Ponting praised for masterstroke of tactical genius

Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma has revealed how a tactical masterstroke from Australian coach Ricky Ponting helped secure an unlikely victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders.

When Mumbai lost their second wicket still needing 101 runs from less than ten overs, it was far from panic stations for Ponting’s men.

Report & Highlights: Rohit steers Mumbai to victory

Rohit was still at the crease on 45 off 31 and Jos Buttler and Kieron Pollard, two of the most powerful T20 batsman in the world, were still to come.

But it was neither Buttler nor Pollard who strode to the middle to join the Mumbai skipper after the second wicket.

Instead, New Zealand fast-bowler Mitchell McClenaghan, who batted at No.10 in Mumbai’s previous match, was sent in as pinch-hitter, a move that paid off immediately. 

McClenaghan pummelled three sixes off his first five balls before Buttler (41 off 22) and Rohit (84 not out off 54) steered Mumbai home in the final over to chase down Kolkata’s 186.

The left-handed Kiwi changed the momentum of the match, disrupting Kolkata’s spinners, all of whom are generally more effective against right-handers.

"It was Ricky's idea," Rohit said of the unorthodox move. "He was the one sitting in the dug-out having those ideas going around.

"He sent a message asking if that was going to be the right move. I said 'why not?'

"We just wanted to upset their rhythm and he did it perfectly."

Kolkata had gone into the match with a spin-heavy attack, Australian Brad Hogg included alongside fellow chinaman Kuldeep Yadav and leg-spinner Piyush Chawla.

The decision to include three wrist-spinners may been due to the fact Mumbai had nine right-handers in their batting line-up.

Two of McClenaghan’s sixes came off Chawla and the other off Yadav and while the latter dismissed him four balls after that maximum, the damage had been done, and Kolkata’s spinners all finished with economy-rates of more than nine runs an over.

Despite holding a T20 average of just 10.09, McClenaghan had turned the match on its head and it seems Mumbai have Ponting to thank for the stroke of genius.