April 19
MI defeats PBKS in a thrilling finale
This season, the Punjab Kings will undoubtedly offer thrillers. even if they ultimately find themselves on the wrong side of it. In a high-scoring match that saw dramatic momentum swings in both directions before Mumbai pulled out the victory, the Mumbai Indians held their composure to defeat the Punjab Kings by nine runs in Mullanpur. With some good batting from Tilak Varma and Rohit Sharma, along with Suryakumar’s fifty, MI had reached a formidable total. Then, with PBKS reeling at 14/4 in the chase, Jasprit Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee took over. Even though it appeared to be over early on, Punjab refused to back down. Not that simple. Before his partner-in-crime Ashuthosh Sharma launched a spectacular attack that almost won the game for PBKS, Shashank Singh’s cameo gave them the advantage in the comeback attempt. For MI to win the match, they needed assistance from Coetzee and yet another amazing display by Bumrah.
Ashutosh Sharma: the fearless individual who never gives up
This season, he has left several matches when PBKS was under a lot of strain, most of the time. However, Ashutosh Sharma has responded angrily, challenging the bowlers with his accurate ball hitting. MI was barely able to survive after his barrage of shots, which included tremendous pick-up pulls, mini-helicopter strokes, skillful reverse ramps, and cuts. The most notable shot against Jasprit Bumrah was a sweep for six. Another inning demonstrated Ashutosh’s skill, as he never stops turning heads with his powerful hitting.
The code of cheat Bumrah
The Mumbai Indians will be expressing gratitude to their lucky stars for having Jasprit Bumrah. Although the speedster has been their go-to bowler for almost ten years, his effect this season has beyond all expectations. At a time when teams are routinely breaking 250, Bumrah leads the wicket statistics halfway through the competition and boasts an incredible economy of 5.96. He must be unlawful! MI’s blushes versus PBKS were spared by another Bumrah period. In the context of the game, a brilliant slower ball to remove Shashank Singh and an incredible 17th over that ended with only three runs were invaluable.
‘Impact Player rule’ leaves Rohit Sharma unhappy
After just two seasons, critics, former cricket players, and fans worldwide have expressed differing opinions about the Impact Player regulation. Some have welcomed the innovation and found it to be a pleasant surprise, but others believe that changing cricket to a 12 vs 12 format takes away from the game’s genuineness. Rohit Sharma, the white-ball captain of India, most definitely fits into the latter group, as he revealed when speaking with Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan on the Club Prairie Fire Podcast.
What’s being served this evening?
“The Yellove Brigade” arrives in Lucknow, where LSG and CSK are scheduled to square off in what promises to be an intense battle between two powerful teams. Despite not fully putting their game together, the reigning champions have had a strong start to the season; yet, given their patchy performance, LSG will be hoping for further momentum. For KL Rahul’s team, this home game is crucial since a loss here could end their hopes of making the playoffs. See our match preview for additional information on this competition.
