CSK’s batting as soon as once more effectively beneath par because the Rohit-SKY present powers MI to an enormous win in conflict of 5-time champions
MS Dhoni minced no phrases within the post-match interview as Chennai Tremendous Kings misplaced their sixth match of the season out of eight to remain rooted on the backside of the desk. “We had been fairly beneath par. We knew dew would come within the second half, we must always have began our slog earlier,” the CSK skipper mentioned. On the midway stage, CSK managed to muster up 176/5 on the board however it at all times felt brief, particularly given the shortage of intent within the center overs. Because it turned out, Mumbai Indians wanted simply 15.4 overs to overtake the goal as Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav placed on a wide ranging present of stroke making in an unbeaten 114-run partnership.
Rohit comes good
That Suryakumar Yadav smashed 30-ball 68, placing his hand as much as bat at his favoured No 3 place in opposition to a spin-heavy CSK assault, at a strike fee of 226.66 would take up extra column inches on one other day. However on Sunday, the headline act belonged to Rohit. It wasn’t probably the most fluent of innings from their former captain, thoughts you. On one other day, he might have been out within the late 20s once more throughout the powerplay as he mistimed a lofted shot off Jamie Overton. On one other, he might have been out shortly after reaching the half century, making an attempt to go over additional cowl however shedding his form however the ball fell evaded the fielder. On one other day he might have been out on 58, when he tried a swat on the leg facet and the ball caught the vanguard and flew within the actual other way of the place it was meant to, however all Khaleel Ahmed might do at third man was push the ball in whereas the toe touched the boundary cushion and it turned out to be a six.
Rohit Sharma lit up MI’s chase with scintillating 76*(45) 💙
🔽 Watch his knock | #TATAIPL | #MIvCSK | @ImRo45
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 20, 2025
However past all that, Rohit’s unbeaten innings of 76 off 45 balls was a sight for sore MI followers’ eyes. Two early sixes over the leg facet – his favourite pick-up shot – had been indicators that he was seeing the ball effectively, however the clear lower indication that he had his contact was within the third over when he carressed the ball between cowl and mid-off when Khaleel erred on the fuller facet. Michael Clarke, on air, noticed then that Rohit ‘simply seems totally different tonight. He isn’t making an attempt to overhit the ball, he’s nonetheless on the level of contact.’ It’s one thing that Rohit confirmed later, that he was trying to maintain his form as a lot as attainable and prolong his arms when the ball was in his arc. He despatched a slot ball from Overton flying over the sq. leg fence as his blistering begin powered MI to 62/0 within the powerplay and practically broke the chase there – in sharp distinction to CSK’s beginning troubles. And he didn’t cease there, Rohit and Suryakumar mixed then to interrupt CSK’s spin-attack and made positive there could be no wobbles within the chase as MI cruised dwelling with loads of gasoline left within the tank.
“We don’t have to fret about Rohit’s kind, we knew that when he comes good, it will likely be like this, and as soon as that occurs, he’ll take the sport away,” captain Hardik Pandya mentioned.
Class aside Surya Kumar Yadav produces high-flying 68*(30) 🫡🔥
🔽 Watch | #TATAIPL | #MIvCSK | @surya_14kumar
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 20, 2025
Innings of suits and begins
It was a real Wankhede pitch, with even flip and bounce and only a trace of spin. However the CSK batters appeared shot-shy. Within the first couple of overs, they middled plenty of strokes, solely to search out the fielders. It was solely after debutant Ayush Mhatre got here out to bat, after Rachin Ravindra edged Ashwani Kumar behind, that the innings actually acquired some impetus.
He confirmed why he has been hailed as a prospect in home cricket. Full balls had been pushed and flicked handsomely, some into the group, and when the bowlers examined the center of the pitch, the pull shot got here out to good impact too. He began with a straight-driven boundary off Ashwani, and adopted it up with a wristy flick, then an imperious pull, each photographs ending among the many spectators. The powerplay, which initially appeared to be going to waste for CSK, ended up being at a half-decent 48/1, all due to Mhatre.
WATCH – Shivam Dube breathes life into CSK innings with highly effective 50(32) 🔽🎥#TATAIPL | #MIvCSK
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However such is the timidity of the CSK batting line-up that, after Mhatre’s dismissal, the batting once more went right into a shell. Shaik Rasheed, opening the batting, managed a 20-ball 19, after which Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube took their very own time earlier than stepping on the gasoline. The run fee dropped from 8.60 after 5 overs to six.63 after 11, as the primary 30 runs of their partnership took 32 balls. Dube and Jadeja did handle to attain their half centuries ultimately however the time they took to get going proved expensive ultimately.
Santner shines
It’s not straightforward for an abroad spinner to return and make an influence within the IPL. Not many have. However Mitchell Santner has the talent and quiet confidence to carry his personal in opposition to any batter. The Wankhede’s measurement would give any spinner bouts of tension, particularly one who doesn’t have any thriller variations up his sleeve. However what the Kiwi left-arm spinner has is unerring accuracy, management over line and size, and skill to vary his tempo in line with how he reads the batsmen.
Santner’s three overs on Sunday conceded simply 14 runs, an achievement in itself, however the supply he produced to dismiss Rasheed could be definitely worth the admission cash. He slowed the ball right down to 77.4 kmph, gave it a beneficiant quantity of air exterior off-stump, inviting the batsman to return onto the entrance foot. The following dip and switch resulted within the right-hander shedding his steadiness as he tried to push the ball into the offside. A stumping was the deserved reward for a superb piece of talent.