WATCH | Punjab's smiles turn to frowns as Ishant takes a tumble before missing easy run out
BCCI
The IPL is a tournament where fortunes change on a ball to ball basis. This was on full display in the match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab when the visitor's grins from Ishant Sharma falling after a delivery were wiped off when the pacer missed an easy run out opportunity.
Chasing a humongous total of 231, Mumbai had looked in complete control before Martin Guptill pulled off one of the best catches in the IPL to send Lendl Simmons packing. In the next over, even though Ishant Sharma conceded a boundary and bowled a no ball, it was proving to be a good over as Mumbai could only manage six runs off the first four balls. Over the next two balls, Ishant showed why he has been given the title of "Lord" by his fans.
On the penultimate ball of the over, Ishant took a tumble, as Matthew Hayden called it "like a newly born giraffe". The incident drew a smile from Ishant and Glenn Maxwell, who came over to help the pacer to his feet. Even Virendra Sehwag, sitting in the Punjab dugout, was seen having fun at the pacer's expense.
While some players still had smiles on their faces from the previous ball, the expression soon turned to anger as the pacer missed one of the easiest run outs of the current edition of the IPL. Rohit played an incoming length ball towards midwicket and decided to risk a second that was, let's call it, improbable. The throw from the deep was accurate but Ishant had decided not to cover the wickets. When he did try to get there, Ishant missed the ball as it deflected off his knee for another run.
This time, however, there were no smiles as Maxwell gave the lanky Indian a disgusted look, knowing fully well that a loss would end their IPL campaign.
