What an evening. It tested the players' skill, their resolve, their fitness, their nous. It also tested our knowledge of the playing conditions. And our tech. Together we went where he had never gone before: a second Super over in the same match. Have yo seen the astronauts-on-moon video sped up? It felt a little like that: stumbling, find our way, but great thrill and excitement. Shami was the best of the lot with his yorkers, taking this match into a second Super Over with just five to defend. He didn't waver off his yorkers at all. Shami would have been my Man of the Match, but I am not slacking off Rahul. He has led an inexperienced batting line-up, and also showed much better intent today. It took a great delivery from Bumrah to get him out in the regulation match. Oh there is too much to recount, and I will let my esteemed colleagues do that in their written pieces. Good night and good luck
KL Rahul, who is also the Man of the Match: "Yeah okay. It is not the first time. But we don't want to make a habit out of it. We will take the two points in the end. It doesn't always happen the way you plan so you don't really know how to stay balanced. I was just hoping we get over the line because the boys have been working really really hard. In the games that we have lost, even then we have played well and just not been able to get over the line. After wicketkeeping for 20 overs, I knew the first six overs were crucial. The wicket was slightly slower so it was important for us to get runs in the Powerplay. I knew Chris and Pooran... I trust them to take down spinners. So Chris coming in has made my job easier as a batter. You can never prepare for Super Overs. No team does. So you have to trust your bowler's gut. You trust your bowler, and let them believe their instinct and gut. He was very clear he wanted to go six yorkers. He has been phenomenal, and keeps getting better every game. It is important that senior players win the games for the team. [The tide might be turning with two close wins] but we still want to take it one game at a time. It is sweet after the kind of matches we have lost but the talk in the dressing room is to focus on the process. We know we need to win everything from here, but we can't forget the processes that lead to a win."
Mayank Agarwal says, "This is sport. It can get hard, but you definitely can't do without it. For a moment or two, the DC game was in the back of my head, but the thinking was to watch the ball and hit the ball. It is amazing to be part of this game, which will go down in history. Hopefully we can sneak in, but we are not talking about it, we are not looking at the points. It is about each game and trying to win it."
Kieron Pollard says Rohit Sharma was not feeling well so he is speaking to Star at the post-match presentation. He says this is not the worst thing that could happen to you in life. Yes, it was a game we should have won, he says, but we will have to move on
Would you believe it? Mumbai Indians have lost two Super Overs in one IPL. They are a team built for Super Overs. And yet they have lost. Thanks to the exceptional Super Over that Shami bowled. Yorker after yorker after yorker, he nailed them all. What relief it must be for KL Rahul, who has seen many a heartbreak this IPL. What relief for Jordan, who has brought upon two Super Overs when batting. Great spirit between the teams. Rahul, Agarwal, the Pandya brothers share jokes