MI Steal Another Win, Yet Another Trophy from the CSK - MI v CSK IPL 2015 Final Match Review

MI Steal Another Win, Yet Another Trophy from the CSK – MI v CSK IPL 2015 Final Match Review: We were live at the Eden Gardens with the loud voice of Ravi Shastri asking “Kolkata Kemon Acho?” meaning “How are you Kolkata?” and things were dramatic from then till the presentation ceremony.

A crowd of over 67,000 people witnessed sheer drama in the most anticipated final of the prime premier domestic league of Cricket, the Indian Premier League. And as it happened, the hard work of the Mumbai Indians boys turned fruitful as they clinched yet another victory to seize the IPL trophy.

Surprising with his decision to bat first on a dry surface, MS Dhoni played his trump card, Ashish Nehra by opening the bowling attack with the veteran. It was an intense first over which concluded with a phantom-like run out from Du Plessis. CSK fans were pumped up with the monstrous start and they hoped to dominate thereon.

Just then, the boss of the Eden, Rohit Sharma stepped into the crease and straight away went for a counter attack by smacking a six and consecutive boundaries right in the second over of the innings to set up the antique.

That led to the introduction of a demolishing partnership between the two, leading to sheer harassment for the bowlers. Dhoni utilized the best of his resources in the likes of Ashwin, Nehra and Mohit Sharma but none of them were fruitful and things were going repulsive as per the prospects of the game.

They scored at a rate of over 10 runs an over by taking minimum amount of calculated risks. Most importantly, Simmons and Rohit managed to hit a six every over and this pair took the score to 100 runs in 10.1 overs. With things getting out of reach for Dhoni, he introduced his trump card, the purple cap holder of the IPL, Dwayne Bravo into the attack with the hope of producing something magnetic. Rohit Sharma didn’t spare him initially and scored his half century to justify his hunting ground reputation. Just then, his flick was caught by Jadeja in the long on region which broke the ecstatic partnership of 119 runs in no time.

Dhoni introduced Dwayne Smith right in the next over and bowling his first delivery in this IPL, Smith bowled a fantastic Yorker to clinch the wicket of Simmons and in the process it was justified why Dhoni is the Super King when it comes to captaincy.

CSK did a fair job in restricting the scoring rate and conceded runs like misers. Just when it seemed that a 200+ score was getting darker to reach, it was the brute force from Kieron Pollard. Pollard smacked Nehra for 3 sixes and a boundary in the 17^th over and thus 23 runs were scored in the over, taking the prospects of 200+ total well in the cards. This was followed by a steady 19^th and 20^th over by Mohit Sharma and Bravo respectively but it couldn’t resist the 200 up total for MI.

Chasing down 202 runs on a grand occasion as the Final was never going to be easy. Undoubtedly, CSK missed the like of McCullum up the order. It was a rather slow start by them, courtesy of Malinga’s smashing Yorkers and slower ones. Malinga conceded just 7 runs in his first two overs. Right in the 5^th over of the innings, it was a confusing catch from Suchith at the cover-point area, which was clarified from the third umpire and Hussey had to walk off. CSK lost their first wicket and seemed to be in acute spots of bother.

After the dismissal, a slow but steady partnership took off between Raina and DR Smith. Smith looked determined to play a big knock but the batsmen did not manage to score freely. Ball was not coming onto the bat well and it seemed that CSK missed a trick in determining the pitch conditions. Runs were hard to come by and it became harder by the disciplined bowling by Harbhajan in the middle overs.

Smith gave the much-needed spark to the innings in the 11^th over. 13 runs came in that over. Just when CSK looked to charge off, it was the arm ball from Harbhajan Singh that did the trick for MI in the 12^th over. Smith went clueless and was dismissed LBW at the score of 57 off 48. It would have been a good innings on any other day but not on the one when you are chasing 202. It was their skipper, Dhoni who came in next with the burden of a gigantic required run rate of over 13 on the board.

Prospects for CSK’s third IPL win flickered away as the game inched closer to it’s finish. Things went lamenting for CSK when Harbhajan in the 14^th over, on observing Raina coming down, slipped in a quick wider delivery which was followed by a reflexive stumping from Parthiv to carve Patel’s path to the pavilion. With that, things looked next to impossible but still with Dhoni on the crease, one could expect some twist and turns. Malinga used his stern Yorker which proved tormenting for Dhoni and he was dismissed in the 16^th over and with him CSK’s hopes went off the field.

MI clinched their second IPL triumph after appearing for three IPL finals and this happened to be the most comprehensive one where they won by 41 runs. After being down at the bottom half of the table with lessening prospects, this side scorched to be the second best side in the points table and eventually had a taste of their success.

Hard work paid off for MI and soon we would get to see the tag of FINAL CHOKERS for CSK. This was their fourth loss in six IPL finals, the third Final loss on the trot.

With talented Rohit Sharma lifting the IPL 8 trophy in his hunting ground, the most exciting IPL season announced it’s conclusion.

Match Summary:

Mumbai Indians – 202/5 in 20 overs (Lendl Simmons 68, Rohit Sharma 50, Dwayne Bravo 2/36)

Chennai Super Kings – 161/8 in 20 overs (Dwayne Smith 57, Suresh Raina 28, McClenaghan 3/25)