MI vs KXIP | Player Ratings - Kieron Pollard changes the game in style as Mumbai Indians beat Kings XI Punjab in last ball thriller

04/10/2019

That Kieron Pollard can hit was never a doubt, but he would chase down almost 200 with such authority was almost unbelievable. The burly Carribean, who captained Mumbai Indians for the first time, created a thunder at Wankhede and in the process, guided his team to the third spot on the table.

Siddhesh Lad (4/10): First ball he faced in his IPL career after four-year IPL wait was clobbered that for a six. That was chutzpah. Nevermind, he was dismissed after scoring only 15, but Lad won a lot of hearts with that six and set the world of Twitter on flow.

Quinton de Kock (4/10): Blowing hot and cold is synonymous with Quinton de Kock lately and the frustration reached epic proportion when he mistimed Ravichandran Ashwin to be dismissed for 24 off 23 balls. With Lasith Malinga waiting in the wings to find his spot back, it may become difficult for him to continue claiming a spot at the top of the order. In this realisation lies his immense contribution to the team.

Suryakumar Yadav (4.5/10): This was probably the reason why he was never on the periphery of India selection. Yadav has so many shots in his books, yet never ever used that consistently to have a very good score next to his name on the scoreboard. His mode of dismissal was another cause of concern and if he doesn’t find a way out of this, a graduation from this level may become next to impossible.

Kieron Pollard (9.5/10): WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? Was it Andre Russell wearing Pollard’s face - #GOTisback. Pollard seemed to travel back in time to unleash 2013 Pollard. A vintage assault on his captaincy debut for the franchise got his side back into the match and even though he would be disappointed that he did not get his team over the line, MI wouldn’t be too fussed about his form from now on.

Ishan Kishan (2/10): As shown in “Cricket Fever” documentary, Ishan Kishan was a lazy boy, and not obsessed with cricket, like many of his contemporaries. That attitude was clearly on the show as Kishan never really had the intent of being there in the middle and that hurried approach resulted in only seven runs off 10 balls.

Krunal Pandya (2/10): Kieron Pollard understood that spinners were not an option at all in Mumbai and Krunal Pandya would be happy for that. Otherwise, bearing the brunt of a terrible spell would’ve been more heartbreaking for him. Mumbai, on the other hand, would’ve loved to see his contribution with the bat, but his failure was papered over by Pollard’s pyrotechnics.

Hardik Pandya (3/10): Hardik Pandya always feared this, didn’t he? Ever since KL Rahul was strangled in the “KWK controversy” for no real fault of his own, this was the match-up everyone waited for eagerly. When the duo got face to face, Rahul sent him to the stars to collect 23 runs and had the bragging rights with him. As far as tragicomedies go, this should be right up there.

Rahul Chahar (6.5/10): Like his brother Deepak, Rahul Chahar also believes in larger fairness and destiny that if you would keep on doing your job, god will favour you. Rahul pulled his length back and took the ball into trouble the batsmen while making sure that run-rate was in check.

Alzarri Joseph (1/10): Law of averages is real and there is no disputing the fact. But no one would have thought that it would catch up with Joseph so soon. After a debut that gifted him the best IPL figure of all-time, the Caribbean was never on the money and his lack of length judgement was so evident that Punjab took him for 22 runs in two overs.

Jason Behrendorff (5/10): Flash in the pan! Well, the chatter would’ve definitely started on Twitter. After having a dream IPL debut, the Aussie was indistinct in his approach and couldn’t stay calm in the face of a Gaylestorm. Fair play to him that he managed to save his figures from a torrid look in the last over, but in all, he could’ve done a lot better.

Jasprit Bumrah(5/10): Although Jasprit Bumrah started well, the good work was undone by KL Rahul and Sam Curran towards the end. Bumrah, however, maintained the line and length in the middle overs and powerplay to give Mumbai a solid opening with the ball. Then again, you expect Bumrah to do that for his team.