IPL 2024, PBKS vs MI, Key Takeaways: Ashutosh Sharma leads Punjab's fightback but Mumbai Indians take home 2 crucial points. Top takeaways for MI and PBKS from the game.
Brief Scores: MI - 192/7 (Surya Kumar Yadav 78, Rohit Sharma 36, Harshal Patel 3/31) beat PBKS - 183 ( Ashutosh Sharma 61, Shashank Singh 41, Jasprit Bumrah 3/21) by 9 runs.
Player of the Match : Jasprit Bumrah (3/21)
After having experienced mixed results this season, Mumbai Indians (MI) beat Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a thriller for the third victory of the season. This triumph will boost the confidence of the entire MI camp moving ahead in the crucial phase of the IPL 2024.
PBKS won the toss and elected to bowl first. MI started the innings with a few quick shots. However, Kagiso Rabada striked with his first ball to get rid of Ishan Kishan. Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav kept Mumbai going at a decent clip, reaching 77/1 at the end of 9 overs. Surya smashed his second half-century of the season as Mumbai posted 192/7.
In the second innings, Jasprit Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee struck twice each inside the powerplay to leave the hosts reeling in their run chase. The PBKS batters didn’t look comfortable at any moment while facing the MI bowlers, especially Bumrah and Coetzee. Except for Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma, all the Punjab batters failed miserably. Ashutosh kept fighting but couldn’t lead his team to victory. Ultimately, Punjab ended on the losing side, facing their fifth loss of the season.
Key Takeaways from PBKS vs MI, Match 33, IPL 2024 - Winning team (MI)
Suryakumar Yadav stabilizes the top order while Hardik slows things down
Suryakumar Yadav has not featured in the first three matches for MI this season. His return wasn't a sweet one as he has been dismissed for a duck twice now. However, against Punjab, he showcased his resilience on a challenging wicket, propelling Mumbai to a strong total. He overcame a sluggish start to compile 78 runs off 53 deliveries.
SKY’s consistent performances have brought stability to the team's batting lineup. He has been a game-changer at the top order for Mumbai. His ability to stabilize the innings and build crucial partnerships has restored reliability in MI's batting.
While Hardik Pandya's presence in the middle order has been pivotal, he continues to slow things down in the middle overs. There have been instances when he has struggled to make an impact, especially in pressure situations. Nevertheless, his ability to accelerate the run rate and provide quick runs towards the end of the innings cannot be overlooked. Recently, his inconsistency with the bat has been a major hurdle for the team, leading to underwhelming performances in crucial matches.
Key Takeaways from PBKS vs MI, Match 33, IPL 2024 - Losing team (PBKS)
Harshal Patel’s death bowling deny MI 200+ total
In a captivating display of bowling prowess, Harshal Patel's exceptional performance left the visitors reeling, falling 15-20 runs short. He was the pick of the bowlers for Punjab as he claimed a crucial three-wicket haul. Patel's performance created pivotal moments in the match where he outsmarted MI batters, putting them under pressure.
Crucial wickets of key Mumbai players and brilliant death over bowling tilted the balance in Punjab’s favour for a while, ultimately pulling MI short of the 200-run mark. The former RCB pacer was excellent at the death, claiming all his wickets during this phase. He conceded only seven runs in the final over.
Ashutosh Sharma causes mayhem
Ashutosh Sharma's exceptional performance caused mayhem for the Indians. Ashutosh, a rising star in the world of cricket, has captured the attention of fans and critics alike with his recent performances. He hit his maiden IPL fifty in a sensational counter-attacking knock. Sharma's brilliance helped PBKS roar back into the chase despite being seven wickets down. He almost pulled the game from Mumbai’s bag.
Statistical Highlights from PBKS vs MI, IPL 2024
Rohit Sharma became the second player after MS Dhoni to feature in the 250th IPL match.
Harshal Patel has dismissed Hardik Pandya three times in T20s.
Rohit Sharma now has the most sixes for the Mumbai Indians in IPL.
For the second time, Kagiso Rabada dismissed Ishan Kishan in the IPL.
Ashutosh Sharma hit his maiden IPL fifty.
Points table scenario & what’s next
With the dramatic victory, MI are back to the winning ways after losing their last game. They have now moved to the seventh position on the IPL 2024 points table. On the other hand, PBKS are still in the ninth spot.
Next up, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will lock horns with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at their home ground, Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on April 19.
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