Yesterday IPL Match Result: Another Mumbai Indians meltdown as CSK storm to eight-wicket win

CHENNAI: Mumbai Indians’ faltering IPL campaign hit its final stop at Chepauk on Saturday, as Chennai Super Kings registered a comfortable eight-wicket win to keep their own slim playoff hopes alive. The result nearly ends MI’s chances of making the last four, allowing Jasprit Bumrah, carrying a heavy workload through the season, to finally turn his attention towards India commitments in the coming months.

The MA Chidambaram Stadium has rarely been a forgiving venue, more so for a side low on confidence. The surface, seemingly placid, tends to hold up just enough to create doubt, while a partisan sea of yellow often amplifies pressure. On this night, all those factors came together as CSK completed a commanding league double over their long-time rivals.

It was a result shaped decisively in the first half, where MI once again failed to capitalise on a solid start. At one stage, cruising past 100 in the 11th over with Suryakumar Yadav well set and Naman Dhir settling in, a score in excess of 180 looked certain. Instead, MI collapsed to 159-7, undone by disciplined bowling and familiar middle-order frailties.

The slide began with Suryakumar’s dismissal, the batter failing to clear deep point off debutant pacer Ramakrishna Ghosh. From there, the innings unravelled quickly. Despite having Dhir (57 off 37 balls), Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya in the middle, MI struggled to build momentum.

Left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad continued his impressive run, finishing with 2-26. Bowling flatter but extracting enough grip and bounce, he forced errors from batters expected to handle spin better. Tilak fell attempting a cross-batted heave, while Noor had earlier removed Ryan Rickelton (37 off 24), who had given MI early impetus. Jamie Overton (1-23) complemented Noor perfectly, hitting hard lengths and using the two-paced nature of the pitch to stifle scoring. The England pacer’s variations made it difficult for Dhir and Pandya to break free in the middle overs, where MI’s innings lost all its tempo.

However, the standout per-former was Anshul Kamboj. The medium-pacer, now a joint Purple Cap holder, delivered a clinical spell of 3-32. He struck early to remove Will Jacks with a delivery that shaped away, and returned at the death to shut the door completely. With accurate yorkers and well-directed short balls, he ensured there was no late flourish. Kamboj also accounted for Robin Minz and Hardik, as MI’s innings fizzled out.

Chasing a modest 160, CSK never looked troubled. Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, under scrutiny for his form, anchored the innings with a composed 67 not out off 48 balls. There was no urgency, only control, as he guided the chase with minimal risk.