Mumbai Indians Captain Rohit Sharma admitted that while he considered Hardik Pandya to bowl the final over with Chennai needing just nine runs to win the title, he chose Lasith Malinga for the task because of the Sri Lankan’s proven experience in such situations in the past. Malinga had conceded 42 runs in his three overs so far and with Shane Watson, who had slammed 20 runs off him in the 16th over, still unbeaten, Rohit measured the risk before entrusting his leading bowler to deliver the goods. Malinga came through, conceding just seven and bowling a perfect yorker to dismiss Shardul Thakur off the last delivery with two needed for a win.
“Malinga is a champion, he has been doing it for many years for us. I was thinking of Hardik Pandya for the final over, but I wanted to back someone who has been in that situation for us before, and Malinga has been there many times,” Rohit said.
“I remember Mitchell Johnson defended 10 runs when we won here last time in 2017, so yes sometimes you go with instinct and sometimes you back the experienced players who have done it before.
“At that time, both teams were under pressure whether it is the bowler or batsman are both under pressure. But it could have gone either way to be honest. I have played with Shardul Thakur before and know where he wants to hit so we decided together (Malinga and me) that we would go for the slower ball option.”
A fourth IPL title makes the Mumbai Indians the most successful team in the competition, with Chennai Super Kings one behind on three titles.
