Mumbai Indians (MI) crushed Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by nine wickets at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav led the chase with explosive half-centuries. This IPL match was completely one-sided.
Although the home crowd missed a big show from MS Dhoni, Rohit and Suryakumar entertained with their clean hitting. MI chased down 177 runs in just 15.4 overs.
As a result, MI climbed to sixth place with four wins in eight matches. Meanwhile, CSK remained at the bottom with just two wins in eight games.
CSK’s Batting: Jadeja and Dube Stand Out
Earlier, MI chose to bowl first. CSK posted 176/5, thanks to fifties from Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja. Young Ayush Mhatre also impressed with a quick cameo.
Initially, Rachin Ravindra and Shaik Rasheed started cautiously. MI’s bowlers and fielders kept them quiet. Rasheed finally broke the silence with a pull shot for four.
Soon after, Ashwani Kumar dismissed Rachin for 5 off 9 balls. He edged to the keeper.
Then, debutant Ayush Mhatre walked in and made an instant impact. He struck a four off his second ball and followed it up with a six over square leg. The home crowd loved his fearless batting.
By the end of the powerplay, CSK were 48/1. Even after that, Mhatre kept attacking. He hit two more boundaries off Deepak Chahar.
However, Chahar had the last laugh. He bowled a short ball, and Mhatre mistimed the pull. Mitchell Santner took the catch. Mhatre scored a brisk 32 off just 15 balls.
Dube and Jadeja Rebuild
After Mhatre’s dismissal, CSK slowed down. Santner removed Rasheed for 19 off 20 balls.
Then, Dube and Jadeja added 79 runs together. In the 16th over, Dube hit two sixes off Ashwani and completed his half-century. Jadeja also joined in with a massive six.
However, Dube got out in the next over. He mistimed a shot off Bumrah and was caught by Will Jacks for 50 off 32 balls.
In the penultimate over, Bumrah removed MS Dhoni. Jamie Overton added a boundary before Jadeja finished strong. CSK scored 16 runs in the final over and ended at 176/5.
MI Start Strong in the Chase
Right from the start, MI dominated. Ryan Rickelton smashed two boundaries off Khaleel Ahmed in the opening over. Then, Rohit Sharma joined in during the third over, hitting two fours and a six off Khaleel.
Moreover, Jamie Overton’s fifth over turned costly. He bowled three wides and gave up two sixes—one each to Rohit and Rickelton. MI reached 50 in just 4.5 overs.
By the end of the powerplay, MI had raced to 62/0. Rohit remained unbeaten on 32, while Rickelton had 24.
Suryakumar Joins the Party
Soon after, Ayush Mhatre took a smart catch off Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling to dismiss Rickelton. He scored 24 off 19 balls with three fours and a six. MI stood at 63/1 after 6.4 overs.
Then came Suryakumar Yadav. Without wasting time, he attacked Jadeja. At the 10-over mark, MI had reached 93/1. Rohit was on 46, and Suryakumar had 17.
They crossed the 100-run mark in the next over. Rohit brought up his first fifty of the season in just 33 balls. He hit two fours and four sixes.
Meanwhile, Suryakumar kept the pressure on. He smashed three consecutive boundaries off Noor Ahmad in the 13th over. At that point, MI needed only 50 runs from 42 balls.
MI Race to Victory
After that, MI shifted gears. Pathirana and Noor conceded 14 and 16 runs in back-to-back overs. Suryakumar was especially aggressive against Noor, hitting two fours and a six. He reached his second fifty of the season in just 26 balls.
With only 20 runs needed from the final 30 balls, MI were firmly in control. Rohit stood at 69, and Suryakumar was on 56.
Finally, Suryakumar sealed the win in style. He hit two consecutive sixes. MI finished the match at 177/1 in 15.4 overs. Rohit stayed unbeaten on 76 from 45 balls, with four fours and six sixes. Suryakumar remained not out on 68 from 30 balls, hitting six fours and five sixes.
Match Summary
CSK: 176/5 in 20 overs (Ravindra Jadeja 53*, Shivam Dube 50, Jasprit Bumrah 2/25)
MI: 177/1 in 15.4 overs (Rohit Sharma 76*, Suryakumar Yadav 68*, Ravindra Jadeja 1/28)
