In Mohali, India, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a significant victory largely due to Virat Kohli’s brilliant performance, while Chennai Super Kings suffered another defeat in the Indian Super League. The Chennai Super Kings continued their disappointing season as the Mumbai Indians claimed a dominant nine-wicket win later Sunday, propelling them to sixth place with a third successive victory. Meanwhile, Chennai languishes at the bottom with just two victories out of eight matches.
In the earlier match, Kohli’s impressive fourth half-century of the season was pivotal for Bengaluru as they clinched a seven-wicket win. Kohli remained unbeaten, scoring 73 off 54 deliveries, guiding his team to surpass Punjab’s 157-6 with ease by reaching 159-3.
The magic unfolded with the exceptional contribution from Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav for the Mumbai Indians. Rohit Sharma finally broke his streak of low scores by delivering an impressive 76 not out from 45 balls – his first half-century this season. Alongside him, Suryakumar Yadav played an explosive innings, notching 68 not out from only 30 balls, allowing Mumbai to storm to 177-1 within just 15.4 overs.
Earlier in the game, Chennai had posted a total of 176-5, with Ravindra Jadeja (53 not out) and Shivam Dube (50) contributing significantly. Notably, 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre showed immense potential, adding a quick 32 off 15 balls. The partnership between Sharma and Yadav yielded a blistering 114-run stand in just 54 balls at the iconic Wankhede stadium.
Rohit Sharma demonstrated his prowess with six towering sixes and four boundaries, while Yadav executed precise sweep shots against the spinners. Chennai struggled to generate momentum in the first half of their innings, managing 82-3 in 12 overs before Jadeja and Dube attempted to accelerate, building a 79-run partnership off 50 balls.
Jasprit Bumrah (2-25) effectively contained Chennai towards the end, as Dube was caught deep at mid-wicket, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni miscued a shot straight to deep square leg.
Kohli was instrumental in yet another masterful chase for Bengaluru, rectifying their loss to Punjab at home merely two days prior. Together with Devdutt Padikkal, Kohli forged a compelling 103-run partnership for the second wicket off just 69 deliveries, securing the victory.
Devdutt Padikkal refused to let Punjab’s star spinner Yuzvendra Chahal settle, immediately attacking with a six over long-on. He recorded four sixes and five boundaries, amassing 61 runs from 35 balls before being dismissed by Harpreet Brar in the 13th over.
Kohli initiated the chase with five boundaries during the powerplay, achieving his 50 in 43 balls, and further adding two boundaries and a six to cap off his match-winning performance.
Earlier in the day, the Bengaluru spinners Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma stifled the Punjab batters, securing four wickets and conceding only 51 runs from their combined eight overs. Fast bowler Romario Shepherd, playing his debut match of the IPL season, achieved an important breakthrough by dismissing Punjab’s captain Shreyas Iyer (6) in his first over, causing Punjab to falter at 68-3 in the eighth over.
Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar successfully curbed the lower order’s scoring in the latter stages of Punjab’s innings, keeping Shashank Singh (31 not out) and Marco Jansen (25 not out) in check.