The Mumbai Indians (MI) delivered a dominant performance at their home ground, Wankhede Stadium, clinching a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). In what marked MI’s fourth win of the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, the triumph was highlighted by a sparkling century from Suryakumar Yadav, with substantial support from Tilak Varma during the crucial run-chase. This solid display further cemented MI’s standing in this year’s fiercely competitive tournament.
As has been the prevailing trend in the TATA IPL 2024, MI’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss seemed to be a tactical move against the formidable SRH batting line-up. MI introduced an exciting young talent, right-arm medium pacer Anshul Kamboj, in their playing eleven, while SRH bolstered their squad by reintroducing experienced batsman Mayank Agarwal.
The SRH innings kicked off with an aggressive approach, as openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma began to accumulate runs rapidly during the powerplay. The drama unfolded in the fifth over when Kamboj entered the attack. Head, looking in ominous form, struck a six off the second ball. However, a no-ball call gave him a reprieve after Kamboj appeared to have bowled him. Taking full advantage, Head smashed the subsequent delivery, a free-hit, for a four and followed it up with another boundary.
Just as the powerplay drew to a close, Jasprit Bumrah provided MI with their first breakthrough, dismissing Abhishek Sharma for a laborious 11 off 16 balls, caught behind. The eighth over saw newcomer Kamboj claim another vital wicket, this time bowling Mayank Agarwal. This was a significant blow for SRH, who struggled to build lasting partnerships throughout their innings. Their highest stand was an opening partnership of 56, with no subsequent collaborations surpassing the 50-run mark.
Batsmen after batsmen got promising starts but failed to convert those into substantial scores. When Head was removed for a well-made 48 in the 12th over, MI had struck a crucial blow. At one point, SRH found themselves precariously placed at 136 for eight in the 17th over, prompting them to bring in Sanvir Singh as the impact player.
In the closing phases of their innings, Pat Cummins’ explosive batting provided SRH with a crucial boost. Cummins hammered 35 off just 17 deliveries, including two sixes and two fours, propelling SRH to a competitive total of 173.
. The final 37-run partnership for the last wicket was pivotal, giving SRH a fighting chance. This was reminiscent of a previous instance when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defended a similar score against MI at the same venue. Notably, MI’s bowling was led by their captain Hardik Pandya, who picked up three wickets for 31 runs, and veteran spinner Piyush Chawla, who also claimed three wickets, albeit for 33 runs.
In response, MI’s run-chase got off to a blistering start, with openers Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma racing to 26 runs within the first two overs. However, their progress was halted by SRH’s bowlers. Ishan fell to Marco Jansen, edging to slip, followed by Rohit who top-edged one into the wicketkeeper’s gloves in the fourth over. The wickets kept tumbling as Naman Dhir was caught at first slip off Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s bowling in the fifth over, leaving MI in a precarious position at 31 for three.
Suryakumar Yadav then took charge, launching a counter-offensive that illustrated his attacking prowess. He began with a graceful drive for four off Bhuvneshwar Kumar early in his innings, setting the tone for MI’s recovery. Tilak Varma soon joined the party, launching a ferocious assault on Pat Cummins in the sixth over. By the end of the powerplay, MI had managed to reach 52 for three.
As the field restrictions eased, Suryakumar kept his aggressive approach intact, hammering Marco Jansen for 22 runs in the seventh over, which included two sixes and two fours. From that point onwards, it was Suryakumar’s show as he seamlessly dominated the SRH bowling attack. Tilak played a crucial supporting role, allowing Suryakumar to express himself freely.
Suryakumar reached his fifty off just 30 balls and continued to toy with the SRH bowlers, racing to his second fifty in just 21 deliveries. His innings was a masterclass in T20 batting, showcasing impeccable timing and placement. The victory was sealed emphatically when he struck T Natarajan for a six in the 18th over, not only bringing up his century but also securing the win with 16 balls to spare.
MI’s commanding win, orchestrated by Suryakumar’s unbeaten century, was witnessed by an ecstatic home crowd, further solidifying their hopes for a place in the playoffs.