IPL Rewind: 2019 – Record-breaking triumph for Mumbai Indians
After winning three titles in three odd years (2013, 2015 and 2017), Mumbai Indians went on to win yet another title in 2019, making it their fourth trophy – The most by any team in the IPL history. However, it wasn’t a cakewalk for the franchise in that particular season as they started the tournament by losing two out of the first three games.
Shaky beginning
Mumbai started the IPL 2019 with a hiccup as they lost to Delhi Capitals in their first game of the season by 37 runs. They survived a major scare when RCB almost defeated them in the second match by just 6 runs. In the third game, they took on Kings XI Punjab and lost badly by an 8-wicket margin.
However, MI came back to winning ways in no time as they registered important wins against three big teams CSK, SRH and KXIP. It was Rajasthan Royals that applied brakes to their winning streak by a handsome 4-wicket win. At the halfway stage of the tournament, MI had registered three defeats and four crucial wins.
The Mumbai-based franchise yet again came back to winning ways when they met RCB and registered a comfortable victory by 5 wickets. Their winning momentum continued against Delhi Capitals in their 9th game of the season by winning quite easily. It was RR again that defeated MI for the second time in the season, however, MI were in top-4 teams by that time.
MI went on to win three out of the last four league games and comfortably positioned themselves at the top of the points table by the end of the league stage. They registered 9 wins and 5 defeats in the league stage with 18 points.
Dominating the playoffs
The arch-rivals Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings met in the Qualifier 1 in Chennai. It was a low-scoring encounter as CSK posted just 131/4 in 20 overs with Rayudu being the top-scorer. In reply, Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 71 helped MI to easily reach the final.
Mumbai Indians and CSK yet again met in the grand finale. This time, Mumbai Indians batted first and posted a decent total of 141 in the first innings, thanks to Pollard’s 25-ball 41-run knock. In reply, Shane Watson went all guns blazing in the powerplay but the MI bowlers applied brakes with quick wickets. It was MS Dhoni’s wicket that turned the game upside down. Two runs were needed off the last ball with Thakur on strike, but the veteran bowler Lasith Malinga trapped the batsman in front of the wickets to give MI an incredible fourth title victory.
? ? ?
WHAT. A. GAME.
Absolute scenes in Hyderabad!@mipaltan win the @IPL 2019 final by one run! ??pic.twitter.com/Xufz0nj83P
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) May 12, 2019
