Hello All,
Welcome to the Final of IPL 2020, It’s MI vs DC for the final showdown of this year’s tournament and Dubai where all the action is taking place. Mumbai Indians (MI) are the defending champions will be facing Delhi Capitals (DC) who have made it to the finals for the first time in IPL history. Can MI break the jinx of the even year IPL drought or will we be crowning a new IPL champion? All this and more coming right up.
It’s toss time here at Dubai, the DC captain calls it right and they have decided to bat first. DC make no changes to the team which played SRH in the Qualifier-2 match. For MI, one change- Jayant Yadav comes in place of Rahul Chahar.
IPL 2020 Final: MI vs DC
Live from- Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Time- 7:30 IST
Broadcast- Star Sports Network (1 English) and (3 Hindi) and Disney+hotstar for online streaming.
Umpires- Nitin Menon and Chris Gaffaney 3rd umpire- Anil Kumar Chaudhary
Match official- Javagal Srinath.
Teams:
Mumbai Indians (MI): Quinton de Kock (wk), Rohit Sharma (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jayant Yadav, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah.
Delhi Capitals (DC): Marcus Stoinis, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Praveen Dubey, Anrich Nortje.
The MI team are out first and then the DC batting pair all having a grand entry with sparklers from both sides. Stoinis and Dhawan are at the centre. Stoinis is on strike. Boult will open the attack for MI. The first ball- Edged and taken! What a start for MI and Trent Boult after his injury scare. Full and straight going away with the angle but moves a tad back in after pitching and Stoinis is all squared up and just manages to poke it to the keeper. Drama from the first ball itself. Rahane walks in at 3. He gets going with a single to mid-wicket.
A dot and then Boult tries to swing back but bowls it in the pads and Dhawan cashes in with a flick through square-leg and the first boundary of IPL final. Two dots to end the first and DC are 5/0 after 1. Bhumrah to partner Boult. Rahane takes a single from the first. A dot and then a terrific ball from Bumrah gets Dhawan all squared up but he somehow manages a thick edge that flies over the keepers head for another boundary. A dot and then Bumrah bowls his special- A yorker right on the money and Dhawan somehow manages to get some bat on to it and it goes towards mid-wicket for a run.
A dot to end the over. Six runs coming from it. DC are 11/1 after 2. Boult to resume and Dhawan steps out and greets him with a boundary over covers this time. Dhawan seems to be growing in confidence. A dot and a single taken. Bout to Rahane and it’s out- Caught down the leg side. Ohh Boult is on fire and some luck there. On the pads, going down leg Rahane manages to get a faint edge and the keeper does the rest. Shreyas Iyer the DC captain walks in at 4. First ball and he just uppercut/ places it between the keeper and first slip for a boundary. Dangerous shot from the skipper there with his team already 2 down.
Iyer playing with his natural instinct. Final ball and Boult manages to get the extra bounce, Iyer gets hurried into the shot which gets the edge and just falls short of Boult who was charging in for the catch. What thrills here all from the start. 9 runs and a wicket from the over and DC are 20/2 after 3. Jayant Yadav is introduced in the attack. Two singles to start with and then he gets his man- Gabbar has to walk back and Yadav has justified his selection just what MI asked him and he delivers. Dhawan tries the slog-sweep and completely misses it and cleans him up. Third down for DC and MI are on top here.
Rishabh Pant walks in at 5. A dot, double and a single to finish the over and DC are 25/3 after 4. Boult to continue and Pant takes a single The next ball Iyer plays in the air bur perfectly placed between extra cover and mid-off for a boundary. Two dots and then Iyer punches one on the backfoot for another boundary. A single to end the over. 10 runs coming from it and DC are 35/3 after 5. Nathan Coulter-Nile is introduced in the attack. Starts with two dots. Then Iyer gives himself some room and slaps it through the cover-point region and Ishan Kishan almost pulled out a brilliant catch, a tough chance but dropped.
A single and then Iyer gets one on his pads and he nudges it for a boundary down the leg. A dot to end the over and Powerplay. DC are 41/3 after 6. Jayant Yadav to continue. He bowls a tidy over just two doubles and a single taken from the over. DC are 46/3 after 7. Krunal Pandya is now introduced in the attack. He starts off with an economical over. Just 5 runs from it and DC get past the 50 run mark. At the end of 8 overs, DC are 51/3. Yadav to continue and DC playing it safe. Four singles and a couple of 2’s to end the over. 8 runs from it and DC are 59/3 after 9.
