Mumbai Indians Skipper Rohit Sharma Ends Tournament With An Unwanted Record IPL 2018

Bottom-placed Delhi Daredevils played party poopers and knocked defending champions Mumbai Indians out from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 after handing them an 11-run defeat at the Ferozshah Kotla, Delhi, on Sunday. The Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians completed the league phase with 12 points from their 14 matches. Not only was it a dismal season for Mumbai Indians, it was worse for their captain Rohit Sharma. The Mumbai Indians skipper signed off the tournament with an unwanted record to his name.

This is the first time Rohit Sharma has failed to cross the 300-run mark in an IPL season. He scored only 286 runs at an average of 23.83 in this season.

Rohit had a tremendous IPL 2013 season where he scored 538 runs in 19 matches at an average of 38.42.

In 11 IPL editions he played, Rohit has touched the 400-run mark (in a season) five times in his career.

In the inaugural IPL season in 2008, Rohit had scored 404 runs in 13 matches at an average of 36.72.

He scored 362 runs (IPL 2009), 404 runs (IPL 2010), 372 runs (IPL 2011), 433 runs (IPL 2012), 538 runs (IPL 2013), 390 runs (IPL 2014), 482 runs (IPL 2015), 489 runs (IPL 2016), 333 (IPL 2017) and 286 runs (IPL 2018).

Shreyas Iyer-led Delhi Daredevils notched up a thrilling win to eliminate Mumbai Indians from the race for the IPL play-offs.

Chasing a target of 175 runs, Mumbai Indians were bundled out for 163 runs in 19.3 overs.

Delhi Daredevils knock Mumbai Indians out of IPL with 11-run win

 Delhi Daredevils knocked defending champions Mumbai Indians out of the Indian Premier League after the trio of Sandeep Lamichhane, Amit Mishra and Harshal Patel starred with three wickets apiece for a 11-run win in their last league match on Sunday.

Set a target of 175, Mumbai Indians crumbled against quality leg-spin bowling by Sandeep (3/36), Amit Mishra (3/19) and medium pace of Patel (3/28).

The visitors lost three wickets -- Evin Lewis (48), Kieron Pollard (7) and Krunal Pandya (4) -- in five balls at the Feroz Shah Kotla.

Hardik Pandya (27) and skipper Rohit Sharma (13) added 43 runs before they were sent back as Mumbai slipped to 122 for seven in 14.5 overs.

Ben Cutting tried his hands with a 19-ball 37 before MI were dismissed for 163 in 19.3 overs.

Mumbai's ouster makes the final league match between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab interesting as the latter will not only have to win the contest but also better the net run rate of Rajasthan Royals (-0.250).

Earlier, Rishabh Pant (64) continued his purple patch, hitting his fifth half-century of the season, to guide Delhi to a competitive score.

The 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman shared a 64-run fourth wicket stand off 47 balls with Vijay Shankar (43 not out) to lay the foundation.

Lamichhane then rocked Mumbai's chase early, removing the in-form Suryakumar Yadav (4) cheaply.

However, Lewis (48) exploded in the fourth over, hitting Patel for two fours and a six. He treated Glenn Maxwell with equal disdain, clearing the ropes twice, as MI zoomed to 50 for one in five overs.

Ishan Kishan (5) was then caught at long-on off Amit Mishra. The leg-spinner was unlucky not to have the wicket of Kieron Pollard who was dropped by Prithvi Shaw off his bowling. The West Indian got another respite when an airborne Abhishek Sharma failed to held on to a catch off Liam Plunkett.

Mishra then dismissed Lewis with a googly, which the opener failed to read and was stumped by Pant.

Mumbai were reduced to 74 for four when Maxwell and Trent Boult combined to pull off a sensational catch at the boundary line off Lamichhane's bowling.

Krunal Pandya was next to go when his weak drive found the hands of substitute Rahul Tewatia at short cover, as Mumbai were looking down the barrel at 79 for five in 9.4 overs.

Once Hardik (27) and skipper Rohit Sharma (13) were sent back, Cutting hit some lusty blows before Patel took two wickets in the final over to earn the win for DD.

Prithvi Shaw (12) and Maxwell (22) gave a good start to Delhi before a silly run-out cost the former his wicket in the fourth over.

It was a poor judgment by Shaw as he stepped out of the crease and was found short of wicket at the non-striker's end by a direct throw from Hardik.

Maxwell, who slammed four boundaries and looked in good touch till then, was cleaned up by Bumrah in the next over to bring two new batsmen onto the crease.

Pant, who has been in ominous form this season, didn't waste any time as he slammed two fours and a six to help Delhi cross the 50-mark after the powerplay ended with 46 for two.

A lot was expected from skipper Shreyas Iyer, but he made the mistake of hitting a Markande delivery straight to Krunal at deep midwicket, as Delhi slipped to 75 for three in 9 overs.

New man Vijay Shankar hit the second ball he faced for a boundary, before blasting Ben Cutting for a six over long-on, as Delhi brought up the 100 in the 13th over.(SOURCE)

IPL 2018 Highlights, Delhi Daredevils vs Mumbai Indians: Mumbai Knocked Out By Delhi

Once again, Rishabh Pant was the star performer with an attractive 44-ball 64. He and Vijay Shankar resurrected DD after they had lost three wickets in the first nine overs. Together, they added 64 runs for the fourth wicket, setting up the base for the challenging score. Defending champions Mumbai Indians need 175 to stay alive in the tournament. Back in their element at the business end of the tournament, defending champions Mumbai Indians will be firing on all cylinders against wooden spooners Delhi Daredevils in their bid to clinch a playoff berth in a must-win Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter on Sunday. The cash-rich league is still alive and kicking with only Sunrisers Hyderabad (18 from 13 games) and Chennai Super Kings (16 from 13 games) having clinched playoff spots. Statistically, five teams save Daredevils are still in contention, with two playoff spots still up for grabs. In the mid-table clutter, Mumbai Indians are among the four teams who are at 12 points and fighting for a spot in the playoff. Mumbai Indians (NRR +0.384) will be praying for a favourable result for Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last home match against KKR (14 points and NRR -0.091). A KKR win meant that only one slot is left during the final two encounter with an eye on run-rate. (Play Fantasy cricket and win cash daily)

While Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore will face off in one of the two matches, Kings XI Punjab takes on Chennai Super Kings in the final round-robin match later in the evening at Pune. However, the performance in the past few matches is sure to have boosted the confidence of Rohit Sharma and his men. Mumbai had a topsy-turvy campaign so far after a series of defeats early in the tournament, they were able to string in the victories when it mattered most. However, Daredevils can be the banana peel and Mumbai Indians will be wary after CSK slipped in their penultimate game. For DD, there is nothing but pride at stake, which makes the young team dangerous oppositions. The last time the two teams faced off, it was DD won by seven wickets win in a last-over thriller.

Mumbai's batsmen have been inconsistent so far with skipper Rohit Sharma scoring only 273 runs in this edition so far. It took a strokeful fifty from Kieron Pollard to help Mumbai post a competitive score against Punjab in their last match. Suryakumar Yadav (500 runs) has been among runs after being promoted as an opener while West Indian opener Evin Lewis (334) has had his moments on and off. Skipper Rohit's poor form is a big worry for Mumbai. Apart from his match-winning knock against RCB, Rohit has failed to live up to the expectations of the fans and MI need him to contribute big time, so that Pollard and the Pandya brothers - Hardik and Krunal can provide the late charge if needed. Jasprit Bumrah's (16 wickets) sensational three-wicket haul in the last match will give him a lot of confidence apart from his consistent show in most death over situations.