Mumbai Indians’ hopes of reaching the IPL 2024 playoffs suffered a major blow as they lost to Rajasthan Royals by nine wickets on Monday. MI are currently in seventh place with 6 points from 8 matches with a Net Run Rate (NRR) of -0.227. This means that MI will have to win all their remaining six games or depend on other results if they lose any more matches in the competition. On the other hand, RR continued to dominate at the top of the table with 14 points and one more victory will be enough to guarantee a place in the playoffs.
Yashasvi Jaiswal returned to form with an incredible hundred after Sandeep Sharma’s first five-for as a furious Rajasthan Royals defeated Mumbai Indians by nine wickets.
After Sandeep returned 4-0-18-5 to record the best bowling figures in this IPL, Jaiswal finally found form in Rajasthan’s final home game at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, flaying the Mumbai Indians’ attack during his 104 not 60 balls.
Although rain intervention delayed proceedings, Rajasthan did not face many challenges in revising the 180-run target set by Mumbai Indians, reaching 183/1 in 18.4 overs.
The contest also witnessed India and RR spinner Yuzvendra Chahal entering the history books with 200 dismissals.
After Jaiswal put on 79 runs for the opening wicket with Jos Buttler (35, 25 balls, 6x4s), he added a further unbeaten 109 for the second wicket with Sanju Samson (38 not out).
Jaiswal, who came into this IPL after an immensely successful five-Test series against England, was hot and cold. Although he has gotten quick starts time and time again, Jaiswal has not been able to convert them into anything substantial until this contest.
The 22-year-old finally overcame the hurdle, unleashing powerful pulls and delightful drives into his knock, which contained nine fours and seven sixes.
With this knock, Jaiswal joined Buttler in scoring a century for RR this season. Between them, the duo has already shared three centuries in this IPL.
On a benign surface and facing an unbalanced bowling attack, Jaiswal flourished from the start and registered a knock of the highest quality – one that would bring him back into contention for a place in the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
The Royals’ huge margin of victory, in turn, consolidated their position at the top of the points table.
The Sanju Samson-led team now has 14 points in its kit with a Net Run Rate of 0.698, with the victory cementing its claim for a place in the playoffs.
(With PTI inputs)
Topics mentioned in this article
This story originally appeared on ndtv.com read the full story
