In the 38th match of the IPL season, the Rajasthan Royals faced off against the Mumbai Indians (RR vs MI) at the iconic Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
The clash was anticipated to be a thrilling encounter, and it did not disappoint.
Let check out RR vs MI head to head in the IPL.
Venue: Sawai Mansingh Stadium
28 matches played between the RR vs MI at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur. Rajasthan Royals has won 13 matches while Mumbai Indians has won 15 matches.
Toss Moment
After winning the toss, MI chose to bat, setting the stage for an explosive first innings.
“We are going to bat first. It just looks like a good wicket if it slows up. We didn’t see much dew in a couple of days of practice, so just thought that batting first would be ideal. It’s a surreal feeling to play my 100th game for the franchise.
Hardik Pandya, MI Skipper
I started my journey here, and I’m very grateful for everything I’ve experienced over the years. It still surprises me sometimes, the way things have unfolded for me. I think we’ve taken a lot of positives from all four games.
While one game didn’t go our way, we’ve also learned from the wins, aiming to rectify any mistakes. We’re focused on improving with each game and looking forward to what’s ahead.We have made three changes, N. Tushara, N. Wadhera, and P. Chawla come in for A. Madhwal, R. Shepherd, and S. Gopal.”
“We had a slightly different thought about the toss, so anyway, happy to lose it; we wanted to bowl.
Sanju Samson, RR Skipper
You know the nature of this tournament; it’s a long season. When momentum is going well, you need to keep going. We had a 5-day gap, so a little reset and all about focusing on the process and leaving the result there.
We have played a lot of games here, so we know how the wicket behaves and what we have to do with batting and bowling, respecting each and every opponent. We know Mumbai really well. They come back to the tournament really hard; we have to be a bit aware of that and play our best cricket. The IPL has changed wonderfully and is going up and down. Just focus on the controllables.
First Innings
MI Batting
The decision seemed promising as Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadera showcased their batting prowess.
Varma’s 65 off 45 balls, including five 4s and three 6s, and Wadera’s 49 off 24 balls, with three 4s and four 6s, were the highlights.
Contributions from Mohammad Nabi and the rest of the batting lineup brought MI to a competitive total of 179 runs.
RR Bowling
However, RR’s bowlers had other plans. Sandeep Sharma delivered an exceptional performance, claiming 5 wickets for 18 runs.
His scalps included key players like Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav.
Trent Boult and Yuzvendra Chahal also chipped in with crucial wickets, restricting MI’s scoring potential.
Second Innings
RR Batting
The second innings saw RR’s batsmen rise to the occasion. Yashasvi Jaiswal was the star of the show, scoring an unbeaten 104 off 60 balls, his second IPL century.
Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson also made significant contributions, with RR achieving the target score of 183 runs in just 18.4 overs, losing only one wicket in the process.
MI Bowling
MI’s bowlers, led by Piyush Chawla, who took the lone wicket of Buttler, tried to defend their total but were outplayed by RR’s aggressive batting.
Man of the Match
RR’s comprehensive win by 9 wickets was a testament to their balanced team performance.
Sandeep Sharma’s five-wicket haul earned him the Man of the Match award, a well-deserved recognition for his game-changing bowling.
“It’s going well. I got fit just two days ago, so this is my first game after recovery. Feeling really good. The pitch was on the slower and lower side, so my plan was to keep bowling those variations, including cutters. It worked out really nicely tonight. If you’re bowling in the end, you have to have a big heart.
Sandeep Sharma, Rajasthan Royals
As we’ve seen in this IPL, bowlers are under pressure and batsmen are going big. So it’s important to keep believing in yourself, and execute your variations and plans. That’s what I’m trying to do, and I’m enjoying myself. As you know, two years ago, I went unsold and came in as a replacement. So, any game I get to play, I consider it a bonus and just enjoy myself.”
Magic Moments of the Match
The match was filled with memorable moments:
- Sandeep Sharma’s five-wicket haul was a masterclass in bowling.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal hit his second IPL century, a magnificent display of batting.
- Tilak Varma became the third youngest batter to reach 1000 IPL runs.
- Yuzvendra Chahal achieved the milestone of 200 wickets in the IPL.
The RR vs MI match was a showcase of cricket at its best. Rajasthan Royals’ dominant win further solidified their position as a formidable team in the tournament.
The performances of Sandeep Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal will be remembered as highlights of this IPL season.