In a thrilling display of cricketing prowess, the Mumbai Indians (MI) achieved a resounding victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by seven wickets at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. This victory marked MI’s fourth win in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season and was largely built on the back of a remarkable century by Suryakumar Yadav, expertly supported by Tilak Varma during the decisive run-chase.
Continuing the prevailing trend in this season’s IPL, MI captain, Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided to field first, aiming to leverage their formidable bowling lineup against SRH’s strong batting order. MI made a strategic change by bringing in Anshul Kamboj, a promising right-arm medium pacer, into their XI, while SRH sought to reinforce their batting strength by reintroducing the experienced Mayank Agarwal.
The SRH innings got off to a brisk start, with Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma stepping on the accelerator from the word go during the powerplay, regularly finding the boundary. The fifth over, bowled by debutant Anshul Kamboj, was particularly eventful. Head, in an aggressive mood, smashed a six off the second delivery, only for Kamboj to bowl him out, which turned out to be a no-ball, granting Head a lifeline. Capitalizing on the free-hit, Head collected a boundary and followed it up with another four. However, just before the conclusion of the powerplay, MI struck a crucial blow when Jasprit Bumrah expertly dismissed Abhishek Sharma, caught behind for 11 off 16 deliveries.
Come the eighth over, MI’s debutant Kamboj made his presence felt again, uprooting Mayank’s stumps with a beauty, putting a dent in SRH’s innings as wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Despite a decent opening partnership of 56 runs, SRH’s subsequent partnerships lacked the same potency, faltering before reaching the 50-run mark. Several batsmen managed promising starts but failed to convert them into substantial scores. The dismissal of Travis Head for 48, in the 12th over, was a major turning point, leaving SRH precariously placed. At 136 for eight in the 17th over, they had to resort to using Sanvir Singh as the impact player in hopes of salvaging their innings.
The closing stages witnessed a spirited effort from Pat Cummins, who played with commendable aggression, scoring 35 off just 17 balls, embellished with two sixes and as many boundaries. This late blitz propelled SRH to a total of 173, with a critical 37-run partnership for the last wicket, providing their bowlers with a competitive target to defend. MI’s bowling attack was spearheaded by Hardik Pandya and Piyush Chawla, both making significant contributions with figures of three for 31 and three for 33, respectively.
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Chasing a target of 174, MI’s innings commenced with a flurry of runs as openers Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma blazed away to 26 within the first two overs. However, their aggressive intent soon resulted in setbacks as Marco Jansen dismissed Ishan, who edged a catch to slip. Rohit, aiming to continue the onslaught, top-edged a delivery in the fourth over, which was caught by the wicketkeeper. The pressure mounted on MI when Naman Dhir was caught in the slips off Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the fifth over, leaving MI tottering at 31 for three.
It was at this critical juncture that Suryakumar Yadav took center stage, displaying a stunning exhibition of attacking batting. A glorious drive off Bhuvneshwar marked the beginning of his innings, instilling confidence. Partnering effectively with Tilak Varma, who also showcased attacking flair against Cummins in the sixth over, MI reached 52 for three by the end of the powerplay.
Post-powerplay, Suryakumar shifted into a higher gear, unfazed by the fielding restrictions lifting. He took a heavy toll on Jansen in the seventh over, smashing two sixes and two fours, amassing 22 runs off the over. This aggressive approach by Suryakumar left the SRH bowling attack in tatters. With Tilak anchoring one end, Suryakumar was liberated to dominate proceedings and dismantle the SRH bowling.
Suryakumar’s masterclass innings was a continuation of his impressive form, as highlighted by his maiden IPL century at the same venue the previous season. This time, however, the century came during a chase, testament to his adaptability and skill. Reaching his half-century in just 30 balls, Suryakumar then accelerated further, achieving his next fifty in a mere 21 deliveries. The winning runs came when he nonchalantly dispatched T Natarajan for a six in the 18th over, sealing the victory for MI with 16 balls to spare, and etching his name into the annals of IPL history with a breathtaking century.
With this emphatic win, the Mumbai Indians not only secured crucial points in the league standings but also sent a clear message of intent to their competitors. Suryakumar Yadav was rightfully celebrated as the star of the day, embodying both flair and finesse to lead his team to a memorable triumph.