Sydney-based businessman of Indian origin, Ram Chhabra won bids for all three Indian cricket related items that were auctioned for charity at The Chappell Foundation’s (TCF) eighth annual dinner in Sydney on Wednesday. Australian-born Chhabra, 48, bought India opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 2024-2025 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series bat (AUD 6000, approx Rs 3.25 lakh), a bat signed by members of the Indian team which participated in the same series for AUD 4500 (approx Rs 2.43 lakh) and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant’s helmet for AUD 5000 (approx Rs 2.70 lakh). In all, he spent AUD 15,500 (approx Rs 8.5 lakh). “I’m extremely thrilled,” Chhabra, who is in the travel business, told mid-day shortly after landing in Sydney from his Fiji office on Thursday night. “Getting memorabilia signed on equipment that has been used is very rare,” he said, referring to the bat of Jaiswal, who shrugged off his first innings duck in the opening Test at Perth to score a match-winning 161 for India to go one-up in the series there. Also Read: GT eye quick turnaround while SRH fight to stay alive India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal celebrates his century vs Australia at Perth in November 2024 “Having the signed helmet that has been used [by Pant] is a big deal. Getting a bat signed by a team is special but getting a signed one from a champion team is very special.” Some members of India’s 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy team were in Rohit Sharma’s side that won last year’s T20 World Cup. Chhabra is also happy that the money he spent is going for a good cause — to help homeless people across Australia. “Australia does have a serious issue about homelessness and it’s getting worse as cost of living here gets higher and higher,” he said. India’s Rishabh Pant (right) after being hit on the helmet by Mitchell Starc during the Sydney Test in 2021. Pics/Getty Images Chhabra’s purchases were made through a secret auction (electronically conveyed bids) at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where he is a regular for matches. He praised TCF’s Indian-born, Australia resident chairman, Darshak Mehta: “Darshak has been a great ambassador of TCF and he has spent a lot of time and effort over the years to build a lot of attention around the homeless issue. It gives me peace of mind that the money I have given is going for a good cause,” he said. Meanwhile, according to Mehta, the annual dinner helped raise AUD 435,000. “Another prominent businessman, Harv Kler, donated AUD 15,000 and also bought a Dennis Lillee donated pictorial frame, The Fastest and the Best for nearly AUD 5000 (Rs 2.5 lakh). Yet another, Arjun Bhalla, bought a Phil Mickelson signed Masters Golf Flag for AUD 2050,” said Mehta. “This will be distributed by TCF in grants to seven smaller charities who help ameliorate youth homelessness in Australia,” he said. Apart from pace legend Lillee, the special guest, the function was also attended by former Australian Prime Minister John Howard, former Cricket Australia’s CEOs James Sutherland and Nick Hockley as well as the current CEO Todd Greenberg. There were 10 Australian Olympians in the room apart from cricketers like Greg Chappell, his younger brother Trevor, Simon Katich, Gavin Robertson, Stuart Clark and Geoff Lawson. Five hundred and fifty cricket buffs (A TCT Annual Dinner record) attended the glittering event despite wet weather in Sydney. Who does Chhabra support in India v Australia contests? “Dil hai Hindustani. I’m always torn between my motherland and birthplace when India or Australia win, but all I want is a great series and I got that [in 2024-25], said Chhabra whose prized possessions also include a Sir Don Bradman-signed bat and ex-Australia speed great Brett Lee’s cricket boots.
