Xtra Time Web Desk: Mumbai Indians batsman Suryakumar Yadav produced a brilliant match winning knock of 79 runs off 43 balls to power his team to 5 wickets win over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Match 48 of IPL 2020 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Wednesday. It was a slap in the face of the selectors as they preferred not to pick the Mumbai batsman in any white ball teams for the tour to Australia next month.
Mumbai Indians successfully chased down the target of 165 runs with five balls to spare to retain their top spot on the points table and inch closer to securing a berth in the playoffs. Asked to chase down 165, Rohit Sharma-less MI started the proceedings well in the run-chase as openers Quinton de Kock (18) and Ishan Kishan (25) added 37 runs for the first wicket. Yadav then took charge after coming out to bat at number 3. He added 35 runs for the 4th wicket with Krunal Pandya (10) before sharing a match-winning 51-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Hardik Pandya, who scored 17 off 15 balls. Yadav chose his bat do the talking as he answered his critics with an unbeaten knock of 79 runs laced with ten fours and three sixes – his highest individual score in IPL.
Earlier, in the first innings, Jasprit Bumrah shone with the ball once again as he finished with stellar figures of 3/14 in his 4 overs including a double-wicket maiden over to restrict RCB for 164/6. Devdutt Padikkal was the highest scorer for RCB with 74 runs off 45 balls.
Reacting to the loss, RCB Captain Virat Kohli, “It was a strange phase of batting out there where everything we hit went straight to the fielders. They bowled good channels, and kept us 20 short of a par total. We still gave them a good fight.”
Winning captain Kieron Pollard lavished heaps of praises on Suryakumar. According to Pollard, “We have been playing total team cricket. Somebody is always there to pick up the slack. Imagine someone batting at that strike rate after two early wickets. Deep down inside he must be very very disappointed to not have donned the blue for India. He just keeps getting better. Again as an individual if you keep staying consistent, you will be rewarded. Nothing happens before its time.”