Mumbai Indians. (Photo Source: Twitter)
The 42nd Match of IPL 2023 saw another thrilling contest as Mumbai Indians stole a victory off the last over to add more weight to the already special clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The match had already garnered special attention by virtue of being the 1000th match in the history of IPL and was made all the more special by MI by accomplishing the highest-ever successful run chase at Wankhede in an IPL match.
Batting first after winning the toss, much of the Rajasthan Royals batting unit had an off day with the bat and would have really found themselves in deep waters, had it not been for the talented opener, Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jaiswal recorded his maiden IPL century to guide RR to post a humongous total of 212 in the first innings. Jaiswal, however, had to end on the losing side as MI successfully chased the target down with three balls to spare, courtesy of Suryakumar Yadav and Tim David’s brilliance.
Let’s look at the Talking Points from today’s game –
Yashasvi Jaiswal brings up maiden IPL century to stand tall amid RR’s batting nemesis
In the 1000th IPL game, the visiting team Rajasthan Royals managed to post as many as 212 runs on the board where only four players managed to score over 10 runs with three of them returning scores of 18, 14 and 11. Where eight players scored 63 runs combined, it was the 21-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal who alone scored 124 runs to steer RR’s innings.
In the process, Jaiswal also brought up his maiden IPL century as he played throughout 118 balls of the innings out of which, he faced 62. Jaiswal made his intentions clear right from the word go and smashed 16 fours and eight sixes during his stay on the crease to notch up the humongous score. Jaiswal stood tall as the lone warrior for RR, failing to garner support from anyone else. Jaiswal was eventually dismissed on the fourth ball of the final over on a full toss by Arshad Khan.
Suryakumar Yadav’s half-century provides stability to MI’s chase
After the openers failed to make it big for MI on yet another occasion, explosive middle-order batter Suryakumar Yadav once again rose to the occasion and checked Mumbai’s downfall with a blistering half-century, thus stabilising what eventually turned out to be a record chase for Mumbai. Yadav scored 55 runs off 29 balls before being sent back by Trent Boult in the 16th over, courtesy of a brilliant diving effort by Sandeep Sharma. In the course of the innings, Yadav hit eight fours and two sixes to speed up Mumbai’s chase.
Tim David’s unconquered heroics gives way to a stellar run chase for MI
Tim David joined Tilak Varma in the middle at a point where the chase looked way beyond MI’s reach after the fall of Suryakumar Yadav which had the home team reeling at 152/4 with two balls of the 16th over remaining. MI required 61 runs off 26 balls at that point and from there, it turned into a Tim David show as the explosive Australian scored 45 of those 61 runs in just 14 balls to help MI cruise to a much-needed victory.
David hit two fours and as many as five sixes in the course of his innings. Out of the five, three sixes came off Jason Holder’s last over off which, MI needed 17 to win.
Losing Captain, Sanju Samson said –
In the time-out the way Surya was going, we were talking about fighting it out. David did something very special. It was kind of getting wet. It was not too wet and we were taking our time to wipe the ball. We had the experience of bowling in these conditions. The way we have been playing either we have won or we have come close. Results do come here and there. We will keep focusing on the process. We will keep focus on the controllables. We will keep fighting hard. I was expecting something special from Jaiswal. He scored 70-odd in the last game we always thought it (hundred) is round the corner.
Winning Captain, Rohit Sharma said –
Very pleasing to see how we chased this. Last game here also we came close to a similar target. We have the ability but need to back ourselves. (On David being next Pollard) Big shoes to fill, Polly for so many years won us so many championships. But Tim has so much ability and power. In the back end, having that power keeps the bowler thinking. (On team changes) It is difficult as a captain, but unfortunately you have to play the conditions and the opposition. We want to be flexible as a team and guys need to be ready for it. Jofra has had a massive injury and didn’t play for a long, long time. Bowlers need practice and rhythm, and we saw good pace from him today. SKY obviously we knew a knock like today was round the corner. (On Jaiswal) I watched him last year, this year he has taken his game to a new level. I asked him where all that power is coming from, he says he is spending time at the gym, he’s timing them really well. Good for him, good for Indian cricket and good for RR as well.
Player of the Match, Yashasvi Jaiswal said –
When I scored the century, I didn’t know that ball had gone to the boundary. So when that happened, I just thanked God for the opportunity, I always had this dream, wanted to work on the process and work hard. Results will follow. I keep myself mentally strong and work on my fitness and diet. Organised my life well outside of cricket. I enjoy playing the straight drive and cover drive, that gives me a lot of confidence. Thank you so much, everyone for the support!!