The Mumbai Express derails in Chennai- IPL 2010

Mumbai Indians (MI) was having a run too good to believe. So, it had to happen sometime and on the 6th April 2010 it took place. The Mumbai Express derailed in Chennai. It was a combination of good bowling by CSK and Hara-kiri committed by MI batsmen.

With Albie Morkel sitting out due to injury, the team management took a rather bold decision to bring in Thushara and Hussey and dropping Muralitharan. It was a gamble but as it turned out Thushara played a crucial role by claiming two wickets and a very good catch.

The score of 165 by CSK was a par score for Chepauk. The Chennai team would have felt that they were about 10-15 runs short but Harbhajan and Pollard bowled very well to contain CSK.

MI started off with a bang with Sachin and Dhawan putting on 46 runs in quick time. More than the guile of the CSK bowlers, it was the Chennai heat and humidity that was taking a toll on Tendulkar. The Master had to retire due to dehydration with MI score reading 62. This probably proved the decisive factor of the match. In a space of just over five overs Mumbai collapsed from 62 for 1 to 89 for 7. The spinners Ashwin, Raina and Jakati used the slowness of the wicket splendidly but it was unimaginative batting from the Mumbai players and poor shot selection. Even a Tendulkar returning at 89 for 7 couldn’t change the course at that time.

It was a much needed win for CSK to regain momentum and look positively for the matches ahead. CSK should take one match at a time and not look at the semi final berth now. The return of Bollinger has really added value in the bowling department. CSK will do well to go with Hayden,Hussey,Bollinger and Muralitharan as the four foreign players in the next couple of matches. Albie Morkel can replace Hussey or Hayden depending on circumstances.

Go Chennai go.