The 17th of May, 2024, saw the culmination of the IPL 2024 season for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. While neither team was in contention for the playoffs, both sides entered the match determined to finish the season on a winning note.
MI Opt to Bowl First
Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to field first. Openers KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal provided a solid foundation for LSG, with Rahul leading the charge with a well-paced half-century.
LSG Post a Competitive Total
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals in the middle overs, some lusty hitting by Deepak Hooda and Marcus Stoinis propelled LSG to a competitive total of 214 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their 20 overs.
MI Fight Back, But Fall Short
In reply, MI got off to a decent start with contributions from Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav. However, the spin duo of Piyush Chawla and Ravi Bishnoi applied the brakes on the scoring rate, picking up crucial wickets at regular intervals.
Arjun Tendulkar Makes IPL Entry for this year
The match also witnessed the much-anticipated debut of Arjun Tendulkar, son of legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, for the Mumbai Indians. While he remained wicketless in his first outing, all eyes will be on his progress in future seasons.
LSG Clinch Victory by 18 Runs
Despite a valiant effort from Kieron Pollard in the death overs, MI fell short of the target by 18 runs, handing LSG a morale-boosting victory in their final match of the season.
LSG End Season on a High Note
This win will be a welcome sign for the Lucknow-based franchise, who endured a challenging season. They will look to build on this momentum and come back stronger in IPL 2025.
MI Look Towards the Future
For the Mumbai Indians, this loss marks the end of a disappointing campaign. However, with a young core of talented players, they will be determined to bounce back next year and reclaim their position as one of the IPL's powerhouses.
The IPL 2024 season may be over, but the excitement for cricket continues! Keep an eye out for news and updates on player transfers, team drafts, and the upcoming mega-auction as teams prepare for the next edition of the Indian Premier League.