02 May,2025 09:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Clayton MurzelloGujarat Titans will look to bounce back from the carnage that wonder boy Vaibhav Suryavanshi inflicted on them when they face a stuttering Sunrisers Hyderabad in an IPL match here on Friday. GT were left stunned when Rajasthan Royals’s Suryavanshi took the game by storm, smashing the fastest century of the season in just 35 balls and becoming the youngest ever to score an IPL ton at just 14 years and 32 days. The eight-wicket defeat was crushing despite GT posting a formidable 209-4. The Shubman Gill-led side is currently placed comfortably with six wins from nine matches (12 points). Also Read: IPL 2025 | "I know how hungry he is for success": Ponting on Shreyas Iyer Back at home, GT will be buoyed by their in-form top-order. Sai Sudharsan (456 runs) has been their standout performer. Gill (389 runs) and Jos Buttler (406 runs) also feature among the season’s Top-7 run-getters, forming a formidable trio at the top despite recent hiccups. On the bowling front, Prasidh Krishna has led the attack impressively, forming a strong pace trio alongside Mohammed Siraj and Ishant Sharma. In the spin department, Rashid Khan’s return to form — especially his 2-25 against Kolkata Knight Riders — is a major boost, while Washington Sundar has been a steady support option. In the reverse fixture earlier this season, GT had registered a commanding seven-wicket win over SRH in Hyderabad, built around Mohammed Siraj’s sensational spell of 4-17. A month later, they’ll be hoping for an encore. Meanwhile, Hyderabad have slipped into a precarious position and face a must-win scenario. Last year’s runners-up, known for their explosive brand of cricket, have faltered badly — managing just three wins from nine matches and dropping to ninth place on the points table. Another defeat would all but knock them out of Playoff contention. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
02 May,2025 08:04 AM IST | Ahmedabad | PTIPunjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting has praised skipper Shreyas Iyer for his match-winning knock against Chennai Super Kings in the IPL match here on Wednesday. Punjab picked up a crucial win over CSK with skipper Shreyas Iyer leading the 191-run chase. After electing to bowl, CSK rode on Sam Curran’s 47-ball 88 to post a mammoth total of 190 on a slow, turning track. Captain’s knock Iyer then played a captain’s knock, scoring 72 runs in 41 balls to set up the win for his side. Aided by opener Prabhsimran Singh, who also scored 54 runs, Punjab finished off the chase with two balls to spare to win the match by four wickets. Also Read: IPL 2025: Five potential reasons for Chennai Super Kings' early exit Ricky Ponting Ponting explained how the Indian cricketer has grown as a captain over the years. “Shreyas started this tournament in a form that I’ve never seen him in before. Today’s [Wednesday] innings is one of the reasons that I was so keen to get him here as our captain. I know how good a player he is. I know how good a leader he is. And I know how hungry he is for success. And I think he proved that to everybody tonight. It was never going to be an easy run chase. It was a great run chase from us,” the former Aussie international said. Further praising Iyer as a captain, Ponting explained how his influence inspires the rest of the dressing room. “If you look at him now, you just look at him in the eye, you can tell that he is really hungry for success. He has just got that look in his eye where he knows he is the leader of this team. He wants to bring success to this team and this franchise and the way that he is playing, does not look like he is going to let anything get in the way of that. That is a great attitude for a leader to have, because that rubs off on everybody else around him,” he said. Meanwhile, Iyer has been hit with a fine after his team was found guilty of maintaining a slow over-rate against CSK. Shreyas fined Rs 12 lakh lyer was fined R12 lakh as this was Punjab’s first over-rate offence in IPL 2025 under the tournament’s code of conduct. Punjab were also forced to bring in an extra fielder inside the circle before the start of the 19th over. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
