Mumbai Indians put up a clinical performance to register a comfortable 40 run victory over Delhi Capitals at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on Thursday. The win sees the Men in Blue climb to the second position and tighten their hold on the Play off spot of the 2019 Indian Premier League.
Skipper Rohit Sharma had read the pitch conditions well and chose to bat first after winning the toss. He teamed up well with Quinton de Kock to MI an impressive start. The Pandya brothers then ensured that their team ended up with a competitive total of 168.
No one really played well in the second innings for the home team. DC failed to capitalized on a steady opening stand of 49 between Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw. Here again, Sharma’s decision of playing two specialist spinners (Rahul Chahar and Jayant Jadhav) paid off as the Delhi witnessed their middle order collapse yet again. Chahar, in particular was impressive of the two, having scalped 3 for 19 runs.
Here is how the fans reacted on the difference in decision making between the two captains :
Top captaincy from Rohit spinner Rahul and chahar completed their overs before 12 Rohit always looking for wicket #DCvMI #IPL #IPL2019
— AMAN JAIN (@jain_aman28) April 18, 2019
That's why Rohit Sharma is a good captain!
He chose to bat first where 99 out of 100 captains would have bowled
-- Advertisement --More power to you, Rohit…#VIVOIPL #DCvMI pic.twitter.com/wirvQaOpBU
— Vinesh Prabhu (@prabhu_vinesh) April 18, 2019
I am a huge fan Virat Kohli but I have to admit that in terms of captaincy Virat is very overrated and Rohit is very underrated.
What say guys ?#DCvMI— ANINDITA?? (@anindita_das02) April 18, 2019
–> Read the pitch well
–> Gone with extra spinner
–> Opted to bat 1st
–> Got decent total on board
–> Rotated bowlers cleverly
–> Defending it like a bossCAPTAIN ROHIT SHARMA ?#DCvMI pic.twitter.com/G0GGcPJyK2
— ROHITism ™ (@ROHITism_) April 18, 2019
Mumbai, the away team:
Elected to bat first
Brought in extra spinner (Jayant Yadav)
Attacked with spinners upfrontDelhi, the home team:
'Surprised' by the bat-first decision
Didn't complete Amit Mishra's 4 overs
Could have played Lamichhane#DCvMI— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 18, 2019
IF CAPTAINCY is an Art then this guy is PICASSO of it
Agree or Die
ROHIT SHARMA the CAPTAIN ???#DCvMI #CricketMeriJaan #OneFamily #MI pic.twitter.com/p6UwKln52d
— Mi Kerala FC (@mipaltanKL) April 18, 2019
Just contacted Ambati Rayudu to find out from where did he buy the 3D glasses. If Hardik Pandya continues to plays like this I might be needing one pretty soon. ? #MIvDC #DCvMI
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) April 18, 2019
Read the pitch well
Gone with extra spinner
Opted to bat 1st
Got decent total on board
Rotated bowlers cleverly
Defending it like a bossCAPTAIN ROHIT SHARMA???? #DCvMI #IPL2019 pic.twitter.com/n9IBZrHKLT
— Abhishek Agarwal (@Abhishek_0055) April 18, 2019
Kotla is dishing out some seriously substandard T20 pitches. Slow and Low. #DCvMI #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 18, 2019
DC is not winning home matches. But they are winning away matches. Typical Delhi behaviour. "Tu baahar miliyo fir batata hun"#DCvMI
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) April 18, 2019
Delhi Capitals give the feeling that by the time they get to know from their curator what the pitch at Kotla is like ahead of a game, it's usually time for the toss.#DCvMI #IPL2019
— KSR (@KShriniwasRao) April 18, 2019
CAPTAIN ROHIT SHARMA.
THE BOSS..
Read the pitch very very well..✔️
Rotate bowlers very well..✔️
Chosen to bat 1st..✔️✔️??
What a captain..????@mipaltan #DCvMI @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/KhbWQW246C— RO-HIT MAN SHARMA FAN CLUB.. (@RohitSh47200608) April 18, 2019
MI taking rapid strides towards place in play-offs. But disappointing from Delhi. Quirky bowling tactics, too many runs conceded in last 3-4 overs and no clear strategy in run chase after fine start by Dhawan and Shaw.
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 18, 2019