The Mumbai Indians (MI) put on a spectacular display at the Wankhede Stadium, securing a comfortable seven-wicket win over the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 55 of the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. This remarkable victory marks MI’s fourth win of the season and was highlighted by an electrifying century from Suryakumar Yadav, ably supported by Tilak Varma during a tense run-chase.
Following the trend of the season, MI captain Rohit Sharma opted to bowl first after winning the toss, seeking to exploit a seemingly potent SRH batting lineup. The inclusion of Anshul Kamboj, a right-arm medium pacer, was a strategic move for MI, while SRH bolstered their batting ranks with the return of seasoned opener Mayank Agarwal.
The SRH innings commenced with promising aggression as the pairing of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma capitalized on the powerplay to fetch regular boundaries. High drama unfolded in the fifth over when Kamboj, making his debut, faced an attacking Head. Although Head clobbered a six off the second ball, his subsequent dismissal turned into an anti-climax with the delivery being deemed a no-ball. Maximizing the chance, Head clubbed the free-hit for four and followed up with another boundary. Nonetheless, MI had their first breakthrough when Jasprit Bumrah had Abhishek Sharma (11 off 16) caught behind just before the completion of the powerplay.
In a telling moment of the game, Kamboj redeemed himself in the eighth over by cleaning up Mayank Agarwal, who could only manage a short stay at the crease. SRH struggled to build lasting partnerships, with no stand beyond the opening one reaching the 50-run mark. Though several batters made decent starts, none transformed their innings into substantial scores. Head’s dismissal for 48 in the 12th over was a significant blow, as MI seized control by reducing SRH to 136 for eight by the 17th over, forcing them to deploy Sanvir Singh as an impact player.
Pat Cummins’ aggressive late cameo, hammering 35 runs off just 17 balls—including two sixes and two fours—was pivotal in pushing SRH to a defendable 173. The last-wicket partnership of 37 provided SRH with a fighting chance, drawing similarities to a previous successful defense at the same ground by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) against MI.
. Hardik Pandya led the MI bowling attack with crucial figures of three for 31, supplemented by Piyush Chawla’s three for 33, playing crucial roles in restricting SRH.
Chasing 174, MI openers began positively, racing to 26 within two overs with Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma looking in form. However, the joy was short-lived as Marco Jansen had Ishan edging to slip, and Rohit fell to a top-edge caught by the wicketkeeper in the fourth over. Naman Dhir followed soon after, caught in the slips off Bhuvneshwar Kumar, leaving MI precariously placed at 31 for three in the fifth over.
Enter Suryakumar Yadav, who immediately took charge of the situation. Launching his attack with a crisp boundary off Bhuvneshwar, he began setting the tempo. Tilak Varma, too, chipped in, taking on Pat Cummins in the sixth over, propelling MI to 52 for three by the end of the powerplay. The field spread did little to hinder Suryakumar’s aggressive intent; he mercilessly plundered 22 runs off Marco Jansen in the seventh over with two sixes and two fours, marking a shift in momentum.
From there on, Suryakumar masterfully dismantled SRH’s bowling, allowing no room for a comeback. With Tilak anchoring one end, Suryakumar unleashed a barrage of attacking strokes that left the SRH bowlers reeling. Having previously achieved his maiden IPL century at Wankhede last year while setting the target, Suryakumar now showcased his prowess in a run chase, treating MI fans to an array of breathtaking shots.
He reached his half-century in 30 balls, rapidly escalating the pace to bring up his next fifty in just 21 deliveries. Sealing the victory in grand fashion, he smashed T Natarajan for six in the 18th over, reaching his century and ensuring MI’s triumph with 16 balls to spare. Suryakumar’s stunning century was the highlight of the match, epitomizing his T20 mastery and steering MI to a crucial win in their IPL campaign.