Batting legend and Mumbai Indians icon Sachin Tendulkar credited Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga for their terrific death-over performances in Mumbai Indians' nerve-wracking one-run victory over Chennai Super Kings in the final of the Indian Premier League 2019 on Sunday.
Malinga produced an incredible last over to defend nine runs as Mumbai Indians claimed undisputed supremacy in the IPL by securing their fourth title with a narrow one-run win over Chennai Super Kings in a pulsating final at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
CSK needed nine runs off the last over but the experienced Lankan paceman Malinga kept his nerve to concede eight. He trapped Shardul Thakur leg before in the last ball after Watson (80 off 59) got run out two balls earlier.
Before that Bumrah kept Mumbai in the hunt with his tidy overs and two wickets, getting rid of Dwayne Bravo and Ambati Rayudu. The premier Indian pacer produced 13 dot balls in his testing overs. Young leg-spinner Rahul Chahar also played a key role in the middle overs as he too created pressure by bowling 13 dot balls.
"The key moment was Dhoni's run-out. But also in patches when Bumrah bowled those critical to even out Malinga's one poor over was also crucial. And the last over, thought Malinga finished the game out beautifully," Tendulkar told Star Sports after the match.
"And as for the final, we knew we defended 129 in the final two years ago, so we were confident. I think we have a terrific team - with experience and youth," he added.
Both teams were tied at three IPL titles each heading into the finale with Mumbai holding the upper hand, having beaten CSK thrice earlier in the competition.
The heart-stopping finish came after a disciplined bowling performance from CSK who restricted Mumbai Indians to 149 for eight.
CSK, have now lost to Mumbai for the third time in four finals.
Tendulkar also reserved special mention for Hardik Pandya, who has been instrumental in sending Mumbai into the final.
"As Mahela said, Rahul Chahar stands out the way he's bowled this season. Just fabulous. And don't forget Hardik. We were in the corner in many games this season, and Hardik bailed us out many times," Tendulkar concluded.
