Mumbai: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) ended their IPL 2024 campaign with an 18-run win over Mumbai Indians (MI) here on Friday night. MI ended up with 196/6 in their chase of 215 despite a brilliant 38-ball 68 by Rohit Sharma and an unbeaten 28-ball 62 by Naman Dhir. Leggie Ravi Bishnoi claimed 2/37, while Naveen-ul-Haq picked up 2/50.
LSG ended with 14 points from as many outings but failed to qualify for the playoffs. Five-time champions MI finished rock bottom with just eight points from 14 games.
After Rohit smacked his way to a 38-ball 68 to set a strong platform in pursuit of 215, the MI batters failed to keep momentum going in the middle overs.
Apart from Rohit's brilliance at the top, the young Dhir gave a fine exhibition of his talent with a half-century but it came when all was lost and there was no pressure on him.
Dhir struck five sixes and four fours in a late assault which only reduced the margin of defeat for his side to a large extent.
This season, in all likelihood, marks the end of Rohit's 14-year journey with MI. It would also be interesting to see if likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah agree on retention or go back to the auction pool.
Additionally, the move to bring in Hardik Pandya as skipper at the expense of a five-time champion captain Rohit proved to be a hara-kiri during a season where the new man only received boos wherever he went.
Even on Friday, as Rohit's most entertaining knock of the season ended, the Wankhede crowd was ready to give their 'skipper' a standing ovation which turned into incessant hooting the moment designated skipper entered the turf. The MI faithfuls time and again showed that Pandya was the captain but Rohit is their leader.
While LSG, riding on Pooran's pulverising 75 off 29 balls got 214/6, MI never looked in hunt once Rohit was dismissed.
Even though he endured a barren run in between season, Rohit ended as MI's third highest run-getter.
The defeat on Friday also confirmed MI's last-place finish for the second time in last three editions, with 2022 iteration being the first.
Earlier, Pooran's whirlwind knock covered for skipper KL Rahul's sedate 55, providing a much-needed impetus to LSG's total.
Struggling for momentum on what appeared to be a two-paced wicket at the start, LSG could only manage 69/3 at the halfway stage but Pooran's stunning knock made up for another shoddy powerplay effort by Rahul, who was unable to change his game.
(With inputs from PTI)
