MI vs PBKS, 17th Match at Chennai, IPL, Apr 23 2021 - Ball by Ball Commentary

11.21pm And that is it from our coverage. Good night and see you tomorrow!

KL Rahul: We don't wanna get too ahead of ourselves, we're slowly coming together as a team. I said this after the first game as well, we're a young team. We add new names every year and we've to be patient. Hooda has been playing really well, Shahrukh's taken his opportunities, and Bishnoi today. Me and coach did have a long chat about batting second, I felt that the wicket was sticky and the first few games we've batted and felt that the bowlers were always under pressure. I felt it was important that bowlers get to bowl in those conditions and we heard that there was a lot of dew. So I felt like it can ease up and come on better - that didn't happen, but we knew what to chase and that helped. The dry ball did play a big part, it just started ripping. When that happens it gets real hard to even get singles. But it was good of Chris, he figured out who to target, that's the benefit of having someone like him. Ravi's been working real hard with Anil bhai, there were a few things he had to correct, and he's worked really hard and he's held his composure against a solid batting line-up.

KL Rahul is the Player of the Match.

Mayank Agarwal: Nice to get two points on the board. The way we paced our innings was nice. The discussion was to play good cricketing strokes and keep looking to go straight. We needed to get a powerplay and we did.

Rohit Sharma: Not enough runs, exactly. I still feel it's not a bad wicket to bat on. You can see how Kings won with nine wickets in hand. If yu get 150-160 you're always in the game and that is something we've failed in the last two games, we need to look at that. We can look at it either way - their bowlers bowled very well in that powerplay. Ishan was tyring to hit but couldn't get it, even myself. We were trying but the wicket was easy. In the last four games we really batted well in the powerplay but today we failed to do so. We're missing batting all 20 overs the way we want to. Something we need to look at. Ishan at 3 was just a actical thing, we wanted someone to bat in the middle who plays well against spin and we identified Surya as that player. When it works it looks good, when it doesn't it looks bad. There's no one person who makes a decision, it's the entire unit. We just need to understand how you need to bat and bowl when the conditions are tough.

Abhi: "If Allen starts to bowl well and gives his 4 full overs, PBKS will look better. His energy and fielding is outstanding. Moises, take a bow dude"

Kamal: "Of all the serious title contenders, MI look to have major challenges. Their batting is just not firing. 5 times in a row is not an off night. They must be having some heart to hearts in the locker room. "

Giri: "Can't imagine if 5 spinners bowl 20 overs on this pitch"

Pratik: "It's disappointing to see MI middle struggle even after 4-5 games at the same pitch. Maybe it's time to give someone like Neesham or Saurabh Tiwary a chance? Also given Krunal's inability to take wickets on these slow pitches maybe Piyush Chawla should get a look in."

Raghu: "Perfect example of "Stats don't tell the whole story". Rahul's inning will be statistically bad but absolutely great in terms of what team needs."

chotu: "It will be a shame if a batter is given Player of the match when it is the bowlers who have won them the match.. Give it to Bishnoi and Shami.."

Samuel: "131 will never be enough. Not even on a rank turner. A boundary here and there will be enough to ease of the pressure in the chase. Punjab bossed the game today. Thoroughly beaten Mumbai in all three departments. "

10.59pm A chase finished off with ease in the end. Punjab needed only three batters tonight, and all three of them showed fantastic game awareness. Mayank and Rahul flattened Mumbai in the powerplay and that was the basis of being able to be watchful without panicking when Mumbai's spinners pulled things back. Gayle waited and waited before figuring out the areas to score, and walked around the crease to open up areas and keep the boundaries coming. Mumbai had little to defend by the end. Rahul playing a nicely paced innings to be there are the end.

Not a single slower ball from Boult this over and he's paid for it

ShyGuy: "Sensible game from Gayle! Absolutely beautiful to see him knock it around for singles when the situation demands that! Legend!"

Bumrah around the wicket

Now the second time out. 24 needed off 24.

Aj : "Get Gayle on strike for Krunal, KL"

Asish: "Lessons learnt : don't hit a big six and get the ball replaced. "

The changed ball getting a lot more grip and Rohit signals immediately to Krunal.

Malli: "What an over, it's definitely over of the match. We had everything there"