02 May,2025 08:01 AM IST | Chennai | IANSMumbai Indians crushed Rajasthan Royals by 100 runs to end the home team’s Playoffs hopes in the Indian Premier League at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Thursday. Batting first, MI scored 217 for two. In reply, RR were all out for 117 in 16.1 overs as MI closed in on securing a Playoffs berth. MI rode on brisk half-centuries from Rohit Sharma (53 off 36 balls) and Ryan Rickelton (61 off 38) to post a formidable total. Also Read: IPL 2025: Five potential reasons for Chennai Super Kings' early exit Rajasthan Royals opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi walks back after being dismissed for a duck against Mumbai Indians yesterday Skipper Hardik Pandya (unbeaten 48 off 23 balls) and Suryakumar Yadav (48 not out off 23 deliveries) gave finishing touches to MI’s innings with their whirlwind knocks. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah (2-15) and Trent Boult (3-28) then rattled the RR batting before leg-spinner Karn Sharma (3-23) wrapped up a big win for the visitors. Wonder boy Vaibhav Suryavanshi was dismissed by Deepak Chahar for a two-ball duck. Earlier, expecting heavy dew, RR put the opposition in, but Rohit and Rickelton put the home team under pressure with a sizzling display of clean hitting. In their 116-run stand, Rickelton targeted the quick bowlers, while Rohit went after spinners, especially Maheesh Theekshana, who was introduced as early as the third over. Suryakumar Yadav and skipper Hardik Pandya capitalised on the openers’ good work to take the team past 200. Brief scoresMI 217-2 in 20 overs (R Rickelton 61, R Sharma 53, S Yadav 48*, H Pandya 48*; R Parag 1-12) beat RR 117 all out in 16.1 overs (J Archer 30; K Sharma 3-23, T Boult 3-28, J Bumrah 2-15) by 100 runs This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
02 May,2025 07:55 AM IST | Jaipur | PTI1 Failed to purchase match-winners at mega auction. Big money spent on names like Matheesha Pathirana (Rs 13 Cr), R Ashwin (Rs 9.75 Cr), Devon Conway (Rs 6.25 Cr) but they did not deliver. 2 Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury led to over-reliance on MS Dhoni (just 151 in 10 matches), who is a pale shadow of his previous match-winning self. Also Read: IPL 2025 | "I just planned to bowl my best": Yuzvendra Chahal after hat-trick vs CSK 3 Left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja did not live up to potential with both bat and ball, managing just 183 runs and seven wickets. 4 Failure to groom young blood to bat aggressively up the order. No young replacement for ageing wicketkeeper-batter Dhoni, 43, too. 5 Poor show from openers despite changing combinations. Different openers tried: Rahul Tripathi (55 runs in 5 matches), (Rachin Ravindra 191 runs in 8 matches), Devon Conway (94 runs in 3 matches), Shaik Rasheed (57 runs in 4 matches), Ayush Mhatre (69 runs in 3 matches.
02 May,2025 07:49 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentThe iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground will host the final of the expanded Women’s T20 World Cup on July 5 next year, the International Cricket Council announced on Thursday. Also Read: Yamal makes it interesting The 12-team tournament will begin on June 12 and feature 33 matches, culminating in a grand finale at Lord’s, which also hosted the final of the 2017 Women’s ODI World Cup. In addition to Lord’s, six other venues will stage matches, including Old Trafford, Headingley, Edgbaston, The Oval, Hampshire Bowl, and the Bristol County Ground. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
02 May,2025 07:44 AM IST | Dubai | PTIPunjab Kings’ hat-trick hero Yuzvendra Chahal revealed that he relied on his instincts and tweaked his line after observing that the pacers’ slower balls were gripping the surface during their IPL clash against Chennai Super Kings. The leg-spinner, who conceded 23 runs in his first two overs, came back to deliver a game-changing penultimate over. He first dismissed MS Dhoni (11) and then went on to claim the wickets of Deepak Hooda (2), Anshul Kamboj (0), and Noor Ahmad (0) — sealing his second IPL hat-trick in spectacular fashion. Also Read: RR vs MI, IPL 2025 highlights: Rajasthan Royals eliminated after 100-run mauling by ruthless Mumbai “I knew Mahi bhai [Dhoni] was there, so was [Shivam] Dube. But I had a feeling that I would get a wicket in this over. I didn’t think much whether they would hit me for six, I just planned to bowl my best and keep changing my lines,” Chahal said in a post-match interaction with skipper Shreyas Iyer, in a video posted on the IPL website. Chahal finished with figures of 4-32 as CSK were bowled out for 190 in 19.2 overs, slipping to a four-wicket defeat against Punjab Kings, a loss that also ended the five-time champions’ Playoff hopes. Asked about the turnaround in his second spell after being taken for runs early on, Chahal said: “I knew after the pacers finish their quotas I will bowl the 19th or 20th over, so I was preparing accordingly.” Asked if he had a specific plan for the hat-trick ball, he said: “I didn’t think of getting him out, I knew he would try to hit me and I thought it’s okay if he goes after me.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
