IPL 2023 | 3 Players Who Helped MI Aced Art of Chase
Mumbai Indians (MI) have had more success than any other team in the Indian Premier League (IPL).. Over the years, they have won five titles, dethroning Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as the most successful IPL side, who by then had won two IPL titles.
Under a young Rohit Sharma, MI went on to win the trophy in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020 seasons. In IPL 2023 season, they again started slowly, true to their moniker of slow starters.
Mumbai Indians IPL 2023 Season
Nevertheless, in 2023, Mumbai certainly has mastered the art of chasing. Not once, but three times, Mumbai chased down 200-plus totals and did it so methodically that it seemed to be practiced. Later, even SKY confirmed that MI had played practice matches, and that’s where they perfected the art of chasing.
But, here, it must be noted that chasing, like an art, needs to be perfected over a period of time. It is what happened with Rohit Sharma and his men.
Read: Duckworth Lewis In IPL 2023 | Good Or Bad?
Successful Run Chases
The five-time IPL winners successfully chased down a target of 200 against RCB at Wankhede after chasing down the Punjab Kings’ score of 215 at Mohali. Just a match earlier, MI had defeated the Rajasthan Royals at Wankhede, where the champion side chased down 213.
The Mumbai-based side chased down 200-plus totals on three occasions. It could have been four had they chased Punjab’s total of 215 earlier at Wankhede, where they fell short by 13 runs.
We look at the three players who make the art of chase possible for MI on just any cricket pitches.
Suryakumar Yadav: Known as SKY, Suryakumar Yadav needs no introduction. When it comes to explosive batting in the shorter format of the game, he bats like a duck takes to the water. It’s so spontaneous that it looks effortless.
Unlike his other contemporaries, SKY can hit shots from a 360-degree angle. It means he can open up gaps where the fielder can’t be placed. The biggest factor that sets him apart is his ability to accelerate quickly.
The 32-year-old would bamboozle the opposition by playing shots behind the wicket. In response, the field setting would be changed, encouraging him to counterattack. He would then play shots in front of the wicket, targeting cover and cow corner.
Because of this performance, he rose to fame quite quickly. After a three-match ODI series, in which he was out for three ducks, people thought the MI batter would never be the same. They were so wrong!
SKY’s MI Journey
Since joining MI in 2018, SKY has been an integral part of the franchise. We look at the dashing batter’s journey with MI:
Joined MI in 2018 after being bought for Rs 3.2 crore in the auction.
SKY made 512 runs, including four fifties, in his first season in MI colors.
He registered over 400 runs in the next two seasons, winning two consecutive IPL titles.
In the 2020 and 2021 editions, the India international made decent contributions with the bat.
SKY scored his maiden IPL ton in the 2023 season.
Tim David: Born in Singapore, Tim David came to Australia to make the most of the facilities. However, his performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) brought the spotlight on him.
Later, he was bought for Rs 8.25 crore in the IPL 2022 mega auction. The biggest advantage David has is his bat swing. He can clear the boundaries with minimum effort.
In the IPL 2022, he accounted for 186 runs in eight matches at an average of 37.2. Meanwhile, in the 16th edition, he has made some quality contributions with the bat and proved he has one of the safest pairs of hands in the MI squad.
Cameron Green: Australia’s Cameron Green has also played a key role in helping MI ace the art of chasing. Green, unlike his other young counterparts, can also bowl full throttle. But it has been his batting for Mumbai that has helped him here.
The Aussie can quickly launch his counterattack, which usually leaves the opposition flummoxed. The 23-year-old Aussie has played some wonderful knocks at an excellent strike rate in IPL 2023.
Green, who was MI’s record capture in the IPL 2023 auction, usually bats at number three and gives MI the stability it needs in case some of the batters get out early.
Final Thoughts
MI knows how to turn around their campaign, which means they have instincts that usually take over, especially during the business end of the tournament. It is that quality that helped them record-breaking five IPL titles.