The atmosphere at Wankhede Stadium was electric as the Mumbai Indians (MI) thrilled their fans with a remarkable seven-wicket victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 55 of the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. This resounding win marks MI’s fourth triumph of the season, largely driven by a dazzling century from Suryakumar Yadav and crucial support from Tilak Varma during the run-chase.
In keeping with the general trend of the TATA IPL 2024, the Mumbai Indians won the toss and opted to bowl against a formidable SRH batting lineup. MI’s captain inducted Anshul Kamboj, a promising right-arm medium pacer, into the squad, while SRH reintroduced the seasoned Mayank Agarwal to bolster their batting strength.
The SRH innings commenced with Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma launching an aggressive attack during the powerplay, regularly finding the boundaries. The fifth over, bowled by the debutant Kamboj, was dramatic and action-packed. Head, looking to dominate, struck a six off the second ball but was subsequently bowled on the next delivery, only to be saved by a no-ball call. Capitalizing on the reprieve, Head hit a four off the subsequent free-hit, followed by another four. However, their partnership was broken at the end of the powerplay with Jasprit Bumrah claiming Abhishek’s wicket for 11 off 16 balls, caught behind.
The MI bowlers kept their grip on the match, regularly breaking partnerships. The eighth over saw Mayank Agarwal falling victim to Kamboj, bowled out by the debutant, which became a recurring issue for SRH. Despite a solid opening partnership of 56, no other partnerships from the SRH side managed to cross 50 runs. Numerous batters got off to promising starts but failed to consolidate their innings into significant scores. The turning point came when Kamboj dismissed Head, who was only two runs short of his half-century, in the 12th over. SRH found themselves in a tough spot at 136 for eight by the 17th over, prompting them to bring in Sanvir Singh as an impact player.
Pat Cummins played a crucial role towards the end of SRH’s innings, displaying an aggressive batting style that enabled SRH to surpass the 170-run mark. Cummins scored a rapid 35 off just 17 balls, featuring two sixes and two fours, guiding SRH to a total of 173. The final partnership, adding 37 runs for the last wicket, was vital, giving SRH’s bowlers something to defend. This also provided the team with some optimism, considering the venue’s history where similar scores had been defended.
. Hardik Pandya, MI’s captain, was one of the standout bowlers with figures of three for 31, and Piyush Chawla also contributed significantly with three for 33.
MI’s run-chase began on a positive note, with openers Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma racing to 26 inside two overs. However, SRH quickly clawed back, dismissing Ishan Kishan as he edged to slip off Marco Jansen’s bowling. Rohit was caught behind in the fourth over after top-edging one, and Naman Dhir too was dismissed early, edging to first slip off Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the fifth over. At a precarious 31 for three in the fifth over, MI seemed to be on the back foot.
However, Suryakumar Yadav had other plans. Demonstrating a masterclass of aggressive yet calculated T20 batting, Suryakumar took control of the situation. His effort to revive MI’s innings began with a majestic drive for four off Bhuvneshwar. Tilak Varma provided Suryakumar with solid support, and the duo systematically dismantled the SRH bowling attack. By the end of the powerplay, MI had reached 52 for three.
Suryakumar was particularly aggressive against Marco Jansen, scoring 22 runs off the seventh over, which included two towering sixes and two brilliant fours. SRH bowlers struggled to contain him as Suryakumar and Tilak Varma kept the scoreboard ticking. This exemplary batting saw Suryakumar not just anchoring the innings but also accelerating at crucial junctures, ensuring there was no way back for SRH. Tilak’s steady presence allowed Suryakumar to fully express his batting prowess.
It took Suryakumar just 30 balls to reach his half-century, from where he launched an all-out assault, taking only another 21 balls to climb into the triple figures. The match saw its climax in the 18th over when Suryakumar smashed T Natarajan for a six to seal the victory for MI, completing his century and securing the triumphant win with 16 balls to spare.
The victory was a testament to Suryakumar Yadav’s extraordinary innings, as he emerged as the star of the match with his scintillating century, leading MI to a memorable victory. The win not only bolstered MI’s standings in the tournament but also invigorated their supporters, showcasing their capability to chase challenging targets successfully.