Time for a strategic time out in IPL final between MI vs DC. MI started quite brilliantly. Boult again causing havoc to the DC top order. Iyer and Pant have somewhat steadied the ship for DC. They need to stay longer if DC are to make a good defendable total. Krunal to continue after the break. Iyer starts off with a single. The next ball Pant dances down the track and hits one straight to the sight screen as straight as it can be- Good shot that. Two single later he takes on Krunal again and gets the same result. A maximum over the cow corner this time- brutal shot that. A single to end the over.
16 runs coming from it and DC are making their way back. It’s 75/3 after 10. Bumrah is brought back in. The bowls an economical over as usual. Just 6 runs from the over and DC are 81/3 after 11. Kieron Pollard is introduced in the attack. Takes the run-up and stops in the end- Probably to see what Iyer had in mind. This time bowls but a wide down the leg. Iyer takes a single. Pant then gets the width and he slashes one over backward point for another boundary. Gets in a couple of dots and a single. The final ball is dispatched by Iyer over mid-wicket for a maximum. Another good over for DC the young Indian pair doing the scoring.
13 runs from it and DC are 94/3 after 12. Coulter-Nile is brought back in. He bowls an excellent over giving away just 5 singles. DC are 99/3 after 13. Time for strategic time out 2 in the IPL final between MI vs DC. This pair has taken DC to safer water. Hopefully they don’t throw their wickets away. A good flourish will be needed. MI on the other had would want the get the breakthrough now so that they don’t chase a high total. Final seven overs coming up. Krunal to continue and starts off with a wide. He bowls a good over until the last where he bowls Pant on his legs and Pant sweeps one for a boundary. 9 runs coming from the over.
DC are 108/3 after 14. Coulter-Nile to continue Iyer takes a single. A wide and a dot ball later Pant gets on his knees and scoops it over short fine leg and gets to his 50! His first this season and what a better time to get it than the finals.
Coulter-Nile bowls one short and Pant pulls it and gets a top-edge but it flies over the keeper for another boundary. A dot ball and then Coulter-Nile bowls a short ball on to Pant’s body where he is cramped for room when he plays the pull and it’s straight to Hardik Pandya who just had moved back to fine-leg from short-fine. The short ball does the trick again for MI and Pant has to depart. The partnership has been broken. DC are 118/4 after 15. Shimron Hetmyer comes in at 6.
Jayant Yadav to bowl his final, just 3 singles from 5 balls. The last ball full and straight from Yadav and Hetmyer clears his front foot and lofts it over extra-cover for a boundary. DC are 125/4 after 16. Yadav ends with 1/25. Bumrah is back in the attack and Iyer greets him with a boundary straight back over mid-off some shot that from Iyer. Two dots and then he places one through third man and gets a couple to bring his 50 as well. A good fifty this by the DC captain playing under pressure. The next ball he makes some width and hits it over backward point for a boundary. Single to end the over. DC are 136/4 in 17.
Boult to bowl his final over. Iyer takes a single. The next ball Boult removes Hetmyer. Boult has certainly brought his A game tonight. A short slower ball and Hetmyer decided to pull early but then tried the ramp on the slower ball and hits it straight to Coulter-Nile at short-third man. Another one bites the dust. Axar Patel walks in at 7. A dot and the Axar throws in the kitchen sink and gets the through the infield for a boundary through wide third man. A dot and single to end an excellent over. Just 6 runs from it and DC are 142/5 after 18. Boult ends with 3/30.
Bumrah to bowl the 19. He bowls an excellent over just giving away 6 runs from it. Almost got rid of Iyer as well but the Umpires decision stood. DC are 148/5 after 19. Coulter-Nile to bowl the final over. Iyer takes a single. The next ball Axar places it straight in the hands of the deep mid-wicket fielder. Again a slower short ball doing the trick for MI. Rabada comes in the middle. Iyer on strike, Coulter-Nile bowls two dots and then Iyer connects one and it’s into the stands over deep mid-wicket. A full ball and Iyer mistimes it to long-on. They try for the double but Rabada is well short of his crease.
