Team Kolkata’s middle-order faltered as they suffered a dramatic 10-run loss at the hands of Team Mumbai in their second matches of the Indian T20 League 2021.
After having restricted Mumbai to just 152, riding at the back of a sumptuous bowling effort from Andre Russell, Kolkata made a blistering start with their openers, Nitish Rana and Shubman Gill forging a 72-run stand inside nine overs. But once both the openers were dismissed, Kolkata crumbled like a house the cards.
Kolkata looked in complete control right from the very beginning. They brought the game down to an extent that they needed 30 runs 30 balls. The likes of Dinesh Karthik and Andre Russell, however, failed to cope with the variation of Mumbai bowlers as they fell 10 runs short of their target.
It was anyway an entertaining game from the spectators’ point of view and here we look at some key stats that the fixture produced.
Russell’s effort in losing cause
Days after Harshal Patel had become the first bowler to pick a five-fer against Mumbai in Indian T20 League, all-rounder Andre Russell upped the ante and went on to register a brilliant figure of 5/15, which is now the best bowler figure against the record champions. The fact that the big West Indian got the figures in just two overs is even more exhilarating, to say the least.
| Best bowling figures vs Mumbai in Indian T20 League | ||||||
| Player | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Team | Venue | Date |
| Andre Russell | 2 | 15 | 5 | Kolkata | Chennai | 13 April 2021 |
| Harshal Patel | 4 | 27 | 5 | Bangalore | Chennai | 9 April 2021 |
| Rohit Sharma | 2 | 6 | 4 | Deccan | Centurion | 6 May 2009 |
| Samuel Badree | 4 | 9 | 4 | Bangalore | Bengaluru | 14 April 2017 |
| Sohail Tanvir | 4 | 14 | 4 | Rajasthan | Jaipur | 26 May 2008 |
Furthermore, while it is now the best bowling figure against Mumbai, his return is also the best bowling figure by a Kolkata player in the Indian T20 League. The 32-year-old surpassed Sunil Narine’s figure of 5/19 that he had picked against Punjab in 2012. Meanwhile, this is also the best bowling figure in the Indian T20 League at Chepauk.
- 5/15 by A Russell in 2021 vs Mumbai
- 5/24 by L Balaji in 2008 vs Punjab
- 5/27 by H Patel in 2021 vs Mumbai
*Best bowling figures at Chepauk in Indian T20 League*
Nitish Rana’s effort in vain
Nitish Rana has been in a brilliant form of late and his return of 47-ball 57 was his second consecutive fifty in the Indian T20 League. The 27-year-old has now scored four fifties in his last six Indian T20 League appearances. While it was his ninth fifty for Kolkata, it was his first 50-plus score against Mumbai in the league.
| Nitish Rana vs Mumbai bowlers | |||||||||
| Bowlers | Runs | Balls | Dots | 4s | 6s | Strike rate | Dot % | Ball/Bound. | Run % |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 6 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 75.00 | 62.5 | 8 | 10.52 |
| Kieron Pollard | 11 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 220.00 | 40 | 2.5 | 19.29 |
| Krunal Pandya | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 | 20 | 0 | 7.01 |
| Marco Jansen | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 3.5 |
| Rahul Chahar | 11 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 122.2 | 33.3 | 9 | 19.29 |
| Rohit Sharma | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | 0 | 0 | 3.5 |
| Trent Boult | 21 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 131.3 | 56.25 | 4 | 36.84 |
Furthermore, yesterday’s half-century was the third instance that Rana scored consecutive fifties in the Indian T20 League after he had done it in 2017 and 2019. Back to back fifties has taken his tally of the current season to 137 runs, which is at present the highest by any batsman. Until Rana was on the crease, Kolkata needed 31 runs off as many balls, but as soon as he was gone, Kolkata choked and gave away the game. The team went on to score just 20 runs in the final five overs.
Rahul Chahar turning the tide
Mumbai were in desperate need of a wicket as both Rana and Gill were batting firmly on the crease. The arrival of Rahul Chahar, however, changed the course. He first got the better of Gill in the ninth over, followed by Rahul Tripathi in the 11th over, Eoin Morgan in the 13th over before dismissing Rana in the last over of his spell.
The spinner ended his tenure with a figure of 4/27 which is now his best bowling figure in the Indian T20 League. Here are his best bowling figures:
- 4/27 vs Kolkata, 2021
- 3/19 vs Delhi, 2019
- 3/29 vs Rajasthan, 2019
| Rahul Chahar in Indian T20 League | |||||||
| Innings | Total innings | Runs | Balls | Wickets | Average | Economy | Strike rate |
| 1st Innings | 11 | 303 | 246 | 10 | 30.3 | 7.39 | 24.6 |
| 2nd Innings | 21 | 566 | 444 | 24 | 23.58 | 7.64 | 18.5 |
Chahar has, in fact, developed a trend over the years. He is particularly vicious in the second innings of the match as 70.58% of his total wickets (24/34) in the league have come while defending the target. Here is a detailed bifurcation.
Furthermore, the impressive trait in his bowling remains the fact that a whopping 91.17% of his total wickets (31/34) are the top order batsmen.
Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @IPL
