When was the last time KKR won a match against MI?
The rivalry between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders has been one of the most lopsided contests ever in the history of franchise-based cricket. Till the last match between this two on April 13, the tally was 21-6 in favor of Mumbai Indians. Mumbai Indians have been one of the best and consistent teams in the league’s history, but Kolkata also has some high-profile names. Kolkata Knight Rides has been one of the most hyped teams since the inception IPL in 2008, thanks to Shahrukh Khan and Sourav Ganguly’s association.
Since then, the franchise has boasted some of the cricket fraternity’s biggest names who have produced some memorable moments on the ground for KKR. Under Gautam Gambhir, the team had a dream run. However, new recruits, new captains, and modified strategies could not change the fate of KKR against Mumbai Indians over the years. The last time Kolkata won a match against Mumbai back in 2019 under the captaincy of Karthik.
What happened in the last match?
The last match started with the new captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, Eoin Morgan, winning the toss. Morgan won the toss and decided to field first, whereas Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma claimed to have the same thoughts. Mumbai also wanted to chase as per the skipper after the toss. Kolkata completely dominated the first innings of the game.
Mumbai Indians were all out for a mere 152. Suryakumar Yadav registered another IPL half-century to his name, whereas the skipper scored 32. After a long time, KKR seemed to have dominated Mumbai at a stretch in this match. It could have been an easy chase, and it should have been an easy chase. But Kolkata Knight Riders collapsed terribly. The openers were the only ones on the side to have added double-digit scores. Shubman Gill scored 33 runs off 24 balls, and Nitish Rana scored 47-ball 57.
They were soon 84/2 in 10.3 overs. But the target was still achievable with a strong middle order consisting of Eoin Morgan, Dinesh Karthik, Andre Russell. However, apart from the openers, not a single one from the rest of the line-up could add a double-digit score.
Dinesh Karthik and Andre Russell, two senior members of the team, tried to show some resistance but did not help the team in the chase. Karthik remained unbeaten with eight runs, and for Russell, nine runs came off 15 balls, including a boundary. He batted with a strike rate of just 60 despite getting two lives on 0 and 5.
The match went to the final over, and Kolkata Knight Riders were totally in the race despite such a disappointing showcase by their most batters. The low target was still manageable to get with Russell and Karthik on the crease.
Finally, it was the death bowling by Mumbai bowlers and the instability of Kolkata batsmen that won the match for the defending champions. KKR needed 22 runs from the last 18 balls when Krunal Pandya was handed over the ball. Pandya conceded only three from the over, and the required run rate went to 9.50. Next over saw the specialist Jasprit Bumrah who gave away only four runs. Trent Boult came next to bowl the final over. He started by giving two singles.
Kolkata required 13 off four deliveries, and the fans had faith in the duo, especially Russell. He won multiple matches for KKR singlehandedly and was expected to replicate the same again. But Boult ended up picking up two wickets in the third and fourth ball of the last over, including the major wicket of Andre Russell. Kolkata once again lost to Mumbai.
When did KKR win last time against MI?
This was the 47th match of IPL 2019. Kolkata Knight Riders were coming off a six-match losing streak, and they met a strong Mumbai Indians outfit whom they had last beaten in 2015. MI, even back then, used to enjoy unparallel supremacy over KKR. Even MI won the toss in this match and sent the KKR In. However, KKR openers took the opportunity in both hands.
Young Shubman Gill started with a bang by hitting two fours and one six. The other opener Chris Lynn started steadily, but he also started to dominate and KKR posted 50 runs in the Powerplay once he got set. Gill and Lynn continued their good show even after the Powerplay and by the time Lynn was dismissed for 54 by Rahul Chahar, KKR reached 96 in the 10th over.
Andre Russell got a promotion at the number three spot and almost immediately initiated his big-hitting. Gill played the perfect support role as KKR raced to 150 before 15th over. Gill was dismissed for his highest IPL score of 76, which brought the captain Dinesh Karthik. But by then, Russell reached a different level, and 75 runs came in the last five overs without much fuss. Russell remained unbeaten on 80 off 40 deliveries and made all the Mumbai bowlers suffer.
The lowest economy rate among Mumbai bowlers was 9 runs per over by Krunal Pandya, and even greats like Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah were not spared.
KKR also had a perfect start in defense of 232. MI lost one of their openers, Quinton de Kock, in the second over for a duck. Even Rohit Sharma was dismissed in the fourth over with a total on 21. The hero of the first innings, Andre Russell, then came to claim the wickets of Evin Lewis and Suryakumar Yadav. These two wickets rounded off a perfect all-around day for the West Indian power hitter. Mumbai Indians were 58/4 when they lost Yadav and already facing a required rate in the ranges of 15.
This was when Hardik Pandya appeared in the middle and started to hit everything in his sight. The target was massive, and he also did not get much support from the others. Otherwise, his 91 off 34 is one of the greatest IPL innings. He hit all around the ground and finished with six fours and nine enormous sixes.
Finally, it was Russell who pouched a miss-timed pull from Pandya off Harry Gurney. With this dismissal, Indians were 185/6, and the match was practically over. Eventually, Mumbai Indians finished with 198/7 in their 20 overs, and the Eden Garden crowd was elated.
Russell deservingly got the man-of-the-match for his 40-ball 80 and the spell of 2-25 in four overs. This helped KKR to keep their dream alive in the tournament.
