The Mumbai Indians (MI) stamped their authority in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 with a commanding seven-wicket win over the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. This victory marks MI’s fourth win of the season, showcasing the team’s resilience and fighting spirit. The cornerstone of this victory was a magnificent, match-winning century by the flamboyant Suryakumar Yadav, who received invaluable support from Tilak Varma during a thrilling run-chase.
In alignment with the prevailing trend of the TATA IPL 2024, MI elected to bowl first after winning the toss, setting the stage for an intriguing contest against a formidable SRH batting lineup. MI included Anshul Kamboj, a promising right-arm medium pacer, in their squad, while SRH bolstered their batting by reintroducing the experienced Mayank Agarwal into the mix.
SRH’s innings began with a bang as openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma went on the offensive during the powerplay, finding the boundaries with regular ease. The fifth over, marked by drama, was bowled by Kamboj, and it featured both highs and lows. Head dispatched the second ball for a six, but Kamboj seemed to have scalped his wicket with the next delivery, only to see it declared a no-ball. The resultant free-hit was smashed for a four, sparking more action as Head added another boundary soon after. Eventually, MI drew first blood just before the end of the powerplay when Jasprit Bumrah had Abhishek (11 off 16) caught behind.
SRH’s innings took another hit in the eighth over when Mayank was dismissed by the debutant Kamboj, leaving them with the worry of not being able to build substantial partnerships. After the initial 56-run stand, the following partnerships failed to cross 50, with multiple batsmen starting well but failing to convert those starts into big scores. A critical moment came in the 12th over when Head was dismissed for 48, handing MI a significant breakthrough. SRH found themselves languishing at 136 for eight by the 17th over, prompting them to deploy Sanvir Singh as an impact player to stabilize the innings.
At this precarious stage, it was Pat Cummins who took charge, playing an aggressive innings that injected some life into the SRH total. His blistering 35 off just 17 balls, featuring two enormous sixes and two boundary strokes, propelled SRH to a more respectable score of 173. The 37-run last-wicket partnership was particularly vital, giving SRH bowlers a fighting chance and a glimmer of hope, especially given that KKR had successfully defended a similar target at the same venue against MI. MI’s Captain Hardik Pandya was the standout bowler with figures of three for 31, while Piyush Chawla also played a crucial role, claiming three for 33.
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The stage was set for MI’s run-chase, and their openers got off to a flying start, racing to 26 runs within the first two overs. The duo of Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma looked in fine touch but were soon sent packing by the SRH bowlers. Marco Jansen managed to get Ishan Kishan to edge one to slip, and just a couple of overs later, Rohit Sharma top-edged a delivery, resulting in a catch by the wicketkeeper. The troubles for MI compounded when Naman Dhir was dismissed cheaply, edging a Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivery to first slip in the fifth over, leaving MI reeling at 31 for three.
But then came Suryakumar Yadav to the crease, displaying remarkable poise and class. Undeterred by the pressure, Suryakumar elected to counter-attack, marking his arrival with a sublime drive for four off Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Tilak Varma, at the other end, quickly acclimatized and took the fight to Cummins in the sixth over, ensuring MI didn’t fall behind in the chase. The powerplay concluded with MI at 52 for three, keeping the game very much alive.
As the fielders spread out, Suryakumar exhibited his genius, hammering Marco Jansen for 22 runs in the seventh over, including two towering sixes and two crisp fours. His aggressive approach rendered the SRH bowlers ineffective, as he took the game away from them single-handedly. Tilak, providing steady support on the other end, ensured that MI maintained momentum without further loss.
Suryakumar’s display of impeccable timing and powerful strokes was a delight to watch, as he effortlessly reached his half-century off just 30 balls. The subsequent fifty came even faster, taking only 21 deliveries, as he continued to dismantle the SRH attack. His century, a masterclass in T20 batting, was reached in grand fashion when he launched T Natarajan for a six in the 18th over, not only completing his ton but also sealing a memorable victory for MI.
The match concluded with MI victorious with 16 balls to spare, underscoring the dominance of Suryakumar Yadav’s superb inning. His unbeaten century was the highlight of the game, an innings that will be remembered for its sheer brilliance and audacity. MIC fans left the stadium jubilant, having witnessed one of the finest T20 innings in recent memory.