In what can only be described as an exhilarating display of cricket, the Mumbai Indians (MI) secured a commanding seven-wicket victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Wankhede Stadium. This triumph marked MI’s fourth win of the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season and was largely thanks to a dazzling century by Suryakumar Yadav, who received steadfast support from Tilak Varma during the run-chase.
Aligning with the prevailing trend of the TATA IPL 2024, Mumbai Indians decided to bowl first after winning the toss. They introduced Anshul Kamboj, a promising right-arm medium pacer, into their attack to face the formidable batting lineup of SRH. Sunrisers, on the other hand, boosted their lineup with the seasoned campaigner Mayank Agarwal to strengthen their batting order.
The match set off at a brisk pace with Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma attacking vigorously during the powerplay. Boundaries flowed frequently as the pair sought to establish a solid foundation. The fifth over, bowled by Anshul Kamboj, was particularly eventful. Travis Head initially lifted spirits in the SRH camp with a striking six off the second delivery. However, what followed was dramatic – Kamboj bowled him, only for it to be overturned as a no-ball. Head capitalized on the reprieve by hitting a four on the subsequent free-hit and following up with another four. However, MI made a breakthrough just before the powerplay concluded as Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Abhishek Sharma for a score of 11 off 16 balls, caught behind by the wicketkeeper.
The drama continued in the eighth over when Mayank Agarwal was sent back to the pavilion, bowled by the debutant Kamboj. SRH struggled to gain momentum as wickets kept tumbling at a concerning interval. Barring the opening partnership of 56 runs, none of the subsequent combinations managed to surpass the 50-run mark. Many batsmen showed promise but failed to convert their starts into substantial contributions. The dismissal of Travis Head for 48 in the 12th over was a pivotal moment, leaving MI in a favorable position. At one juncture, SRH’s score was a precarious 136 for eight in the 17th over, prompting them to deploy Sanvir Singh as the impact player.
Nonetheless, Pat Cummins injected some hope into the SRH innings with a spirited performance, amassing 35 runs off just 17 balls. His innings included two sixes and two fours, propelling SRH to a respectable score of 173.
. Their final-wicket partnership of 37 runs played a crucial role, providing the Sunrisers bowlers with a target to defend, reminiscent of a similar feat achieved by KKR against MI at the same venue. For MI, captain Hardik Pandya was outstanding with the ball, finishing with figures of three for 31, while Piyush Chawla played a vital supporting role by claiming three for 33.
Mumbai Indians embarked on their run chase in style, with their openers sprinting to a score of 26 inside two overs, with both Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma looking promising. However, SRH responded by removing Ishan early in the innings as he edged a delivery from Marco Jansen to the slip. In the fourth over, Rohit Sharma top-edged the ball, leading to a catch by the wicketkeeper. The situation worsened for MI when Naman Dhir fell cheaply, edging to first slip off the bowling of Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the fifth over. At 31 for three, Mumbai found themselves in a precarious situation.
It was then that Suryakumar Yadav stepped into the spotlight, exhibiting his prowess with an extraordinary array of strokes. His aggressive yet calculated approach turned the tide for MI. A delightful drive for four off Bhuvneshwar Kumar marked the beginning of his spectacular innings. Tilak Varma supported admirably, especially when he asserted himself against Pat Cummins during the sixth over. By the end of the powerplay, MI had progressed to 52 for three.
Suryakumar’s batting artistry was not to be constrained by field placements as he unleashed an assault on Marco Jansen in the seventh over, fetching 22 runs, including two sensational sixes and two boundaries. From that moment on, MI dominated proceedings. Suryakumar, with Tilak Varma anchoring one end, took full control, leaving the SRH bowlers powerless to mount a comeback. Last season, Suryakumar had notched his maiden IPL century at this very ground while batting first; this time, his brilliance scripted a thrilling chase, delighting the home crowd.
Suryakumar’s blistering innings saw him reach his half-century in just 30 balls, following it up with another electrifying 50 off a mere 21 balls. The match concluded in fitting fashion as Suryakumar hammered T Natarajan for a six in the 18th over, sealing victory for MI with 16 balls to spare. It was an innings to remember, as Suryakumar emerged as the star with a scintillating century that became the highlight of a remarkable win for the Mumbai Indians.