Hardik Pandya called Mumbai Indians’ (MI) 100-run over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Jaipur on May 1 a ‘fantastic one,’ but also reiterated the importance of staying “humble and disciplined.” This was MI’s sixth straight win in the ongoing IPL 2025, and they went to the top of the points table.
The five-time IPL champions therefore secured their first victory at the Jaipur stadium since 2012, scoring 217/2 before edging the home team out for 117.
Openers Ryan Rickelton (61) and Rohit Sharma (53) combined for a 116-run opening partnership before Pandya (48 not out) and Suryakumar Yadav (48 not out) added 94 in an unbroken third-wicket stand to help Mumbai to the joint-highest IPL total at the stadium.
The MI pace attack effectively ended the fight in the powerplay of RR's pursuit, reducing them to 62/5. Deepak Chahar (1/13) dismissed batting star Vaibhav Suryavanshi for a two-ball duck in the opening over, while Jasprit Bumrah (2/15) and Trent Boult (3/28) took two wickets each.
Karn Sharma later ripped through the RR lower order, finishing as Mumbai's best bowler with numbers of 3/23.
Pandya (1/2) was also among the wickets, striking in his first delivery of the evening, while Boult claimed the final wicket by removing Jofra Archer (30), who led the Royals' scoring by being the only batter to reach 20 runs.
“The way we batted, and we were clinical with the ball—so absolutely (a perfect game). We could have gotten another 15 runs. What we (he and Surya) were trying to speak to each other about was playing percentage shots. Surya and I said there’s value for shots… Ro (Rohit) and Ryan batted the same way. I think it was absolutely fantastic.
It is never about people getting chances; it’s about what is required in the situation. People are going back to batsmanship. As a group, the way we batted was proper batsmanship. I don’t know who all to mention (among the bowlers). Everyone is really clear. We’re going back to simple cricket, and it’s working for that. We want to take it game by game and be humble and disciplined,” MI captain Hardik Pandya said during the post-match presentation ceremony.
This defeat meant that RR became the second team, after CSK to be eliminated from the race for the IPL 2025 playoffs. This was their 8th defeat in 11 games, and they only have 6 points to their name.
Riyan Parag also praised MI captain Pandya and Yadav for their blazing partnership, which helped the visiting team finish within touching distance of the 220 mark.
“We have to give credit to the way MI played. The way they batted, they took the game a little deep, kept the 10 runs per over consistency, and accelerated in the end. As far as our batting is concerned, it wasn’t our day. 190-200 would have been ideal (to chase), but then Hardik and Surya bhai at the end really switched it up; we could have done a few things better, but it is how it is,” Parag said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
Parag added that he expected the RR middle order to step up when openers Jaiswal and Suryavanshi fell for cheap against MI.
“We have been getting good starts, but it is up to the middle order—myself, Dhruv (Jurel)—for us to step up when we lose wickets in the powerplay. But we still back ourselves; if another situation (like today) comes up, then we will be up for it.
“We have done a lot of things right, a lot of things wrong; we want to focus on the things we have done right, a lot of mistakes, a lot of small errors, focus on how to not make them, and we have had a few close matches. If we get an opportunity like the first 10 games in the next 3, then hopefully we can do it better,” Parag added.
MI will next face GT at home in Wankhede on May 6, and RR will next take on KKR at Eden Gardens on May 4.
(PTI inputs)
