When the two best teams in the IPL met for the title in the grand finale, it was bound to be a thriller and that's what it turned out to be. In a match that tested the fortitude of the weak-hearted, the decision of Rohit Sharma to give the ball to Krunal Pandya against a well set Shane Watson seemed to be the decisive move.
In what would be considered one of the biggest blunders in the history of the league, the Mumbai Indians captain ignored Hardik Pandya who had just bowled one over at that time and instead gave the ball to his spin-bowling brother for the crucial 18th over. The result was 20 runs, almost all hit by the retired Aussie.
But it's not just Rohit and Krunal are to blame. Watson offered three chances to the Mumbai team but they dropped all of them. If Watson had been removed earlier, things might have turned out in a completely different manner. Despite Bumrah conceding just 5 runs off the first five balls of the next over, four byes off the last ball brought the game within CSK's reach.
The last over went to Malinga, whose previous one had already been taken for plenty of runs. This meant that Hardik ended up bowling just one over in the entire match – conceding just three in that. But Malinga, who seems to be well past his prime redeemed himself with a brilliant over that sealed the fourth title for the Rohit Sharma-led side. It was truly a final to remember.
As expected Twitter exploded with reactions. Here is a snapshot.
YESSSSSSsSSS !!!!! ?????????? I am literally Screaming like a monster... 4th Title.. BEST TEAM EVER. ! I LOVE YOU #MI ???? @mipaltan #IPL2019Final #MIvCSK #CSKvMI
— Vivek Sharma (@IMViiku) May 12, 2019
Mumbaaaiiiii!
— Aryaman gupta (@aryaman04) May 12, 2019
Hell yeahhh #IPL2019Final
This game was the 2013 and 2017 final rolled into one #IPL #IPL2019 #IPL2019Final Mumbai win!
— Dave (@Trader2734) May 12, 2019
Cricket at its best! Mumbai! Wuhuuu! #IPL2019Final
— Mohit Rauniyar (@mohitrauniyar) May 12, 2019
To csk fans #IPL2019Final pic.twitter.com/JYBCAVjRZf
— Mohan (@ismyname_1) May 12, 2019
Finals ho toh aisa ho...what a fantastic thriller all the way. Hard luck #CSK & congratulations #MI for their 4th IPL trophy. #IPL2019Final #IPL2019
— Sethumadhavan Napan (@Sethumadhavan) May 12, 2019
Bloody hell, Lasith!
— Jambase (@NdinguJamby) May 12, 2019
And Chennai can't even gamble on a review because of Raina's egotistical review earlier. #IPL2019Final
Malinga carried on Pollard's shoulders. An Absolute great of the game. What a last over#IPL2019Final
— MOHNISH (@monutweetstasty) May 12, 2019
What a match!!! This is how a final should be!!! #MIvsCSK #IPL2019Final @ImRo45
— Maddy (@maddyrjoshi) May 12, 2019
The way Indians can be seen praying during #CSKvMI #IPL2019Final ....#cricket is religion for us.
— Rahul Jain (@BeingHR) May 12, 2019
Best #IPL2019Final ever!!!
— Nagraj Returns (@CrookBond_D) May 12, 2019
What a end to the Best league in the world, #IPL2019 has been the best league so far since 2008 #IPL2019Final#CSKvsMI
— Sarkar Mehdi (@SMehdiDXB) May 12, 2019