'Dominating performance' - Mumbai Indians end CSK's playoff hopes in IPL 2022 with a comfortable win

The El Classico of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Mumbai Indians (MI) vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK), turned out to be a dampener in the end. It was a low-scoring game and the five-time champions made amends for their last over loss to the Men in Yellow in the previous face-off. MI chased down a meagre total of 98 runs in the 15th over itself and ended CSK’s hopes of making it to the playoffs as well. This was the 8th loss of the defending champions and their next two games will be a mere dead rubber.

Coming back to the encounter, CSK got off to the worst possible start with Devon Conway being adjudged lbw in the very first over of the innings. The ball seemed to be missing the stumps to the naked eye but DRS was not available due to the power failure at the venue. This wicket triggered the procession of wickets that followed. Daniel Sams ran through CSK’s top-order picking Ruturaj Gaikwad and Moeen Ali after nipping out Conway.

Jasprit Bumrah came to the party as well while Riley Meredith also picked up a couple to leave CSK reeling at 39/6 in the 8th over of the innings. CSK’s all-time lowest total in IPL was far away then but they managed to cross that mark thanks to MS Dhoni who once again stepped up for his side. He held one end gamely to score an unbeaten 36 off 33 deliveries with four fours and two sixes. However, he literally ran out of partners at the other end as CSK were skittled for just 97 runs in just 16 overs.

MI stutter but Tilak Varma takes them home

In response, even MI didn’t get off to a great start. Mukesh Choudhary and Simarjeet Singh swung the new ball with the former picking up Ishan Kishan’s wicket in the first over of the innings. Rohit Sharma played a few good shots showing signs of returning to form but Simarjeet got the better of him and with Daniel Sams and debutant Tristan Stubbs getting out soon, MI were in real trouble in the small chase.

At 33/4 in the 5th over, CSK might have sensed a chance in the game. Moreover, the hopes increased when the umpire adjudged Hrithik Shokeen caught behind the wickets only for the batter to overturn the decision. From here on, Tilak Varma and Shokeen resurrected the innings. The duo took their time adding 48 runs for the fifth wicket with no pressure of the required run-rate. Varma especially showed his class yet again making sure his team won the game.

MI eventually went past the target in the 15th over with Tim David cracking a couple of massive hits to take them over the line as the five-time IPL champions registered only their third win of the season.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Win at home! 💙
Well done boys 💪🧿 pic.twitter.com/zdMiLG825p

— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) May 12, 2022

Just a few hiccups but mostly dominating performance by Mumbai Indians. Something which they are known for. This is also curtains for Chennai Super Kings and their fans. #CSKvsMI

— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) May 12, 2022

Bahut Hi Badhiya @mipaltan 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻 #MIvsCSK #IPL2022 #IPL

— Dhawal Kulkarni (@dhawal_kulkarni) May 12, 2022

Well played Tilak Varma 👏 carried the team through a win. Congratulations @mipaltan Well bowled to restrict @ChennaiIPL to a low score of 97. Dhoni tried to put on some runs, but didn’t get the needed support from the other end. MI was the better team tonight. #MIvCSK #IPL2022

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) May 12, 2022

Congratulations Mumbai Indians for these two points.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 12, 2022

Bouncer to Shokeen. Now.

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 12, 2022

Can we just roll up this Wankhede pitch and take it everywhere we play?🤤 #BolwersUnion #MIvsCSK

— Shikha Pandey (@shikhashauny) May 12, 2022

Again 🤷🏻‍♂️ https://t.co/91GXk5SsW6

— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) May 12, 2022

This is fantastic from Mukesh Chaudhary 👏

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 12, 2022

It should have been a match with no DRS for both sides #CSKvsMI

— Laxman Sivaramakrishnan (@LaxmanSivarama1) May 12, 2022

This is so untypical of #CSK. They are just exploding. #MIvsCSK #MIvCSK #RPSwing

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) May 12, 2022

Sorry forgot to add Power 😅 #CSKvMI #IPL2022 https://t.co/4wupm0MlbG

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) May 12, 2022

बहुत बार एक फ़ैसला जीत और हार का फ़ासला बन जाता है।

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 12, 2022

Csk apna naseeb aaj sath nahi Laayi.

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) May 12, 2022