Mumbai Indians are one step away from making it to the final of the Indian Premier League, and that is nothing short of a miracle after how their season started.
Rohit Sharma's team began the tournament without pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who is struggling with a career-threatening back injury, and lost fellow quick Jofra Archer during the season to more fitness issues.
So thin were Mumbai's resources that veteran leg-spinner Piyush Chawla became their go-to bowler. It was in stark contrast to their much stronger batting line-up.
As the season wore on, a number of bowling options were tried, including Arjun Tendulkar, Riley Meredith and Arshad Khan. They didn't quite work, until Mumbai gave Akash Madhwal a go.
The right-arm seamer took to the IPL like duck to water, immediately impressing with his pace, accuracy and, most importantly, his death bowling.
In seven games so far, Madhwal has picked up 13 wickets at an economy of less than eight an over. Nine of those wickets came in the last two games.
In the last league phase game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Madhwal picked up 4-37 in a game where both sides scored 200 to help set up victory and, ultimately, qualification for the play-offs as the fourth-best side.
Then in the eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants on Wednesday, the 29-year-old took the tournament by storm with stunning figures of 5-5 to take Mumbai one step closer to the final.
For someone who worked as an engineer and played tennis-ball cricket just a few years ago, it has been quite a turnaround.
Madhwal joined Mumbai last year as an injury replacement, having been a net bowler at Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2019. He was confined to playing practice matches, before captain Sharma introduced him to the big stage this season.
"The team has given me the responsibility so I am trying to do it," Madhwal said after his man-of-the-match performance.
"It's not that I can take his (Bumrah's) place, but whatever I can do in my capacity, I am doing."
It has turned out to be yet another success story for Mumbai Indians talent scouts, who have gained a reputation for picking the right local talent. Fast bowler Bumrah and all-rounders Hardik and Krunal Pandya - who are now captains at Gujarat Titans and Lucknow - were picked early by the franchise. Last year, young batsman Tilak Varma and this season, fellow southpaw Nehal Wadhera too have turned out be excellent selections.
If Madhwal puts in another match-winning effort when Mumbai face Gujarat on Friday for a place in Sunday's final against Chennai Super Kings, it would be crowing achievement for the franchise that has become a nursery for future stars.
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India squad for fourth and fifth Tests
Kohli (c), Dhawan, Rahul, Shaw, Pujara, Rahane (vc), Karun, Karthik (wk), Pant (wk), Ashwin, Jadeja, Pandya, Ishant, Shami, Umesh, Bumrah, Thakur, Vihari
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Opening day UAE Premiership fixtures, Friday, September 22:
- Dubai Sports City Eagles v Dubai Exiles
- Dubai Hurricanes v Abu Dhabi Saracens
- Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
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Results
UAE beat Nigeria by five wickets
Hong Kong beat Canada by 32 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi – Ireland v Jersey
7.30pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Canada v Oman
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
SERIES INFO
Afghanistan v Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi Sunshine Series
All matches at the Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Test series
1st Test: Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan by 10 wickets
2nd Test: Wednesday, 10 March – Sunday, 14 March
Play starts at 9.30am
T20 series
1st T20I: Wednesday, 17 March
2nd T20I: Friday, 19 March
3rd T20I: Saturday, 20 March
TV
Supporters in the UAE can watch the matches on the Rabbithole channel on YouTube
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Chelsea 1
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Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Favourite vegetable: Broccoli
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Results
Men's finals
45kg:Duc Le Hoang (VIE) beat Zolfi Amirhossein (IRI) points 29-28. 48kg: Naruephon Chittra (THA) beat Joseph Vanlalhruaia (IND) TKO round 2.
51kg: Sakchai Chamchit (THA) beat Salam Al Suwaid (IRQ) TKO round 1. 54kg: Veerasak Senanue (THA) beat Huynh Hoang Phi (VIE) 30-25.
57kg: Almaz Sarsembekov (KAZ) beat Tak Chuen Suen (MAC) RSC round 3. 60kg: Yerkanat Ospan (KAZ) beat Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) 30-27.
63.5kg: Abil Galiyev (KAZ) beat Nouredine Samir (UAE) 29-28. 67kg: Narin Wonglakhon (THA) beat Mohammed Mardi (UAE) 29-28.
71kg: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) w/o Shaker Al Tekreeti (IRQ). 75kg: Youssef Abboud (LBN) w/o Ayoob Saki (IRI).
81kg: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Khaled Tarraf (LBN) 29-28. 86kg: Ali Takaloo (IRI) beat Emil Umayev (KAZ) 30-27.
91kg: Hamid Reza Kordabadi (IRI) beat Mohamad Osaily (LBN) RSC round 1. 91-plus kg: Mohammadrezapoor Shirmohammad (IRI) beat Abdulla Hasan (IRQ) 30-27.
Women's finals
45kg: Somruethai Siripathum (THA) beat Ha Huu Huynh (VIE) 30-27. 48kg: Thanawan Thongduang (THA) beat Colleen Saddi (PHI) 30-27.
51kg: Wansawang Srila Or (THA) beat Thuy Phuong Trieu (VIE) 29-28. 54kg: Ruchira Wongsriwo (THA) beat Zeinab Khatoun (LBN) 30-26.
57kg: Sara Idriss (LBN) beat Zahra Nasiri Bargh (IRI) 30-27. 60kg: Kaewrudee Kamtakrapoom (THA) beat Sedigheh Hajivand (IRI) TKO round 2.
63.5kg: Nadiya Moghaddam (IRI) w/o Reem Al Issa (JOR).
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