Mumbai Indians (MI) produced a clinical performance to defeat Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by seven wickets in Match 25 of the IPL 2024 season at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday (April 11).
Opting to bowl first, MI restricted RCB to 196/8 on a flat pitch, courtesy of Jasprit Bumrah’s five-wicket haul (5-21).
In reply, the hosts rode on dazzling half-centuries from Ishan Kishan (69 off 34) and Suryakumar Yadav (52 off 19) to overhaul the target with 27 deliveries to spare. Rohit Sharma also made a notable contribution of 24-ball 38 and added 101 runs for the opening wicket with Kishan to set the tone for a successful chase.
After the game, MI skipper Hardik Pandya gave full credit to his entire team for this outstanding show against the star-studded RCB side.
“Always good to win. The way we have won - it's quite impressive. Impact player has given the opportunity to use an extra bowler if we require. It gives me a cushion as well. At the same point, if someone is having a bad day, it helps us to cover those overs. The way Ro and Kishan batted, giving the platform, it was important for us to finish it early. We didn't speak about it. That's the beauty of this team, players know what the situation is. As soon as we saw the target get lesser, we thought we might as well finish it early for NRR,” Hardik said at the post-match interaction.
The captain was full of praise for pace spearhead Bumrah, who was adjudged Player-of-the-Match for his exceptional bowling spell.
“Blessed to have Bumrah in my side. He does it over and over again. Any time I ask him to bowl, he comes and does what he does. He practices a lot. Before doing anything in the game, he makes sure he practices in the nets. The amount of experience and confidence he has is tremendous,” he added.
Hardik Pandya also lauded Suryakumar Yadav’s knock, stating that it's a tough job for captain to set a field for him.
“I did tell him when he scored the fifty that welcome back (Surya). Always good to have Surya in your team with the areas he hits. I've been opposition captain as well against him, it's tough to put field for him. Some place he hits, I've never seen batters hit there,” he remarked.
During the chase, Hardik himself chipped in with a brutal cameo of 21 from 6 balls, including three sixes.
“(I'll do) Whatever the situation requires - last game I had to take some time, and this game's scenario was different. I've always been a fan of whatever the situation demands,” he concluded.
It was MI’s second victory in five games this season. They are currently holding seventh spot in the 10-team points table.
Mumbai Indians will next face defending champions Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on April 14.
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