Another wicket for MI and DC end their innings at 156/7. An inning which was divided into 3 parts. MI getting the early breakthrough and when DC were reduced for 22/3 the young Indian pair of Iyer and Pant getting DC out of danger and MI getting the breakthrough at the right time and ending the inning well with just 20 runs coming in the final 3 overs. MI seem to be the happier side as the players walk off the field. DC has put in a decent total on the board and the scoreboard pressure on the final can take a toll. They would be hoping of no dew in the second half.
Rohit Sharma and de Kock are out in the centre for MI. Rohit will take the strike. Ashwin will open the attack for DC. A good contest this to start with. Ashwin starts with two dots. The third ball Rohit dances down the track and goes through with the shot. There is a man placed at long-on and just about manages to clear him. A mis-hit for a six to open MI’s account. Ashwin almost had his man. Takes a single the next. A dot and a single to end the first over. 8 runs from it and MI are 8/0 after 1.
Rabada to partner Ashwin. He starts off with a dot. A mistimed hit by De Kock. The second ball takes the aerial route and dispatches it over extra cover for a boundary. Some authority shown by de Kock to his South African counterpart. The next ball it flies off the thigh pad and into the boundary. Poor bowling that from Rabada de Kock missed out there. A dot and then de Kock smokes one over mid-wicket for a maximum! De Kock is toying with Rabada- The man with the purple cap. Last ball is full and wide and de Kock slices it over point for another boundary. 18 from the over. MI cruise at 26/0.
Well, we rarely see this (Rabada getting hammered) but his S.A. white-ball captain has just done that. No respect is given there. Ashwin to continue where he bowls good 5 balls giving just 3 and then in the final de Kock gets one in his arc and pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary to end the third. MI are 33/0. Anrich Nortje is introduced in the attack and Rohit starts off with a double. Two dots later he bowls onto Rohit’s hips where he pounces to get himself a boundary over backward square leg. A dot and then another short ball and Rohit pulls it for a maximum. 12 runs from it. MI are cruising at 45/0 after 4.
Marcus Stoinis is brought in the attack and he gets the breakthrough the first ball! Got out on the first ball and returns the favor by getting a wicket from his first. An off-cutter from Stoinis and De Kock tries the late cut but only manages an edge to Pant a big wicket this for DC. They need this badly after the trashing they have received. Suryakumar Yadav walks in at 3. He starts off with a boundary. Stands tall and plays it through covers. Some form he is in Surya. The next ball gets a better result a maximum over long-leg. A short ball put away nicely there. A dot along with a single and double to end. MI are 58/1.
Axar Patel is brought into the attack and he starts off well. Just 3 singles given and MI end the powerplay at 61/1. Which is also the joint highest IPL Final Powerplay score.
Praveen Dubey is introduced into the attack and bowls a good tight over to begin. Just 4 singles from it. MI are 65/1 after 7 and Time for a strategic Time-Out in the IPL Final between MI vs DC. MI have started off well with the run chase. Stoinis got them the breakthrough but then Suryakumar Yadav too joined in the party. The DC spinners had put a hold on the scoring. They need wickets now to get back in the game and have started well by applying the break on free flowing runs. Axar to continue and he just gives away two singles from the over. MI are 67/1 after 8.
Dubey to continue. He starts off with a dot. Surya takes a single off the next. Rohit then clears his front foot and clears long-off with easy. Rohit in good touch here. A dot and then this time Rohit goes over long-on and gets another maximum. Not the best timing but good enough to take it over the fence. A single to end the over. 14 runs from it. MI are 81/1 after 9. Axar to continue and starts with a dot. The next ball he plays the lap shot through fine leg for another boundary. Three singles to end the over. 7 from it and MI are 88/1 after 10.
Ashwin to continue and Rohit takes a single. A dot ball and then Surya takes a single to long-on. The next ball is a complete disaster. A run-out for MI just when things were looking all too easy. Suryakumar sacrifices his wicket for the MI captain. Rohit punches down down the ground and it was almost straight to the fielder. Rohit wanted a single which was never on and Surya did not want it. In the end, he just crosses Rohit so that the captain can stay in the middle. Ishan Kishan comes in at 4 and gets off the mark with a single. 3 runs and a wicket from it. MI are 91/2 after 11.
