Kamal Ghorui
Sanju Samson’s brief stay at the crease had everything — a life, a warning, and eventually, an inevitable end at the hands of Jasprit Bumrah. It all unfolded in a dramatic second over of the chase. Bumrah, known for his precision, struck immediately. His very first delivery was a hard length ball outside off, rising awkwardly. Samson, standing slightly leg-side, pushed at it without conviction. The ball took a thick outside edge and flew straight to first slip. It was as simple as it gets, but Will Jacks failed to hold on, dropping a sitter and giving Samson a lifeline on 6. Bumrah’s reaction was telling. He turned away with a smile, almost knowing that in T20 cricket, such chances can often prove costly. For a moment, it looked like Mumbai Indians might regret that lapse. But Bumrah is not one to dwell on missed opportunities. He kept hitting his lengths, probing outside off, asking questions every ball. Samson, despite striking a couple of boundaries, never quite looked settled against the movement and bounce. The pressure built steadily through the over, and on the final delivery, Bumrah got his reward. Charging in at 138.7 kph, he once again drew Samson into playing away from his body. This time, the edge carried safely, and Ryan Rickelton made no mistake in the cordon. Samson walked back for 11 off 9 balls, his innings ending almost as quickly as it had threatened to shift momentum. The moment summed up Bumrah’s class — even when chances go down, he finds a way to bounce back within the same over. Earlier, Chennai Super Kings had done well to keep Mumbai Indians to 159 for 7, thanks to disciplined spells from Noor Ahmad (2 for 26) and Anshul Kamboj (3 for 32). In a chase where every start matters, Samson’s early exit ensured MI stayed right on top, with Bumrah setting the tone despite that early blemish.