02 May,2025 07:24 AM IST | Chennai | PTIMumbai Indians cruised to a commanding 100-run victory over Rajasthan Royals, claiming their first win in Jaipur since 2012. This crushing defeat marks the end of Rajasthan's playoff hopes, as they are officially eliminated from IPL 2025. Meanwhile, Mumbai’s impressive run continues, with their sixth consecutive victory propelling them to the top of the points table. Rajasthan Royals become the second team, after Chennai Super Kings, to be knocked out this season. Earlier in the match, Mumbai's formidable batting display set the stage for a dominant 217/2 total. Openers Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton provided a solid foundation with sublime half-centuries, before Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya propelled the total to a towering score with their blistering finishes. Rajasthan Royals chose to bowl first, expecting dew to play a role later in the game. However, the decision backfired as Mumbai's openers came out aggressively, taking the Royals' bowlers to task right from the start. Rohit and Rickelton put together an explosive 116-run partnership, putting Rajasthan on the back foot early in the innings. Rickelton was assertive against the pacers, dispatching the ball with authority, while Rohit showcased his classic timing and skill against the spinners. Rickelton’s knock of 61 off 38 balls was a masterclass of controlled aggression, with a remarkable flick off Fazalhaq Farooqi clearing the boundary with ease. Rohit, who had struggled at the start of the tournament, found his rhythm with a composed 53 off 36 balls. His boundaries off Maheesh Theekshana and a gorgeous shot over backward point to bring up his fifty displayed the depth of his talent. Even Jofra Archer, who had bowled a tidy first over, was targeted by the Mumbai duo. They plundered 18 runs off his second over, with Rohit cutting a boundary through point and Rickelton launching a six over mid-wicket. After the dismissal of both openers in quick succession, Suryakumar and Hardik took charge, with both finishing unbeaten on 48 off 23 balls. SKY dazzled with his signature shots, including a scoop over fine leg off Archer, while Pandya, as always, was relentless in punishing anything loose. Their remarkable partnership in the final five overs brought Mumbai an additional 71 runs, ensuring they finished with a commanding total.
01 May,2025 11:29 PM IST | Jaipur | mid-day online correspondentMumbai Indians delivered a dominant 100-run triumph over Rajasthan Royals, clinching their first victory in Jaipur since 2012. This defeat ends RR's aspirations, officially eliminating them from the IPL 2025 playoffs. Meanwhile, MI's red-hot form continues, securing their sixth consecutive win and propelling them to the summit of the points table. Rajasthan Royals become the second team after CSK to be knocked out this season. Earlier, sublime half-centuries from openers Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton laid the foundation, before Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya delivered a blistering finish. Opting to bowl first in anticipation of heavy dew later in the evening, the Royals found themselves on the back foot early as Rohit and Rickelton came out all guns blazing. The duo stitched together a 116-run partnership that left the Rajasthan bowlers scrambling for answers. Rickelton took the attack to the pacers with clean, authoritative strokes, while Rohit showcased his class against the spinners. The South African left-hander scored a fluent 61 off 38 balls, with the highlight of his knock being an elegant flick off Fazalhaq Farooqi that sailed into the stands. Meanwhile, Rohit, who found his touch after a quiet start to the tournament, crafted a composed 53 off 36 balls. He was particularly severe on Maheesh Theekshana, dispatching him for consecutive boundaries and bringing up his half-century with a stylish shot over backward point. Even Jofra Archer, who began with a tidy first over, wasn’t spared. The Mumbai openers plundered 18 runs off his second over, with Rohit carving a boundary through point and Rickelton launching a six over mid-wicket. After both openers departed in quick succession, Mumbai didn’t lose momentum. Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya stepped in and took complete control, both scoring unbeaten 48s off just 23 deliveries. SKY displayed his signature flair, including a remarkable scoop over fine leg off Archer that sent him tumbling to the ground. Pandya was equally destructive, rotating strike efficiently and punishing anything loose. The final five overs yielded a staggering 71 runs as the MI duo went into overdrive. Suryakumar fittingly ended the innings with a powerful six straight down the ground off Akash Madhwal, who otherwise impressed with a few well-executed yorkers. With a daunting total of 217 on the board, Mumbai Indians have given their bowlers an excellent platform to secure their sixth consecutive win. Rajasthan Royals now face a steep uphill battle in this must-win contest. RR vs MI, IPL 2025 live updates: Toss Rajasthan's Riyan Parag wins toss, opts to bowl first against Mumbai Indians. RR vs MI, IPL 2025 live updates: Playing XIs Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Corbin Bosch, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah Rajasthan Royals Playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag (c), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal RR vs MI, IPL 2025 live updates: Match begins! Rohit Sharma strides out to the middle alongside Ryan Rickelton to open the innings for Mumbai Indians. The Sawai Mansingh Stadium crowd is buzzing with anticipation as Jofra Archer readies himself to deliver the first over. RR: 117 (16.1) Mumbai Indians secured a commanding 100-run victory over Rajasthan Royals, marking their first win in Jaipur since 2012. RR: 91/9 (12) Karn Sharma continued his dream spell by removing both Maheesh Theekshana and Kumar Kartikeya in the same over, ending it with his third wicket. The Rajasthan Royals batting lineup is crumbling under pressure. RR: 76/7 (9) Dhruv Jurel walked back dejected after falling to one of the most bizarre dismissals of the season. Attempting a paddle, the ball deflected off his glove, struck his helmet, and ballooned back for a simple return catch to Karn Sharma. As the players head into a timeout, Rajasthan Royals are staring at a quick finish. RR: 66/6 (8) Hardik Pandya struck with his very first delivery. Bowling full and wide outside off, he tempted Shubham Dubey into a lofted drive. The ball came off the inside half of the bat and sailed toward long-on, where Trent Boult took a clean catch moving to his left. RR: 51/5 (5) Shimron Hetmyer’s stay was brief as he fell for a duck, giving Bumrah his second wicket in the over. The dismissal was a tactical masterstroke by Hardik Pandya, who had positioned a short leg and a short mid-wicket. Hetmyer tried to flick but picked out the latter fielder precisely. Bumrah missed out on a hat-trick but had Royals reeling. RR: 47/4 (4.4) Jasprit Bumrah made an immediate impact, removing Riyan Parag with a clever short ball strategy. After fending off a few, Parag went for the hook but only managed a top edge. Rohit Sharma comfortably took the catch at mid-wicket, and Mumbai tightened their grip on the game. RR: 41/3 (4) Boult continued to chip away, removing Nitish Rana after conceding a few boundaries. A short-of-length ball invited the pull shot, but Rana found Tilak Varma stationed smartly at deep square leg on the longer side of the ground. RR: 20/2 (2) Yashasvi Jaiswal briefly counterattacked with two towering sixes off Trent Boult, but the left-arm pacer had the final say. Boult cleaned him up with a perfect delivery, bringing Royals' flying start to a halt. RR: 6/1 (1) Mumbai Indians struck early as Chahar dismissed young Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the opening over. Bowling a full delivery that cramped the batter for room, Chahar ensured the teenager couldn't get underneath it. Vaibhav stood disappointed, hands on hips, but had to make the walk back. MI celebrated the crucial early blow. MI: 217/0 (20) Rajasthan Royals face a daunting chase of 218 runs against Mumbai Indians in a must-win IPL 2025 encounter at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. MI: 196/2 (18) With just two overs to go, Mumbai Indians are firmly in control and on track for a commanding total between 230 and 240. Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav are finishing strong, piling on the pressure with an explosive partnership. MI: 123/2 (13) Rajasthan Royals strike again, with Riyan Parag removing Rohit Sharma. In a matter of moments, both openers are back in the hut. Parag bowled a full delivery wide outside off, and Rohit, looking to clear long-off, reached out but got an outside edge. The ball went straight to Jaiswal, who made no mistake in taking the catch at long-off. MI: 120/1 (12) Maheesh Theekshana breaks MI’s momentum by dismissing the in-form Ryan Rickelton. Theekshana bowled a flat delivery on leg-stump, which Rickelton attempted to pull across the line but missed. The ball went through to uproot the leg stump, and Theekshana celebrates the crucial breakthrough. The Royals badly needed that wicket. MI: 90/0 (9) Ryan Rickelton brings up a brisk half-century, showcasing an aggressive intent at the crease. This is also the first time in IPL 2025 that Mumbai Indians have gone wicketless in the Powerplay. MI: 45/0 (5) After 5 overs, Mumbai Indians are off to a solid start at 45 without loss. Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton are steadily building a platform for a big total. MI: 16/0 (3) Ryan Rickelton struggled to connect with a couple of sweep shots, while Rohit Sharma kept the scoreboard ticking with smart strike rotation. Maheesh Theekshana bowled a disciplined third over, giving away just seven runs, including a boundary on the final delivery. His subtle variations in length and pace created pressure, especially with deliveries that angled into Rickelton’s pads and disrupted his rhythm.
