Rohit Sharma was the catalyst in Mumbai Indians (MI) first win of the ongoing IPL 2024 tournament. This win came over Delhi Capitals (DC) on Sunday, April 7 at their home ground of Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
MI had lost its first three matches in IPL 2024 under new captain Hardik Pandya. The five-time IPL champions were under severe stress coming into this match, and Rohit Sharma gave them the perfect start with the bat after DC captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and decided to bowl first.
Rohit scored 49 in 27 balls, while Ishan Kishan made 42 runs, adding 80 runs for the first wicket. Then Hardik Pandya (39) and Tim David (45*) gave a good finish to MI innings, which was taken to the next level by Romario Shepherd’s cameo of 39* in 10 balls with 4 sixes and 3 fours.
He took Anrich Nortje for 32 runs in the 20th over as MI made 234/5 in 20 overs.
Delhi Capitals could make 205/8 in reply and lost by 29 runs. For them, Prithvi Shaw made 66, while Tristan Stubbs top-scored with 71* in 25 balls with 7 sixes.
Following the victory, head coach, Mark Boucher addressed the team and congratulated them for the win. He also gave Rohit a special award to appreciate his knock which set the tone for MI to score a massive total of 234 runs.
He was also asked to say some words of encouragement after receiving the prize.
Rohit said: “I thought it was a wonderful batting performance. It was something that we all have been striving for from game one. It goes to show that the individual performances do not matter if the whole batting group can stand up and put their hand up and look at the team’s goal. We can achieve that kind of total.”
He concluded by saying, “It is something that we have been talking about for a long time. And that is something the batting coach, Mark, and captain all want. Wonderful to see that and like you said, long may that continue.”
Here is the video:
MI will next take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru, also at Wankhede stadium on April 11, Thursday.
