Mumbai Indians extended their imperious run of form with a sixth consecutive win, decimating Rajasthan Royals by 100 runs in their Indian Premier League encounter at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Thursday. The result ended Royals’ hopes of making the playoffs.
Rohit Sharma (53 off 36) and Ryan Rickelton (61 off 38) provided the perfect platform at the top with a 116-run opening stand, before Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya, both unbeaten on 48 off 23 balls, propelled Mumbai to a daunting 217 for two.
In response, the home side, who had chased down 210 against Gujarat Titans with ease earlier in the week, faltered from the outset and were skittled for 117 in 16.1 overs.
Royals suffered their eighth defeat in 11 matches, while Mumbai, with seven wins from 11 games, look poised for a playoff berth. Another victory should ensure their progression to the next stage of the tournament.
All eyes were on 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who had stunned the cricketing world with a 35-ball century in the previous match. However, the teenager was dismissed for a two-ball duck, caught at mid-on off Deepak Chahar in the very first over.
Yashasvi Jaiswal struck two towering sixes off Trent Boult in the second over, but the New Zealander had the last laugh by knocking over his stumps. What followed was a collapse of epic proportions.
Jasprit Bumrah was introduced in the fifth over and immediately made an impact, removing Shimron Hetmyer and Riyan Parag with short-pitched deliveries, reducing the Royals to 51 for five by the end of the powerplay.
Earlier, Mumbai’s openers went on the offensive from the start. Rickelton targeted the pacers while Rohit took on the spinners, especially Maheesh Theekshana, who was brought in as early as the third over.
The duo’s strokeplay set the tone — Rickelton’s flick off Fazalhaq Farooqi for six was a standout, while Rohit’s classical lofted drive over extra cover epitomised elegance.
Mumbai reached 58 without loss in the powerplay. Rohit brought up his half-century by upper-cutting Theekshana over backward point.
After both openers departed in quick succession, Suryakumar and Hardik ensured there was no respite for the Royals. The final five overs yielded a brisk 71 runs, including some audacious strokes from Suryakumar, whose scoop over fine leg off Jofra Archer saw him tumbling to the ground.
He finished the innings with a towering six straight down the ground off Akash Madhwal.
Mumbai’s bowling, spearheaded by Bumrah and Chahar, sealed the deal early in the second innings, snuffing out any hope for the hosts.
Follow us
