IPL 2019, Match 7: RCB vs MI- I was Just Focussing on My Plan and Trying to Back My Strengths Says Jasprit Bumrah

Mumbai Indians completed a sensational victory in their 2nd match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore by 6 runs to get their IPL 12 campaign back on track. The sensational knock of AB de Villiers went to vain as Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga kept their nerves and won the match for Mumbai. Earlier in the day, it was a great knock by Hardik Pandya which propelled Mumbai Indians to a score of 187 runs. Eventually, Jasprit Bumrah proved to be the match winner for Mumbai as he bowled a sensational 19th over to tilt the match in MI’s favour.

RCB skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and chose to field in batting friendly Chinnaswamy wicket. It was MI skipper Rohit Sharma who came out to open the innings with Quinton de Kock. Rohit looked in sublime touch and took on the RCB bowlers from the outset. De Kock also joined in and shared a 54 runs stand before the dismissal of the wicket-keeper batsman.

Captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed just two runs short of a well-deserved half-century. Yuvraj Singh rolled back the years and struck some lusty blows. The southpaw smashed 3 consecutive sixes of Yuzvendra Chahal and looked in ominous touch. However, he was dismissed as he attempted to smash his 4^th consecutive sixes.

MI lost wickets in a heap and was reduced to 147/7 from 124/2. The late impetus of the innings was given by Hardik Pandya as he remained unbeaten on 32 of 14 deliveries which included 2 fours and 3 humungous sixes. One of the sixes landed on the roof as Hardik showed his muscle power.

Set a target of 188 to win, it was Parthiv Patel and Moeen Ali who walked out to open the innings. After a good start by the openers, it was a brilliant piece of fielding by Rohit which sent back Moeen Ali to the pavilion. Mayank Markande deceived Parthiv Patel with a brilliant delivery. Captain Virat Kohli, on the other hand, looked in great touch and was joined by AB de Villiers in the crease.

Kohli looked in great touch and was dismissed by a great delivery from Jasprit Bumrah. Despite his wicket, AB de Villiers kept RCB in the game with some exceptional hitting. He smashed the Mumbai Indians bowlers all around the park during his magical knock of 70 of 41 deliveries which were studded with 4 fours and 6 sixes.

However, it was Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional 19th over which got Mumbai Indians back into the game. He conceded just 4 runs which made the equation difficult for Bangalore. With 17 required off the last over, Shivam Dube struck a six off Lasith Malinga in the very first ball which titled the match in RCB’s favour.

However, Lasith Malinga came back strongly in the last few deliveries as Mumbai Indians defended the 11 runs in the last 5 deliveries. However, there was an unfortunate error from the umpire in the last delivery as Malinga bowled a no-ball but no call was made. Virat Kohli was livid in the post-match presentation and said that they were not playing club level cricket.

Now here is what Man of the Match Jasprit Bumrah said at the post-match presentation

You go ball by ball and you try to control the controllables. You try to back yourself in the situation. You don’t go too far behind, I was just focussing on my plan and trying to back my strengths. I always try to back myself in any situation and execute the plan to perfection. I have always taken care of my body.