Season over for MI?

It was another 50 runs plus opening partnership for Mumbai Indians against Rajasthan Royals. Evin Lewis and Suryakumar Yadav have made Wankhede their fortress but their middle order counterparts have failed to do so time and time again.

In the last four matches, both of them have linked up for scores—87, 46, 91 and 38 for an opening stand. The duo has been the most successful pair at the top in this year’s Indian Premier League. The major reason why the defending champions have struggled with just five wins in 12 games is the lack of intensity in the middle order.

Rohit Sharma has only three thirty plus scores in 12 games with three ducks looming over the skipper’s account this season. Not to blame him for all the troubles, Kieron Pollard turned into a liability by the middle of the season that forced the management to bench him after seven games. The West Indian had just 76 runs in six innings with 28 being his highest score.

The young shoulders of Ishan Kishan were burdened right after the auction when MI coughed up Rs 6.5 crore. He did not disappoint entirely. He got 250 runs in 10 innings with an average of 25.00.

“On a pitch like that we should have scored 15-20 runs more. In the games that we lost in the past, we didn’t finish well with the bat. Today was another game we didn’t finish well,” said Rohit after the game.

 “A few times this season we've fallen in a heap and sort of lost quick three or four wickets in three overs for not many runs. So when you lose 2 for 20 or 3 for 30, it’s tough to build up and fire again regardless of the bowling.”

Now it has become too late for Rohit and the management to address this issue. They have two games left and even after winning those matches, the three-time champions may not make it to the playoffs. Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings Eleven Punjab are already two points ahead of them at 12. It will require a lot of mathematical combinations and even then MI will have a slender chance.

Experts of the game feel that Mumbai should have experimented with the squad when things were going wrong. “They should play younger players and think that they have nothing to lose. What if they shine?” says Balwinder Sandhu focusing on the middle order collapses.

Even the bowlers have been impressive over the season, especially in the pace department. Hardik Pandya has definitely improved a lot to become the team’s top wicket-taker just two wickets behind Andrew Tye who leads the charts. Mayank Markande’s googly in the first match that deceived MS Dhoni made everyone believe that the leg-spinner could make strides.

Akila Dhananjaya was not used after Jason Roy destroyed him completely in the beginning of the season. The Sri Lankan off-spinner conceded 47 runs in four overs to keep him on the bench for the rest of the season.

The major bowling responsibility has been on Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik with Krunal providing the support whenever needed.

The next game against Kings XI Punjab on May 16 is another crucial tie followed by an away fixture against Delhi Daredevils to end the season. Mumbai has the slightest of chances to qualify with the teams above them locking horns for the top four spot.