For Mumbai supporters, it\u2019s hard not to look at the season and feel the squeeze. Even if Kieron Pollard isn\u2019t ready to label it a lost cause, the idea of a full comeback could be stretching belief. This batting unit\u2014fired by that familiar orange-hued power\u2014can chase down almost anything when it clicks, and yet the results have begun to widen the gap between the leading pack and the teams clustered below them. If work commitments kept you away from the live action midweek, don\u2019t worry: here are the key moments from Cricbuzz\u2019s IPL Pulse.<\/p>\n
Last night in five lines<\/b>
Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock have been swapping roles with ease: both open, both keep, and both can score big for MI. Eshan Malinga can turn pressure into precision\u2014so much so that even in a match that feels like an avalanche, he can still build \u201csnow castles.\u201d An economy rate of 7.2 across a near-500-run match total was simply outrageous. It was power-pray time for the opposition whenever \u201cTrav-ishek\u201d found rhythm, and the early damage was brutal: six overs produced 92\/0. From there, the chase plan collapsed almost instantly. Klaasen and Salil then opened up the chase for more than 200\u2014this marked the tenth time in the tournament that a side has successfully chased 200+ runs, the highest number of such chases in any single IPL season.<\/p>\n
Oh, that happened<\/b>Form ki yaad nahi aayi, Jassi?<\/i>
That line may not fit the situation, because this wasn\u2019t the Jasprit Bumrah most people know. After a brief period where he couldn\u2019t find wickets, the \u201cGOAT\u201d looked like he might be about to turn the tide\u2014only for it to slip away again. Klaasen punished him through the covers, while a rookie carted a no-look six. Whether you\u2019re a MI fan or not, it\u2019s difficult not to feel for the bowler when shots like that come off the bat.<\/p>\n
Pulse Awards<\/b>
The Crackerjack<\/b> award goes to Will Jacks for a sharp return to the IPL after weeks of uncertainty. He made the Powerplay count with 38 off 18 balls, and his hitting matched Rickelton\u2019s style ball-for-ball. Still, one Powerplay over from SRH deserves a pause in the record books.<\/p>\n
The giant-slayer<\/b> award is handed to Salil \u2018David\u2019 Arora for taking on \u201cGoliath\u201d and coming out on top. The six he struck off Bumrah\u2014delivered with bold, no-look audacity\u2014won over plenty of new admirers. He also gained extra aura points for finishing the job in style against Pandya.<\/p>\n
The stand \u2019out\u2019<\/b> honour goes to Ishan Kishan for refusing to chase the rat race and instead quietly producing a golden duck in a sea of runs. The Infact Sub<\/b> award goes to Shardul Thakur for operating as a de facto Impact Sub\u2014despite not batting or bowling. And the catch-me-yes-you-can<\/b> award is for this IPL being the most chase-friendly tournament ever.<\/p>\n
Talking point<\/b>
Mumbai Indians appear to be running something close to an \u201copen employment\u201d scheme, giving opportunities to 22 players in their squad so far\u2014more than any other team. To set the scale, table-toppers PBKS have used only 15 players, making just five changes. MI\u2019s 21 alterations create a stark picture of instability and tactics that haven\u2019t been allowed to settle. Sitting ninth on the points table, it\u2019s hard to avoid the thought that the famous comeback story may not materialise after all.<\/p>\n
Who\u2019s saying what?<\/b>
Kieron Pollard, ever the optimist, insists the side hasn\u2019t written itself off. Even after six defeats in eight games, MI\u2019s batting coach says the team has \u201cnot accepted defeat\u201d and that the players are \u201cwilling and wanting to fight.\u201d Heinrich Klaasen offered a more personal detail as well, explaining that his shoulder limits him over cow-corner now. The injuries from earlier have affected that area, and he has been practising his extra-cover hitting to adapt. Analysts, take note.<\/p>\n
Hardik Pandya also touched on the pressure of the home crowd. He said it hurts when fans begin chanting the names of the opposition. \u201cWe need to entertain them more to make sure we get that love and trust from them,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Stat snack<\/b>
This was the fourth-highest total ever chased in the IPL. Three of the top five chases in that list have come from this season alone. It was also the tenth successful chase this year\u2014beating the nine successful chases from the previous season. The message is clear: if you\u2019re posting a score, make sure it\u2019s defendable.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the latest gossip?<\/b>
The vape-gate episode in Mullanpur has kept officials busy, with ongoing speculation about whether there was a \u201cbreach\u201d of any kind and what the eventual outcome might be. The key question remains what response will be issued\u2014and whether a penalty is on the way.<\/p>\n
Tonight\u2019s watchlist<\/b>
Gujarat Titans will be looking to break into the top-four elite. They\u2019ve swung between strong and weak performances so far, while RCB have looked more consistent. As always, the focus will be on the battle of \u201cKing v Prince.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reckless prediction<\/b>
Ultra-heavy meals call for a gut cleanse. The script may need to be rewritten too: after a 244 chase, how about a 100 all out followed by a Super Over? That\u2019s the idea\u2014thanks for hearing me out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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