Tata IPL 2024 Match 25, MI Vs RCB – Match Report

April 12, 2024

Mumbai Indians (MI) secured their second victory in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 by defeating the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) with seven wickets at the Wankhede Stadium. Jasprit Bumrah’s stellar performance led MI to restrict RCB to 196 runs on a favorable batting pitch. MI’s batsmen then displayed dominance from the beginning, leading to a clear and convincing win.

Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to field first. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) were relying on their current Orange Cap holder, Virat Kohli, to steer the innings. However, Jasprit Bumrah shattered those expectations by dismissing Kohli in the third over, caught behind by a ball that took the inside edge. In the following over, Will Jacks, making his first appearance this season, attempted a shot over mid-on but was caught by the fielder off Akash Madhwal’s bowling. With RCB at 27 for two, they found themselves in a precarious position.

Following that challenging situation, a partnership emerged that lifted RCB, along with an enterprising innings from Rajat Patidar. Patidar showcased his skills with some impressive shots, revitalizing the RCB innings. He adeptly played through the line in favorable batting conditions, putting pressure on the bowlers with aggressive strokes.

Faf du Plessis made a significant contribution to the RCB innings from the opposite end. He kick-started his innings with a scoop shot off Gerald Coetzee. The RCB captain achieved his first half-century of the season during the match. Meanwhile, Patidar reached his fifty with two consecutive sixes off Coetzee in the 12th over. However, he was dismissed by the same bowler while attempting to pull a short delivery in the following ball.

After the partnership, RCB’s innings stumbled when Glenn Maxwell couldn’t score. Dinesh Karthik and du Plessis stabilized the situation until Karthik was caught at long-on off Bumrah’s bowling. Mahipal Lomror was swiftly dismissed by a yorker from Bumrah on the first ball he faced. With RCB at 153 for six in the 17th over, they had to bring in their Impact Player, Saurav Chauhan, who replaced Patidar.

As Bumrah finished his five-wicket haul in the final overs, Karthik added excitement to the Wankhede Stadium with his innovative shots. His reverse scoops and powerful strokes delighted the crowd, propelling him to a quick 53 runs from just 23 balls and helping RCB reach a total of 196.

MI entered the match with high confidence after scoring over 230 runs at the same venue recently. This confidence was evident in their openers, Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan, during the powerplay. Kishan was particularly aggressive, showcasing his attacking intent. One remarkable shot was when he backed away and effortlessly hit a six over point. The fifth over, bowled by Mohammad Siraj, proved costly as MI scored 23 runs. By the end of the sixth over, MI had reached 72 runs, with Kishan completing his fifty off just 23 balls.

After observing most of the action from the non-striker’s end, Rohit Sharma also accelerated his scoring after the powerplay, smashing a six and a four off Akash Deep’s bowling. MI reached the 100-run mark in the ninth over, maintaining control of the game. However, there was a moment of relief for RCB when Ishan Kishan was caught by Kohli at long-on, ending his innings at 69 runs off 34 balls.

As a result, Suryakumar Yadav stepped onto the field, designated as the Impact Player. The creative right-hander embodied the title, significantly influencing the game. While MI seemed in control after Kishan’s innings, Suryakumar’s commanding performance shifted the momentum firmly in MI’s favor, turning the match against the visitors. Although Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 38 runs by Jacks, MI’s aggressive approach persisted. This was evident when captain Pandya smashed his first delivery for a six right after Rohit’s departure.

Suryakumar showcased his trademark shot variety, employing cuts, pulls, scoops, and wristy strokes to swiftly reach a 17-ball fifty, marking his fastest fifty in the TATA IPL. By the time he was dismissed, MI had surged to 176 runs by the 14th over, making the outcome of the match a clear and inevitable conclusion.

MI clinched a stylish victory with 27 balls remaining. Pandya’s flamboyant six over cover sealed the win for MI, earning them another valuable two points. This performance is sure to be remembered by MI for a long time to come.

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