatorial show in the closing minutes before an energy-sapping and emotionally-charged final over helped the former script a miraculous one-run victory and lift the glittering trophy for the third time in the last five years.
The images of the last ball — Dan Christian working Mitchell Johnson to deep forward of square, substitute Jagadeesha Suchith gathering his wits after fumbling with the ball twice and throwing the ball for Parthiv Patel to whip the bails off in a flash — will remain etched in memory. Johnson’s cool response to the manner of win captured the essence of the great game: “These are the moments we play for.’’
MI’s third triumph (2013, 2015, 2017), after being a finalist in 2010, has placed it above the suspended Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, who both have two wins.
MI’s win also marked the conclusion of IPL’s first decade and cricketers who have been part of it have often said that the league launched in 2008 is by far the best, even if the BCCI has not been able to get a clear window from other international engagements between ICC’s full members.
Bought at $111.9 million by a Reliance Industries subsidiary company, the Mukesh Ambani-owned team has had five coaches — Lalchand Rajput, Shaun Pollock, JohnWright, Ricky Ponting and Mahela Jayawardena — over the years and as a result of the knowledge and tactics gained from them, MI has been able to stamp its class and authority in the league. It has so far played 157 matches, won 92 and lost 67.
Ponting making himself unavailable for this season may have disappointed the owners, but the presence of Wright (talent scout), Shane Bond (bowling coach), Jonty Rhodes (fielding coach), Kiran More (wicket-keeping coach) and Robin Singh and Paras Mhambrey in the coaching staff provided stability to the team.
This settled environment largely contributed to MI’s win and made things easier for Jayawardena, a seasoned IPL campaigner having played 80 matches for Kings XI Punjab, Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Delhi Daredevils.
MI reaped dividends for retaining players they had initially put their faith in. Rohit Sharma, whgo came from Deccan Chargers in the fourth season, has remained a pillar of strength. MI’s other mainstays have been Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga, Ambati Rayudu and Harbhajan Singh; and once it plumped for Mitchell McClenaghan, MI has looked upon him to deliver.
But easily, MI’s best pick has been pacer Jasprit Bumrah and all credit to Wright for getting the Gujarat player into the MI ranks. He has turned out to be a real match-winner. And in recent times, MI has been clear about the wherewithal of the Pandya brothers, Hardik and Krunal.
This season, MI’s fortunes revolved around Rohit, Pollard, Hardik (all 17 matches), Parthiv and Bumrah (16), McClenagahn (14), Krunal and Nitish Rana (13), Malinga (12) and Harbhajan (11).
England’s Jos Buttler played 10 and had to make way for Lendl Simmons because he was not available for the play offs. Leg-spinner Karn Sharma played nine matches, including the three play-off matches displacing Harbhajan.
Bold decisions, like dropping the experienced Harbhajan and getting Krunal and Rayudu as soon as they were declared fit, gave indications that MI looked to brilliant individuals to combine well in the quest for the big prize. MI also created a good environment at practice sessions, especially at the Wankhede Stadium.
