MI on a Mission: Big win over Royals retains Rohit Sharma’s group in competition, together with KKR, for remaining Playoff spot

Mumbai Indians couldn’t afford to lose this recreation. Another slip and the defending champions would have been out of this 12 months’s Indian Premier League. They got here into the win-or-bust contest in opposition to Rajasthan Royals with 10 factors and a internet run fee of -0.45. After an eight-wicket win with 70 balls to spare, they’re now on 12 factors with a internet run fee of -0.04. The message was clear – by no means write them off, ever. With MI now respiration down Kolkata Knight Riders’ neck, the top-four scrap between the 2 groups goes all the way down to the wire.

Dominant show from @mipaltan! 💪 💪
The @ImRo45-led unit seal a complete 8⃣-wicket win and registered their 6⃣th win of the #VIVOIPL. 👏 👏 #VIVOIPL #RRvMI
Scorecard 👉 https://t.co/0oo7ML9bp2 pic.twitter.com/psjBCAI90R
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 5, 2021
Royals had their destiny in their very own arms. Two wins of their final two group league fixtures would have taken them into the Playoffs. But their possibilities all however evaporated after 90/9 in 20 overs, batting first. MI’s carpe diem spirit prevailed, whereas Royals received overawed by the event.
Coulter-Nile, Neesham star in win
The recreation began to vary from the fourth over onwards, when Nathan Coulter-Nile got here into the assault. For the primary three overs, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Evin Lewis had been in command. Jaiswal’s pull for a 4 off Trent Boult attested the teen’s enchancment in opposition to the quick ball. In the subsequent over, off-spinner Jayant Yadav was taken to the cleaners by the 2 Royals openers.

Nathan Coulter-Nile starred with the ball for @mipaltan and gained the Man of the Match award. 👏 👏 #VIVOIPL #RRvMI pic.twitter.com/ngWPsn4l6m
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 5, 2021

4⃣ Overs1⃣4⃣ Runs4⃣ Wickets
ICYMI: Sit again & relive this wonderful bowling show from @mipaltan speedster Nathan Coulter-Nile. 🔥 🔥 #VIVOIPL #RRvMI
Watch 🎥 🔽https://t.co/HS951OdCZX
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 5, 2021
Rohit Sharma introduced on Jasprit Bumrah early and the quick bowler began off with a half-volley. The MI skipper shed his calmness and berated Bumrah. His group nearly had no room for error.
Coulter-Nile got here and straightway hit the six-metre (from the popping crease) Sharjah size. He made one skid off the floor; Jaiswal misjudged its size and went for a minimize, solely to nick it behind the stumps.
Lewis most likely performed one shot too many – an tried slog on the leg-side to a Bumrah supply from across the wicket. He was caught plumb in entrance. Neesham, in his first recreation of the event, bagged Sanju Samson off his first ball. The wobble supply had further bounce, which accounted for the Royals captain. The Kiwi all-rounder was impeccable along with his line and size. The Sharjah pitch turned tough for stroke-play as soon as the ball received a bit older and the bowlers received safety within the deep. Hitting an excellent size, nevertheless, was key and Neesham did it for enjoyable.
Shivam Dube, Royals’ hero in opposition to Chennai Super Kings, stretched out to play a widish supply from Neesham, dragging it on to the stumps within the course of. Glenn Phillips was bowled between his legs off Coulter-Nile, the six-metre size but once more doing the trick. The Royals retreated. Between the sixth and sixteenth overs, they scored simply 33 runs. Between the sixth and 20 overs, solely a 4 and a six had been struck.

WATCH: @JimmyNeesh‘s spectacular outing with the ball 👌 👌
The @mipaltan all-rounder made his presence felt & picked 3⃣ wickets in opposition to #RR. 👍 👍 #VIVOIPL #RRvMI
🎥🔽https://t.co/U8o23CGiVu
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 5, 2021
Royals additionally stored dropping wickets, finally getting flattened by the MI seamers. Coulter-Nile returned with 4/14 from 4 overs, Neesham claimed 3/12 and Bumrah had 2/14.
Plan B
MI’s group choice was daring. A seam-bowling allrounder, Neesham, got here in for a spin-allrounder, Krunal Pandya. In such a giant recreation, the seasoned Quinton de Kock was dropped for Ishan Kishan. Batting has troubled the five-time champions this time period. The safer choice would have been to incorporate an additional batsman. The MI group administration added an additional pacer as an alternative.
The adaptability of their quicks was one of many highlights of the sport. When the ball didn’t transfer within the air, Coulter-Nile and firm rolled their fingers over the seam. They shortly found out the proper size and optimum velocity. It was an evening when MI had been spotless of their planning and execution.
“It was challenging with the bat. Everyone has got their own plans and way of going about things. But Powerplay is important. Coulter-Nile is outstanding. It wasn’t swinging tonight, but we saw how he has a Plan B with his cutters,” Neesham informed the host broadcasters throughout the innings break.

A have a look at the Points Table after Match 51 of the #VIVOIPL 👇 #RRvMI pic.twitter.com/VwyvG4FKfP
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 5, 2021
Champs keep afloat
MI needed to win huge. A paltry goal of 91 made their job simpler and Rohit confirmed intent from the outset. A 14-run over in opposition to Mustafizur Rahman gave MI’s innings the required momentum. Chetan Sakariya bowled a maiden on the different finish, however Royals had been woefully inconsistent. Under stress, their high quality slipped.
Samson missed a straightforward stumping of Rohit, with Shreyas Gopal being the unfortunate bowler. Sakariya eliminated Rohit within the subsequent over however welcomed Suryakumar Yadav with a full ball outdoors leg. A boundary ensued. Later, as MI inched nearer to their victory goal, Sakariya bowled back-to-back no-balls and received punished. Save Glenn Phillips’ electrical fielding, Royals performed poor cricket.
Kishan took somewhat little bit of time to cool down earlier than exploding. Three fours in a Kuldip Yadav over triggered an acceleration. He remained unbeaten on 50 off 25 balls on high of his three catches.

5⃣0⃣* Runs2⃣5⃣ Balls5⃣ Fours3⃣ Sixes@ishankishan51 set the stage on fireplace 🔥 🔥 & hammered a sensational match-winning half-century. 💪 💪 #VIVOIPL #RRvMI @mipaltan
Watch that stroke-filled show 🎥 🔽https://t.co/nrcD87jm1g
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 5, 2021