01 May,2025 11:23 PM IST | Jaipur | mid-day online correspondentIndia captain and Mumbai Indians stalwart Rohit Sharma recently shared an emotional moment from his personal life, revealing the heartfelt reaction of his parents after learning that a stand at Mumbai's iconic Wankhede Stadium would be named in his honour. In a candid conversation with journalist Vimal Kumar, Rohit said he insisted that his parents must sit in the newly named stand once it is inaugurated. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has decided to rename the Divecha Pavilion Level 3 as the ‘Rohit Sharma Stand’, celebrating the achievements of one of India’s most successful cricket captains and Mumbai’s own cricketing pride. For Rohit, this recognition is more than a professional accolade. “I told them, when the stand with my name is inaugurated, they have to come and sit there,” he said. Interestingly, Rohit also shared that his parents rarely attend his matches live, preferring to watch them from home due to nerves. “They don’t like going out much,” he added. However, he recalled two special occasions when they did make it to the stadium, including his first match as India captain at the Wankhede in 2017. The honour holds even more weight for Rohit considering his humble beginnings. “Twenty years ago, we weren’t even allowed to enter the stadium. Now there’s a stand in my name, that’s massive,” he reflected. Recalling his journey, Rohit described Wankhede as the ground where he grew, trained, struggled, and evolved. “I’ve practised there, been scolded there... It’s a special place,” he added. Rohit also acknowledged the unwavering love of Mumbai’s cricket fans, praising them for their fairness and passion. “They even cheer for players like Warner and Smith. That’s the beauty of Mumbai cricket, they just love good cricket,” he said. Rohit's IPL 2025 campaign On the field, Rohit has hit form at the right time. After a lacklustre start to IPL 2025, scoring just 56 runs in his first five innings, he has bounced back with scores of 26, 76*, 70, 12, and 53, showing explosive intent during the powerplays. His half-century against Rajasthan Royals, laced with nine boundaries, marked his third of the season. With 6024 runs in 231 matches for MI, Rohit is now second only to Virat Kohli (8871 for RCB) in T20 franchise cricket history. As Mumbai Indians eye the playoffs, their veteran leader seems to be peaking just when they need him most.
01 May,2025 11:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai Indians produced a commanding batting performance to post a formidable 217/2 against Rajasthan Royals in their IPL 2025 clash on Thursday. Sublime half-centuries from openers Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton laid the foundation, before Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya delivered a blistering finish. Opting to bowl first in anticipation of heavy dew later in the evening, the Royals found themselves on the back foot early as Rohit and Rickelton came out all guns blazing. The duo stitched together a 116-run partnership that left the Rajasthan bowlers scrambling for answers. Rickelton took the attack to the pacers with clean, authoritative strokes, while Rohit showcased his class against the spinners. The South African left-hander scored a fluent 61 off 38 balls, with the highlight of his knock being an elegant flick off Fazalhaq Farooqi that sailed into the stands. Meanwhile, Rohit, who found his touch after a quiet start to the tournament, crafted a composed 53 off 36 balls. He was particularly severe on Maheesh Theekshana, dispatching him for consecutive boundaries and bringing up his half-century with a stylish shot over backward point. Even Jofra Archer, who began with a tidy first over, wasn’t spared. The Mumbai openers plundered 18 runs off his second over, with Rohit carving a boundary through point and Rickelton launching a six over mid-wicket. After both openers departed in quick succession, Mumbai didn’t lose momentum. Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya stepped in and took complete control, both scoring unbeaten 48s off just 23 deliveries. SKY displayed his signature flair, including a remarkable scoop over fine leg off Archer that sent him tumbling to the ground. Pandya was equally destructive, rotating strike efficiently and punishing anything loose. The final five overs yielded a staggering 71 runs as the MI duo went into overdrive. Suryakumar fittingly ended the innings with a powerful six straight down the ground off Akash Madhwal, who otherwise impressed with a few well-executed yorkers. With a daunting total of 217 on the board, Mumbai Indians have given their bowlers an excellent platform to secure their sixth consecutive win. Rajasthan Royals now face a steep uphill battle in this must-win contest.
01 May,2025 09:51 PM IST | Jaipur | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
