The Journey of Being Mumbai Indians
It was just another
sultry summer evening, in the year 2010. IPL’s third instalment was about to
conclude, its fan following was at its epitome, the winners of previous
editions had firmly established its reputation as it showcased the ultimate
thrill and unpredictability of T20 format. The final between the two darlings
of IPL, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians was being a cat and mouse
affair, with Mumbai desperately trying to catch up with CSK’s total of 160 odd
on an increasingly sluggish surface. A host of familiar name in that star
studded batting order had gone in their attempt (or lack of it!) at forcing
the pace of their innings. Yet 7 of them had dragged their innings to nowhere
and perished. The eighth, and the last recognized batsman of the team, was
keeping the game alive with his trademark effortless power hitting. Here we are
talking about the priciest IPL franchise boasting of players of enormous
stature. But surely this team was somewhere dependant on this young giant of an
individual.
Penultimate over, the
belief in Mumbai camp was at its trail of return. The power of Pollard was in
its flamboyant fury. A slightly worried Stephen Fleming contemplating in stoic
silence. Even after considering Albie Morkel’s utility in CSK bowling line-ups
of those times, he was prone to that assault as his pace was the perfect fodder
for Pollard to blast away. He just had to watch out for that slower ball and if
he would be there until the final delivery, chances were more tilted in favour
of a MI victory. But, then came the masterstroke from country’s most
charismatic strategist of that period (a pale shadow of his former self now,
according to his own team’s owners.) MSD has shown his game awareness and out
of the ordinary thought processes many a times in his legend of a career. But
many, who have witnessed that match, would agree that he was at his adventurous
best in that moment of brilliance. Pollard was backing his down the ground
power hitting abilities and after another exceptional thwacking of the white
leather delivered by Morkel as his 3rd delivery of that penultimate
over, Dhoni pulled off a strategic masterpiece. Fine leg was removed, square
leg was pushed in front of square, Mid-off was deployed, still a believable
proposition. But then arrived the surprise call, a Long-off is placed, too. A
strategic challenge in cricket, apparently right from the book of some Chess
piece positioning.
Pollard was not entirely
brainless then, as he assumed himself this season after listening to one of the
coveted Indian commentator who specializes in driving the state of cricket commentary
in a polar opposite direction to what the great Sir Richie Benaud had
envisioned and practised. Still this move by MSD was beyond his ability to
decipher and was compounded by a juicy slower ball outside off stump. He duly
provided the catch to mid-off and extinguished any trophy hopes for Sachin
under his captaincy. The MI fans were dejected and a sense of helplessness
against the talismanic stature of CSK had planted doubts about their future
endeavours too.
Fast forward to this
sultry summer evening of 21st May 2017. MI are three times champions
of this most sought-after league, leaving CSK and KKR behind. Two of them came
against CSK, the latest one against their offspring, the spirited Pune
Supergiants. Two Champions League trophy are firmly locked in their coveted
cabinet. They are the kings now. Rohit Sharma, the man behind most of their
success, was instrumental in inspiring their latest possession. Being a Deccan
Chargers fan then, I rooted for them in that fateful finale of 2010, their
disappointment culminating in a sense of feeling sorry for their failed
attempt. Today they are the proud conquerors and their fans were treated with
some topsy-turvy ride throughout the playoffs, cataloguing this victory as the
sweetest of the lot.
And all this with some
Pollard twist again. He had got his redemption in the previous successful IPL
conquests, yet this time, after 7 years, when he is one of the MI mainstay and
MSD, supposedly a shadow of his former self, collided in the tussle of this
finale, stakes were lower, match situation was far from its climatic and
critical part and MSD was not even the official field placer. Yet MI needed
Pollard again, just to make a match out of their precarious situation. He
responded with a straight effortless six. MSD, the de facto field placer this
time, coaxed Steven Smith to play another of his strategic masterpiece. An
unusual Long-off placed in front of sight screen, barely avoiding a straight
angle from the stumps and there goes Pollard, downtown, straight into the hands
of that fielder. Pollard tried to prove his mishearing right again, MSD had won
another battle for his team.
Fortunately, this MI was
not even remotely dependent on one individual, and this team’s Never Say Die
attitude prevailed this time!
