Mumbai Indians succumbed to their seventh successive defeat in Indian Premier League 2022, setting a new tournament record of most matches without a win from the start of a season. They failed to defend 156 against Chennai Super Kings. With a 13-ball unbeaten 28, M.S. Dhoni provided the final blows to take Chennai home.
Mumbai were again let down by their top order, and needed a heavy lifting from Tilak Verma to reach a fighting total. Robin Uthappa and Ambati Rayudu then set up the foundation in the middle overs before Dhoni and Dwaine Pretorius (22 in 14 balls) finished the match.
Mumbai Indians 155/7 in 20 overs
There seems to be no end to Rohit Sharma's batting woes. The second ball of the match, by Mukesh Chowdhary, was overpitched, one that he could have easily placed away to the boundary. Instead, his bat turned upon impact, and the ball flew to Mitchell Santner at mid-on. Two balls later, Choudhary produced a yorker. Ishan Kishan misjudged the misjudged line and was bowled for a golden duck.
Choudhary signed off his opening spell with the wicket of Dewald Brevis. Suryakumar Yadav then kept getting the occasional boundary before his innings was cut short by Mitchell Santner. He struck three fours and a six in his quick 32.
Verma batted until the end for his unbeaten 51, comprising two sixes and three fours. Jaydev Unadkat struck a six and a four in the last over to take Mumbai to 155/7.
Chennai Super Kings 156/7 in 20 overs
In response, Daniel Sams got Ruturaj Gaikwad on the first ball of the innings, and Santner in his next over. Uthappa and Rayudu then steadied the innings with a 50-run stand. Uthappa scored 30 off 25 balls before getting out to Unadkat.
Sams struck twice in his second spell as well, finishing with match figures of 4-0-30-4. He had the in-form Shivam Dube caught behind, and got of Rayudu, whose 35-ball 40 kept the chase on track.
With 28 needed off the last two overs, Pretorius struck two fours in the penultimate over, bowled by Jasprit Bumrah. Unadkat then pinned Pretorius with the first ball of the last over. Dhoni, however, finished the game with six and two fours.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indians 155/7 in 20 overs (Tilak Verma 51*; Mukesh Choudhary 3-19) lost to Chennai Super Kings 156/7 in 20 overs (Ambati Rayudu 40; Daniel Sams 4-30). Player of the Match: Mukesh Choudhary.