Rohit Sharma’s return to form (76* off 45) and his rollicking century partnership with Suryakumar Yadav (68* off 30) delivered a third win on the bounce for Mumbai Indians as they overhauled a target of 177 with nine wickets in hand and 26 deliveries to spare against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede stadium. The victory took MI to the sixth spot on the points table while CSK continued to languish at the bottom, conceding their sixth game in eight outings.
Debutant Mhatre injects life into CSK’s innings
With only 16 runs coming off the first three overs, the pressure got to Rachin Ravindra who was caught-behind off Ashwani Kumar looking to force a stroke. The 17-year old debutant Ayush Mhatre made a splash, clubbing one past the bowler before flicking and pulling with great gusto for two sixes. Mhatre, an opener for Mumbai in domestic cricket, also hit a four over Chahar’s head but a neat over from Mitchell Santner ensured CSK were restricted under 50 in the PowerPlay.
Mumbai Indians apply the handbrakes before Dube explodes
Chahar, who bowled all his four overs unchanged, was taken down for two fours by Mhatre but the youngster’s ebullient knock (32 off 15) came to an end in the same over as he holed out to long on. Rasheed departed in the next over, out stumped off Santner. Quiet overs from Jasprit Bumrah and Will Jacks ensued, leaving the score of CSK within 70 at the halfway stage of the innings. Hardik Pandya, the seventh bowling option, also made a clinical start to his quota before Shivam Dube finally collected a four off Boult, bringing up CSK’s first boundary after 29 balls. Ravindra Jadejaopened his boundary account via a pull off Bumrah while Dube hit Pandya over deep mid-wicket to drive CSK past 100 in the 14th over.
Dube, Jadeja fifties usher CSK to competitive total
Having laboured to his first 19 runs, Jadeja picked up the pace with an aerial shot over cover for a four off Ashwani. Bumrah spilled a catching opportunity at fine leg in the same over, and parried the ball over the rope to make it worse. Dube raised a 30-ball fifty with a six downtown before Jadeja ended the over with a straight six too as the fourth wicket pair scooped 24 off the over. Dube, though, perished in the next over as he whipped Bumrah down mid-wicket’s throat and Santner kept the squeeze on by stifling Jadeja and MS Dhoni in the 18th over. A misfield gave Jadeja a four off Bumrah before the bowler had Dhoni caught at backward square leg. In the final analysis, Jadeja recovered well to notch up a 34-ball fifty in a 16-run final over from Boult, which included a six and a four from the southpaw.
Rohit, Rickelton get Mumbai Indians up and running
Ryan Rickelton peeled off two fours off Khaleel Ahmed and was fortunate that CSK decided against for a review when he was rapped on the pads. Rohit Sharma played his signature swivel pull for a six off Overton and an equally typical pick-up shot off Khaleel for a maximum. He also drove crisply through extra cover for a four off Khaleel. R Ashwin, the Impact sub, started on a miserly note but MI wrestled back the advantage in the next over as Rickelton and Rohit slammed a six apiece in an 18-run over to post their team’s first 50-run opening stand this season, with the ex-captain himself making it past 30 for the first time in this edition. Although Ashwin gave away just 6 runs in the ultimate over of the PowerPlay, it was a productive one for MI with their scoring rate hovering over 10.
Rohit, Suryakumar fifties take Mumbai Indians closer
Jadeja provided the crucial breakthrough on the other side of the PowerPlay, having Rickelton caught at deep midwicket. Rohit, who produced a six off Ashwin, nearly chipped a return catch to Jadeja in an over where Suryakumar Yadav blitzed a four and a six. Noor Ahmad bowled a tidy over at the halfway mark but Suryakumar continued to torment Jadeja, hitting another six and four in the next to rustle up the team hundred. Rohit went on to compile a 33-ball half-century before Suryakumar brandished a hat-trick of fours off Noor. Rohit hit his fifth six when Khaleel, attempting to take a catch off Matheesha Pathirana, touched the toblerone as he attempted to push the ball in. Suryakumar then reached the fifty landmark, in 26 balls, as Noor leaked runs after a promising start to his night.
Rohit, Suryakumar finish things off in a hurry
They only needed 20 to win off 30 balls but MI’s second wicket pair went gung-ho in the interest of NRR, consuming only four deliveries to seal the deal. Rohit and Suryakumar combined to maraud 10 fours and 11 sixes as MI moved towards the center of the table after a poor beginning to their IPL 2025 campaign.
