Mumbai Indians, David Warner, and the charge of Kolkata

Unpredictability makes IPL a rollercoaster ride with high drama

Every IPL is a rollercoaster ride. High-octane finishes are routine. So there’s no firm favourite to win the title or a game between any two teams. But I threw my support behind the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings since they share eight of the 13 titles.

The Season 14 finale is today. The Chennai Super Kings will be gunning for the fourth title in their ninth final, while the Kolkata Knight Riders will be aiming for their third win in three finals. Who will win? That’s anybody’s guess: each of them have their strengths and weaknesses.

The biggest surprise for me has been the fall of the Mumbai Indians. Next up would be the Kolkata Knight Riders’ incredible fightback. And perhaps the most stunning one has been David Warner’s fall from grace.

The Kolkata Knight Riders gave a lesson in reviving a floundering campaign. Five losses in the first seven games pushed them to seventh place in the points table when Phase 1 ended.

The Kolkata resurgence is similar to the late rally of the Sunrisers Hyderabad last year. And the man who helmed the revival was David Warner. In the UAE, Warner cut a forlorn figure as he sat in the stands waving the Sunrisers flag. What a fall! Last year, Warner marshalled the meagre Hyderabad resources adroitly as they made the playoffs. That’s a mere memory now. Warner’s form dipped and after a string of losses, and Warner’s disagreements with the management he was ejected from the team. A tragic end for a hero who gave Hyderabad some of the best years in IPL and their only title.

Well, reputations count for nothing in IPL. The Mumbai Indians and David Warner will know that!