 "Trent Boult played a destructive role in helping RR restrict MI to 125/9 on Monday. PTI")
Mumbai Indians (MI) succumbed to their third consecutive loss in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season following a six-wicket defeat to Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday. This was MI’s first home game of the season, and while it was an opportunity for Hardik Pandya and Co to impress, Rajasthan Royals bowlers led by Trent Boult and Yuzvendra Chahal proved to be too strong for the five-time champions.
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The defeat meant MI remained winless this season, and as a result, they lie rock-bottom of the points table.
We now look at some top moments from the MI-RR contest in the Maximum City:
Trent Boult’s brilliant first over
Rajasthan Royals had won the toss and opted to field first. That turned out to be the correct decision as pacer Trent Boult, turning up against his former side, would haunt MI with a double strike in the first over of the match.
Boult began with three dot balls before Ishan Kishan collected a single. However, Rohit Sharma, in the very first ball, misjudged a length ball from Boult and took the outside edge en route to the safe hands of wicketkeeper Sanju Samson.
The very next ball, Boult struck Naman Dhir lbw. Dhir went for the review but to no avail, since HawkEye showed that the ball was clipping leg stump. MI were 1/2 after just one over.
Hardik-Tilak resistance
MI were further restricted to 20/4 following the wickets of Ishan Kishan and Dewald Brevis. The five-time champions were staring at an embarrassing low total but then came skipper Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma to the rescue.
The two put on 56 runs for the fifth wicket off 36 deliveries. Hardik, who was earlier booed by the crowd at the toss, hit Nandre Burger for three boundaries in the sixth over. Boundaries then dried up for Hardik, but still managed to hit 24 of his 34 runs in the form of boundaries, before being caught by long-on fielder in the 10th over.
Tilak Varma, too, played an entertaining knock of 32 off 29 deliveries, but there was bound to be pressure. Tilak fell to the trap of Yuzvendra Chahal’s googly that went towards Ashwin at short third after the ball took the edge of Tilak’s bat.
RR restrict MI
Once Tilak was dismissed, MI were 95/7 and it was just a matter of time before the pendulum swung in the visitors’ favour again. Not that it was never out of their favour, but Hardik and Tilak had put up a fightback of sorts and now that both were back in the hut, RR could relax once again.
Chahal struck again in the 17th over to remove Gerald Coetzee in the 17th over, and just a couple of overs later, Nandre Burger got rid of Tim David, whose pull fell flat towards Trent Boult at long leg. MI were restricted to 125/9.
Maphaka has something to smile finally, Madhwal shines
Remember Kwena Maphaka? The South African youngster had been punished against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) after enduring figures of 0/66 from four overs. This time, however, the teenager finally got his first wicket. It was the wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal (10), who misread the full-length ball and ended up lofting towards Tim David at cover.
Akash Madhwal, one of the finds of the 2023 season, shone for the first time this season with figures of 3/20. Madhwal removed Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson in a space of two overs, but by the time he had got R Ashwin in the 13th over, it was a bit late as RR slowly picked up momentum yet again with Riyan Parag in the middle.
Riyan Parag does it, yet again
Riyan Paag has had his fair share of troubles at RR in the past, but it turns out as if this is going to be his year. After an unbeaten 84 against Delhi Capitals (DC), Parag scored 54 not out against MI to see off the game.
Parag came into bat at number four following Sanju Samson’s dismissal, and it was a composed knock under pressure from the 22-year-old, who took 38 deliveries to get to his fifty.
Parag was balanced with his approach but accelerated towards the end, punishing Piyush Chawla for a six in the 15th and two sixes, and a four off Coetzee in the next over to finish things up.
For MI, amid a tough reception for Hardik Pandya, it was another night to forget.