The Mumbai Indians (MI) promisingly defeated King XI Punjab (KXIP) in match number 13 of the 2020 Indian Premier League (IPL) on October 1. While the batsmen put on an exemplary show, the bowlers also hit their mark. One of them was Krunal Pandya, who played a crucial role in IM’s 48-race win at Abu Dhabi.
The senior Pandya returned with figures of 1 for 27 in their quota of 4 overs, as KL & Co. were restricted to 143 for 8 in 20 overs. His variations worried the KXIP hitters in the power play, especially the Yorkers who were completely unexpected.
READ ALSO | Total IPL Coverage 2020
This amazing act by Krunal left his younger brother Hardik Pandya completely stunned.
“We are seeing something new coming. Where is this Wasim Akram coming in and bowling? Hardik asked Krunal in a video interview after the confrontation.
“Batting skill has really gone up these days and the way the grounds are… you have to find your own way to make sure the batter doesn’t chase you. You have to do all of this, sometimes. At the end of the day, if he executes his plans, he will be happy, ”Krunal said.
READ ALSO | ‘The Power of Being Left Behind’: Darren Sammy Explains How Kieron Pollard And Andre Russell Are Able To Hit High Six
While chasing the 175-run goal, Kings XI Punjab scored 33 in the first three overs. Rohit Sharma then led Krunal Pandya on the attack and roulette turned the scene upside down. He perfectly stopped the flow of execution and also eliminated Karun Nair in his second over.
“Until the 4th ended, they (KXIP) were doing very well. I only thought one thing that I should play according to the field. I was also very determined. Today, I was decided, I took it as a challenge, they were going well and I thought ‘If I play well here, we will return to the game,’ “said Krunal.
READ ALSO | IPL 2020, CSK vs SRH: MS Dhoni about to achieve four big milestones against Sunrisers Hyderabad
Early in the game, captain Rohit Sharma led from the front and racked up 70 runs against KXIP, leading the Mumbai Indians to their second victory in the tournament. With this victory, MI overtook Delhi Capitals to claim the No. 1 position in the rankings.
.
