From 2012-2023, there had been a nightmare for KKR at Wankgede. They cannot beat the home team Mumbai Indians at this ground. The last time was 2012, when the Wankgede police restricted team owner Shah Rukh Khan from entering into the stadium and also banned him for some years.
However, Yesterday, KKR was able to beat MI under Sreyash Iyer captaincy. Batting first, KKR failed to put a huge total on the board. They lost 4 wickets in the power play including their two openers, Phil Salt and Sunil Narine. But the local boy from Mumbai, Venkatesh Iyer, who scored 70 runs put up to a respective total of 169 in 20 overs. Manish Pandey, who has been playing as an impact also played an important role in the batting.
The partnership between Venky and Manish Pandey build the KKR innings to a respective total.
When KKR was 57/5, after the Rinku Singh’s wicket, Manish Pandey bought as an impact player instead of Angkrish Raghuvangshi.
Jasprit Bumrah was crucial for Mumbai Indians bowling yesterday. He picked up the wickets of Ramandeep Singh, Mitchel Starch and also the crucial wicket of Venky Iyer in the last over. A new pacer, Nuwan Thushara was given a chanced by the team management. Thushara was crucial in the power play and he had picked up the wickets of KKR’s top order’s batsman including their captain Sreyash Iyer.
Andre Russel was unlucky yesterday. During the 17th over, he ran out when the ball went straight to the fielder, though he was standing in the non-sticker end.
Since Mumbai had a strong batting line-up, 170 seemed to be a small total for them. But KKR spinners were brilliant at Wangkende yesterday. IPL’s most expensive bowler and Australia’s world cup winning bowler Mitchel Starch picked up 4 wickets including their dangerous batsmen Ishan Kishan and Tim David.
