Mumbai Indians (MI) achieved a remarkable feat in Jaipur, securing the joint-highest total at the venue in IPL history. This victory marked their first in the city since 2012, breaking a longstanding drought.
A solid foundation was laid by fifties from Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton, setting a robust platform for the innings. Their partnership ended at an opportune moment, leaving 8.1 overs for Suryakumar Yadav to unleash his talents. With 116 runs on the board, Suryakumar wasted no time making an impact. He attacked six of his first seven balls, exploiting any mistake from the bowlers who tried to keep him away from his preferred hitting zones.
Suryakumar’s unbeaten 48 turned out to be an IPL record, marking his 11th consecutive innings with scores of 25 or more. His aggressive innings featured 13 boundary attempts from 23 balls faced. A standout moment came in the 19th over against Jofra Archer’s attempted yorker, which turned into a full toss that Suryakumar dispatched for four while losing his footing—bat slipping from his hands—but successfully executing his role.
Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya was equally impactful, staying deep in his crease to target deliveries that missed the blockhole. Rohit Sharma, on the other hand, appeared to be returning to his best form. His movement around the crease and ability to manipulate the field and bowlers showcased his renewed confidence. Ryan Rickelton commenced the innings with flair, confidently facing efforts from Rajasthan Royals (RR) to limit him. His penchant for the short-arm pull and managing slower balls contributed to 34 of his first 51 runs on the leg side.
In discussing Mumbai Indians’ recent performance, cricket pundits Aakash Chopra and Abhinav Mukund highlighted the team’s need to refine their strategy in the powerplay overs. “MI haven’t figured out their powerplay attack,” noted Chopra, reflecting on an area for potential improvement.
This match against Rajasthan Royals (RR) has breathed new life into MI’s campaign, as they demonstrate both skill and strategy on the field.
