Bhubaneswar: The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) concluded their TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season on a high note with an impressive 18-run victory over the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium.
Mumbai Indians, having won the toss, chose to bowl first and made several changes to their lineup, including the notable inclusion of Arjun Tendulkar in place of Jasprit Bumrah. LSG’s innings began cautiously, with MI’s bowlers maintaining pressure and picking up wickets at regular intervals. At the halfway mark, LSG was struggling at 69 for three, with Nicholas Pooran stepping in to rejuvenate the innings and KL Rahul anchoring the other end.
Promoted to open, Devdutt Padikkal was dismissed leg-before in the first over by Nuwan Thushara. Marcus Stoinis provided a brief spark, scoring 28 off 22 balls, but his dismissal by Piyush Chawla in the last ball of the powerplay put LSG on the back foot. Chawla continued to apply pressure, claiming the wicket of Deepak Hooda, and by the 10th over, LSG found themselves in a precarious position.
The turning point came with Pooran’s explosive batting. After playing out three dot balls, Pooran accelerated dramatically, reaching his fifty off just 19 balls, and effectively from 16 deliveries. His powerful hitting, including two sixes in the 13th over and a 29-run 15th over, where Arjun Tendulkar bowled part of it before being replaced by Naman Dhir, propelled LSG to a competitive total. Pooran’s blistering 75 off 29 balls, alongside Rahul’s steady 50 off 37 balls, set the foundation for LSG’s eventual score of 214.
Mumbai Indians’ chase began with a strong opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and Dewald Brevis. Rohit’s dynamic batting saw him reach fifty in just 28 balls, contributing significantly to an 88-run partnership with Brevis, who scored 23. However, Brevis’s dismissal by Krunal Pandya and Rohit’s subsequent wicket taken by Ravi Bishnoi stalled MI’s momentum. The departure of key players like Suryakumar Yadav further compounded MI’s struggles.
Despite a valiant effort from Naman Dhir, who reached his half-century in the final over and remained unbeaten on 62 off 28 balls, MI could not overcome the mounting run-rate. Dhir’s late flourish, including a six on the last ball, highlighted his potential but was insufficient to secure a win for MI.
LSG’s bowlers delivered a collective performance, with Krunal Pandya’s economical spell of one for 29 in four overs and Bishnoi’s two for 37 proving crucial in restricting MI. The spinners’ effective containment during the middle overs played a pivotal role in LSG’s victory.