The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad witnessed a deluge of records as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) secured a 31-run triumph over Mumbai Indians (MI) in Match 8 of the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. SRH’s astonishing batting performance made history on a pitch favoring batsmen. Their total of 277 for three sets a new record for the highest team score in Tata IPL history, surpassing Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) 263 for five in the 2013 season. Despite a valiant effort from MI, who at one point seemed poised for an incredible comeback, the daunting target proved too much in the final overs. SRH ultimately sealed the win, albeit not without several tense moments.
In terms of the explosive batting display we witnessed, Heinrich Klaasen’s half-century in 23 balls stood out as the slowest fifty for SRH in that innings. Travis Head, debuting for SRH, reached the fifty-mark in just 18 balls, showcasing swift batting prowess. Abhishek Sharma surpassed them all with the fastest fifty by an SRH batsman in IPL history, achieving it in a mere 16 balls.
Hardik Pandya, the captain of MI, won the toss and elected to bowl first. Kwena Maphaka replaced Luke Wood in the MI lineup, making his debut in the Tata IPL at just 17 years old, one of the youngest players in the tournament’s history. He was also entrusted with the new ball.
SRH seized the initiative right from the start thanks to Travis Head, who was quick to get into rhythm, driving a backfoot shot for four in the opening over. Pandya introduced himself in the second over, where Head hit a powerful shot through mid-on. Although it went through Tim David’s hands, the ball raced to the boundary.
Head capitalized on MI’s missed opportunity as he showcased his batting prowess by effortlessly cutting, driving, and flicking the ball for runs. He also displayed finesse by gliding the ball over short third-man for boundaries on several occasions. While Head maintained his strong form, Mayank Agarwal attempted to accelerate the scoring at the other end but was dismissed by Pandya in the fifth over while attempting a pull shot over mid-on.
Abhishek Sharma joined the crease, matching Head’s aggressive batting stroke for stroke. His eye-catching sweeps over the leg-side were particularly noteworthy, resulting in seven sixes during his innings. Head’s innings ended with a 24-ball 62 in the eighth over when he attempted a shot over backward point and got dismissed. At that point, SRH had already reached a score of 113.
Abhishek continued to dazzle with his batting, consistently putting pressure on the MI bowlers. By the halfway mark, SRH approached the 150-run mark, posing a serious threat to the record. Abhishek’s aggressive 63 came to an end when he attempted a big shot over wide long-on but was caught in the deep.
MI’s hopes of making breakthroughs were dashed by Heinrich Klaasen and Aiden Markram. Klaasen carried forward his form from the previous match in Kolkata, while Markram played a supporting role by rotating the strike and attacking selectively. Klaasen’s aggressive batting kept SRH’s momentum high and posed challenges for the MI bowlers. Their unbeaten partnership of 116 runs propelled SRH to a record score, with Klaasen scoring 80 off 34 balls, including seven sixes.
At the halfway mark, few would have believed that MI could challenge the formidable target set by SRH in the Tata IPL. However, Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma emulated SRH’s aggressive approach, playing some impressive shots to give MI a strong start. Kishan’s explosive batting helped MI reach 50 runs in just three overs. He was dismissed shortly after scoring a quick 34 off 13 balls. In the next over, Rohit departed for 26 off 12 balls while attempting a pull shot against Pat Cummins. MI found themselves at 66 for two in the fifth over, facing a resurgence from SRH.
MI’s youthful middle-order batsmen reignited the team’s hopes by sustaining the aggressive momentum and challenging the SRH bowlers. Naman Dhir contributed 30 runs off 14 balls, while Tilak Varma scored a brisk 64 off 34 balls, combining for a dynamic 84-run partnership in just over six overs. This partnership propelled MI to reach 150 runs by the 11th over, turning what seemed impossible into a realistic possibility.
Tilak’s impressive innings showcased his versatility, as he attacked both the leg and off-side with equal prowess. One standout moment was a cover drive off leg-spinner Mayank Markande that sailed for six runs. Varma reached his fifty in just 24 balls, highlighting his aggressive yet elegant batting style.
MI’s momentum took a hit when Dhir was dismissed in the 11th over. Pandya took on a more prominent batting role and began his innings aggressively with a six and a four off Markande. However, SRH managed to control the run rate, conceding only five runs in the 13th over. Tilak attempted a big shot against Cummins but was caught out in the 15th over.
After that point, SRH dominated as MI struggled to hit boundaries consistently. Jaydev Unadkat played a crucial role for SRH, conceding just 19 runs in his last two overs during the slog phase and also taking Pandya’s wicket. Cummins and Markande then finished off the game for SRH.
In this match, a total of 523 runs were scored, and 38 sixes were hit in both innings, setting new records in a Tata IPL match and T20 cricket overall. The SRH fans celebrated a victorious start to their home leg in the Tata IPL 2024, while statisticians updated their record books with these remarkable achievements.
Please click to see the report:
- Tata IPL 2024 Match 01, CSK vs RCB – Match Report
- Tata IPL 2024 Match 02, PBKS vs DC – Match Report
- Tata IPL 2024 Match 03, KKR vs SRH – Match Report
- Tata IPL 2024 Match 04, RR vs LSG – Match Report
- Tata IPL 2024 Match 05, GT Vs MI – Match Report
- TATA IPL 2024 Match 06, RCB Vs PBKS – Match Report
- Tata IPL 2024 Match 07, CSK Vs GT – Match Report