IPL 2026: Akeal Hosein channels Dr Doom to dismantle Mumbai Indians
On Thursday evening, Akeal Hosein seemed to channel Dr. Doom at the Wankhede Stadium. The Chennai Super Kings left-arm spinner drew inspiration from his favourite Marvel Comics supervillain to wreak havoc on Mumbai Indians.
His decisive spell of 4/17 dismantled MI’s celebrated batting order with control and precision. Former India spinner Venkatapathy Raju was effusive in his praise. “He is a specialist who relishes bowling in the Powerplay.
With over 250 wickets in this format, it comes down to subtle variations in pace and clever use of lengths. Batters are not able to read him,” Raju told TOI. That deception and guile were evident early.
Batters usually brace for Hosein’s arm ball in the Powerplay. But on a gripping Wankhede pitch, the spinner from Laventille, Trinidad, flipped the script and slowed it up, teasing MI opener Danish Malewar to find the outside edge. “His real weapon is the way he uses the crease,” Raju explained.
“From wide of it, he generates drift even with the new ball. It creates angles to bring it in or take it away, without any visible change in action. ” It was this clever manipulation that foxed MI’s No.