MI post 217/2 as top order fires before Surya-Hardik explode

United News of India

01-05-2025

Jaipur, May 1 (UNI) A vintage half-century from Rohit Sharma and an explosive knock by Ryan Rickelton laid the foundation before a ferocious unbeaten stand between Suryakumar Yadav and skipper Hardik Pandya propelled Mumbai Indians to a commanding 217 for 2 against Rajasthan Royals in their IPL 2025 clash at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Thursday.
Put in to bat after RR skipper Riyan Parag won the toss, the Mumbai openers put up a clinical display, adding 116 for the first wicket. Rickelton, in just his second match this season, was the aggressor early on, peppering the off-side with precision and clearing the ropes with ease. His 61 off 38 balls featured 7 fours and 3 sixes, including a muscular pull off Jofra Archer and a clean loft over mid-on off Jofra again. He brought up his fifty with a towering six over deep mid-wicket off Kumar Kartikeya.
Rohit, at the other end, was all class and composure. The former MI opener mixed elegance with innovation in his 53 off 36 balls, striking 9 boundaries. He unleashed pickup pulls, deft sweeps and lofted drives to keep the scoreboard ticking. A paddled four off Kartikeya and a sliced boundary off Theekshana Maheesh typified his ability to find gaps at will. Their 100-run stand came up in the 11th over, but both fell in quick succession — Rickelton bowled by Theekshana and Rohit holing out to Yashasvi Jaiswal off Parag.
At 123/2 in 12.4 overs, Rajasthan had a glimmer of hope. But that was swiftly extinguished by the arrival of Suryakumar and Hardik, who turned the final phase into a boundary carnival. The duo hammered an unbeaten 94 off just 42 balls, with both batsmen finishing on identical scores of 48 not out off 23 balls each.
Suryakumar, with his trademark improvisation, lit up the evening. He swept Theekshana for six over fine leg, upper-cut Fazalhaq Farooqi over third man, and even fell to the ground while lap-scooping Archer to the fence. His 4 fours and 3 sixes came at a breathtaking strike rate of 208.70.
Hardik matched him stroke for stroke. The MI captain tore into Farooqi with 21 runs in the 18th over, smashing a six over long-off and carving two more fours through the off-side. He followed it up with a sliced loft over long-off and a clever flick behind square. One fierce drive even struck Theekshana's finger before racing to the boundary, underlining Hardik's brute force.
Akash Madhwal, despite bowling three tidy overs, was taken for a six off the final ball by Suryakumar as Mumbai finished with a flourish.
Rajasthan bowling attack lacked penetration, with only Theekshana (4-0-47-1) and part-timer Parag (2-0-12-1) among the wickets. Farooqi's figures of 4-0-54-0 underlined MI's dominance in the death overs.
Mumbai scored 65 in the powerplay and 94 in the final 7 overs, highlighting their clinical acceleration through the innings. With 217 on the board, they have given themselves the best chance to pick up crucial points in the race to the playoffs. UNI BDN SSP