Incredible Premier League Witness Mohit Sharma's Redemption
Mohit Sharma was the Man of the Match vs LSG [iplt20.com]
The Indian Premier League or the Incredible Premier League has witnessed some memorable moments over the last few years, but none more emotional than the redemption story of Mohit Sharma.
Lucknow Super Giants played an all-time nail-biter against the IPL defending champions, Gujarat Titans on Saturday. The stakes were high as the two teams wanted to strengthen their position at the points table.
In a game featuring these two teams, you expect the likes of Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, Rashid Khan to steal the show, but the world witnessed the rise of Mohit Sharma from the 'Ashes' as the Indian seamer bailed GT out of the jail and helped them secure a miraculous win from the jaws of defeat.
Having last played an IPL game in 2019, it has been a wait of 4-years for the talented seamer, who took part in the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Interestingly, Mohit wouldn't have got his opportunity had it not been for Yash Dayal getting hammered for five sixes at the hands of Rinku Singh. GT felt they needed to give Yash Dayal some space and brought in Mohit Sharma in the playing XI for their game against Punjab Kings.
The redemption story started with 2 crucial wickets in that game, as Gujarat Titans brought their IPL campaign back on track.
But Mohit needed a bigger moment to justify his comeback and he chose Saturday, April 22 as his day. In a tight run-chase, the KL Rahul led LSG side needed 136 on a tricky Ekana wicket.
KL Rahul and Kyle Mayers gave their start a steady start, adding 55 runs for the opening wicket. The game looked done and dusted for the defending champions, when LSG needed 30 off 30 balls, and 8-wickets in hand.
But this is where LSG brought out the 'Chokers' tag and lost a game which will haunt them for ages. When a team needs to chase down the total in run-a-ball, you expect them to win on 9 out of 10 occasions.
But perhaps the law of averages caught up as boundaries dried up, and despite having a set KL Rahul at the crease, GT slowly and steadily climbed up to take control of the game.
Mohit had already bowled a solitary over when he was brought back in the attack during the 18th over, and he didn't disappoint his skipper, going for just 6 runs. Giving just 6 runs in slog overs when the team is under pressure is a testimony of his experience and skill.
But the best of the lot was yet to come. He was given the added responsibility to deliver the goods in the last over. LSG needed 12 off it and the game went right down to the wire. On the second ball of the over, he took the all-important wicket of KL Rahul with a slower one. The LSG skipper failed to clear the ball and was caught at deep backward square.
Mohit followed it up with yet another slower one and yet another wicket - This time of Marcus Stoinis. Two wickets in two balls brought the pressure back on the LSG batters.
On the fourth ball, Ayush Badoni was run-out as the pressure mounted on Deepak Hooda to finish things off for his team. But Mohit delivered an inch-perfect yorker as Hooda dished it onto the leg side, but was eventually run-out.
LSG needed 8 off 1, and only a no-ball and a six could have saved LSG's blushes. But that didn't happen as yet another slower delivery finished it off for Mohit and GT. Ravi Bishnoi missed it and that was the end of a miraculous game of cricket.
10 days ago, Mohit was nowhere in the scheme of things for GT. 10 days later, he is picked up on the shoulder like a hero. And this is a redemption story for the ages.
 "Anurag Dasgupta")
