MS Dhoni scored the last 16 runs needed off 4 balls to ensure MI’s winless streak continues as CSK registered a thrilling three-wicket victory.
CSK chased down the target of 156 on the final ball with MS Dhoni hitting the winning runs and remaining not out on 28.
Ambati Rayudu top-scored for CSK with a 35-ball 40 while Robin Uthappa chipped in with a 30.
Earlier, Mumbai Indians posted 155 for 7 as Tilak Varma top-scored for MI with 51 not out from 43 balls while Suryakumar Yadav chipped in with a 21-ball 32. For CSK, Mukesh Choudhary took three wickets for 19 runs while Dwayne Bravo got two.
Mukesh Choudhary scythed through Mumbai Indians’ top order to remove Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan for duck in the powerplay. He then removed Dewald Brevis for seven, reducing Mumbai to 23/3 in the first three overs.
Youngster Tilak Varma notched up a brilliant half-century to bail Mumbai out of a precarious position. Varma’s fighting 51 powered Mumbai to 155/7 in 20 overs.
Pollard, whose statistics speak for the impact he has had in the shortest format of the game, is an indispensable part of the Mumbai Indians team in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
However, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar doesn’t think he should be.
Manjrekar has questioned the backing that Pollard continues to get, especially as a pure batter in the team as he hasn’t been used as a bowler in all six matches for MI so far.
“I don’t know whether Mumbai Indians ever think of Pollard being dispensable. But I believe that Pollard has to bowl at least three overs if not four because the team needs a bowler desperately.
I think under pressure he is better than a lot of bowlers in this side. So if he is not bowling and continuing only to bat finally, I think they got to look at the scores and the contributions of Pollard,” Manjrekar said on ESPNCricinfo.
Carlos Brathwaite, Pollard’s ex-teammate at the international level, also questioned his former captain’s place in MI’s playing XI considering the below-par performances he has put in so far this season.
“For the first time in a couple of seasons, I will probably say yes. But Pollard brings so much to Mumbai Indians. He is a stalwart to the franchise and he will get a long rope as usual. But he needs to start performing very soon because the team is not winning,” said the Windies all-rounder.
Some of the finest batters in the history of Mumbai Indians, including skipper Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard, haven’t lived up to the expectations this campaign.
West Indies Kieron Pollard called time on his international career on Wednesday but continues to remain an active cricketer in the T20 circuit.
In the IPL 2022 season, Pollard is yet to hit top form. He only has 96 runs to his name in 7 matches for Mumbai in this campaign, at an average of 16.40. With the ball, Pollard has only taken one wicket at an average of 70 and an economy rate of 10.