IPL 2022: RR vs MI Review – Mumbai open their account

Mumbai Indians snapped an eight-match losing streak to finally open their account in the IPL 2022, as they handed a five-wicket defeat to Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan Royals at the DY Patil Stadium.

The Royals posted a middling total of 158/6 on a surface that was not too conducive for shot-making. While quite a few of Royals’ batters got themselves a start, it was only Jos Buttler (67 off 50) who managed to convert it into a score of substance, and even he was not at his usual fluent best, as he struck below 130. RR could have been restricted to even fewer had it not been for R Ashwin’s late flourish (9-ball 21) as Shimron Hetmyer played an uncharacteristic hand of 6* off 14.

In the chase, MI lost their skipper Rohit Sharma early and cheaply, and even as Ishan Kishan (26 off 18) showed some intent during his stay in the middle, he failed to build on it. It was thanks to Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma’s crucial stand before Tim David’s (unbeaten 20 off 9) finishing touches that Mumbai finally broke their barren run and salvaged some pride.

Top performers of the match

Jos Buttler

After a rare failure in the previous game, Buttler got back into his groove with a half-century. On a slightly two-paced track where batting was not the easiest, he made a cautious start before accelerating heavily at the expense of young spinner Hrithik Shokeen, whom he slammed for four consecutive sixes. However, the bowler had the last laugh as he cut him short at 67 off 50. He struck five fours and four sixes.

Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav struck a dominating half-century, hitting five fours and two sixes in his calculated knock that kept Mumbai Indians on the track in a tricky chase. Yadav found an able partner in Tilak Varma, who scored a crucial 35 off 30 of his own, in an 81-run third-wicket stand.

What next for the two teams?

Rajasthan Royals will face Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on May 2, while Mumbai Indians will be up against Gujarat Titans at the Brabourne Stadium on May 6.