Rabada is brought back into the attack. Starts with three singles from his four balls. The fifth ball is pulled away to deep mid wicket for a boundary also bringing up Rohit’s 50! The next ball he cuts and cuts hard for a boundary through backward point. Pure class and timing this from Rohit. MI are 102/2 after 12.
Ashwin to bowl his final over, three singles from three balls and then Rohit picks up the carrom ball and places it to deep backward point for a boundary. A single and a double to end the over. Ashwin ends with 0/28 and MI are 112/2 after 13. Axar to bowl his final over and just concedes four singles from it. He ends with just 0/16. MI are 116/2 after 14. Time for the final Strategic Time Out between MI vs DC. MI need just 41 from 36 balls with 8 wickets remaining. DC would be needing some magical performance from here on to change the match situation or we would be seeing out an easy game and another title in the MI name.
Stoinis is brought back into the attack, two runs from three balls then Ishan lofts one straight back and into the sightscreen for another maximum this season. Two singles to end the over and MI are 126/2 after 15. Praveen Dube is back and Rohit takes a single. The next ball Dube bowls a short one and Ishan on his backfoot gets it through deep extra cover for a boundary. Dube follows it with another hit-me ball and Ishan gleefully accepts it and places it through extra cover for another boundary. Two singles to end the over and MI are cruising towards another here. 137/2 after 16. Just 20 needed from 24 balls.
Anrich Nortje is brought back in and he starts with a dot. The next ball Rohit tries to pull one but does not middle it well and Lalit Yadav in the deep takes a fantastic running catch to dismiss Rohit! Was this the spark DC were looking forward to? The MI captain has to depart after a great inning. Kieron Pollard walks in at 5. Ishan takes a single. The next ball Pollard lofts one over mid-off for a boundary to start his inning. Nortje errs in line and bowls into Pollard’s pads which he flicks to deep mid-wicket for another boundary. A single to end the over. MI are 147/3 after 17.
Rabada to bowl and gets the big man- Pollard departs. A lazy short that from Pollard. A full and wide outside off ball meant to be hit and Pollard only manages to get an inside edge to the stumps perhaps due to the slowness of the ball after it pitched. Hardik Pandya is at 6. Takes a single straight away. The next ball Ishan just uses the pace and guides it towards the third man for a boundary. Takes a single off the next. A beauty from Rabada that squares up Hardik but keeps his wicket. A single to end the over. MI are 154/4 after 18. Just 3 needed to win.
Nortje to bowl his final, two balls and two singles are taken. The scores are level. The third ball Hardik pulls one and Rahane takes a brilliant catch at mid-wicket to make MI wait longer. Krunal Pandya comes in at 7. Nortje bowls an excellent yorker and Krunal manages to dig it out and they run for a single. It’s MI who have won and they do it 8 balls remaining. The fireworks are on display. MI are 5-time champions!
So, MI have finally broken their jinx of not winning a title in an even year. They become the second team after CSK to win back to back titles. It was a clinical performance from MI. In the end a very easy and one-sided win for MI which just shows how strong this team is compared to the rest. DC in their first final tried their best by MI the season veterans just schooled DC. After a decent score, the onslaught from De Kock and Rohit which was later followed by Surya and Ishan just made things so much easy for MI. The DC spinners tried their best but Rabada and Nortje failed tonight which lead to DC’s downfall.
Awards: MI vs DC- IPL Final 2020.
Kieron Pollard is the super-striker of the IPL 2020 season striking at 191.42.
Ishan Kishan wins the award for the most sixes in IPL 2020 with 30 maximums.
Trent Boult is the “Powerplayer” of IPL 2020, winning the award 5 times.
KL Rahul– Orange Cap– (Most runs: 670, Avg: 55.83, SR 129.34, 58 fours, 23 sixes).
Kagiso Rabada– Purple Cap– (Most wickets: 30, ER: 8.34, Avg: 18.26, SR: 13.13).
Jofra Archer: Most Valuable Player– (20 wickets, 175 dots, 5 catches, 10 sixes).
Watch the match highlights: MI vs DC- IPL 2020 Final here
For more IPL 2020 content click here.
That brings us to the end of another great IPL season. A big thank you to BCCI and all other organizers and staff members working behind the scenes to make this event possible during such uncertain and tough times. I hope you enjoyed the content as much as I enjoyed writing them down!
Hoping to write more content in the future season of IPL. Till then Happy Reading! Ciao.
Vivek Nair
