April 19
MI Clinches Thrilling Victory Over PBKS
Trust the Punjab Kings to produce thrillers this season, even if they often end up on the losing side. A high-scoring match unfolded in Mullanpur, where the Mumbai Indians held their nerve to defeat the Punjab Kings by nine runs. The match was a roller-coaster ride with dramatic momentum shifts. Suryakumar Yadav’s fifty, along with contributions from Rohit Sharma and Tilak Varma, helped MI set a challenging total on a good batting surface. In response, Jasprit Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee reduced PBKS to 14/4, seemingly ending the game early. However, Punjab fought back fiercely. Shashank Singh’s quick innings provided impetus, followed by Ashutosh Sharma’s aggressive batting that almost led PBKS to victory. It took another exceptional spell from Bumrah, supported by Coetzee, to secure the win for MI.
Ashutosh Sharma – the fearless cricketer who refuses to back down
Ashutosh Sharma has repeatedly found himself walking out to bat in challenging situations for PBKS this season. However, his response has been nothing short of aggressive, taking on the bowlers with his crisp ball-striking. His wide range of shots, including powerful pick-up pulls, mini-helicopter strokes, and deft reverse ramps and cuts, left the Mumbai Indians struggling to contain him. The standout moment was a six off Jasprit Bumrah with a sweep shot. This innings once again showcased Ashutosh’s power-hitting abilities, making him a player to watch out for.
The lucky star : Jasprit Bumrah
The Mumbai Indians must be thanking their lucky stars for having Jasprit Bumrah on their side. While he has been their go-to bowler for nearly a decade, his impact this season has been particularly remarkable. At the halfway mark of the tournament, Bumrah leads the wicket charts and maintains a stunning economy rate of 5.96, a feat considering the high-scoring nature of matches this season. It almost feels like he’s playing by a different set of rules! Once again, it was a Bumrah spell that proved crucial in saving MI from a tough situation against PBKS. His clever slower ball to dismiss Shashank Singh and an exceptional 17th over that conceded just three runs were invaluable in the context of the game.
Rohit Sharma seems unimpressed with the ‘Impact Player rule’
In just the second season of the Impact Player rule, it has garnered mixed feedback from pundits, former cricketers, and fans worldwide. While some have welcomed the innovation as a pleasant surprise, others feel that it detracts from the authenticity of the game by essentially making it a 12 vs. 12 match. India’s white-ball captain, Rohit Sharma, appears to fall into the latter category, as he expressed his sentiments on the Club Prairie Fire Podcast with Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan.
