PBKS vs MI highlights: This roller-coaster of the match wasn’t for the faint-hearted. To seal a much-needed win to revive their IPL 2024 campaign, Mumbai Indians (MI) edged past the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on the very last over in Chandigarh. While Mumbai ruled the roost for the majority of the game, a certain Ashutosh Sharma turned the match upside down.
The 25-year-old, playing his maiden IPL season, has proved to be a revelation for PBKS as he saved PBKS from being 77/6 and the score to 168/7 at one point. The hosts were set to script a remarkable win, but Ashutosh’s dismissal eventually meant that Mumbai clinched the thrilling tie.
Suryakumar’s love-affair with his trademark scoops
Suryakumar Yadav bounced back in style after a duck in the previous match. He smashed a brilliant 78 off 53 balls against PBKS, with his trademark scoop shots stealing the show. The flamboyant batsman dealt with good-length and wide deliveries with disdain, effortlessly lofting them over fine leg for boundaries.
His 81-run stand with Rohit Sharma steadied the innings, and his quickfire knock propelled MI to 192.
Bumrah and his routinely toe-crushing thunderbolts!
Jasprit Bumrah’s fiery spell was certainly the other half of the story in MI’s triumph. His exceptional bowling figures of 3/21 earned him the Player of the Match award. Bumrah was particularly lethal with his yorkers, leaving the batsmen bewildered.
One such instance was the dismissal of Rilee Rossouw in the very 2nd over. The South African batsman had no answer to Bumrah’s inswinging yorker, which completely rattled him and sent his stumps flying.
‘Caught and bowled’ at his best ft. Shreyas Gopal
MI’s bowling attack wasn’t just about Bumrah’s fiery pace. Leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal chipped in early with a spectacular catch. In his very first over, Gopal displayed exceptional fielding awareness. Harpreet Bhatia chipped a googly back towards the bowler, a dismissal that seemed straightforward on paper. But Gopal had other plans. Diving low to his left, well outside his initial fielding position, he snatched the catch brilliantly. This sensational effort left PBKS reeling at 49/5.
Did Ashutosh sweep Bumrah for real?
While MI dominated with bat and ball, a special mention must be made of Ashutosh Sharma’s valiant knock for PBKS. His 28-ball 61 was a whirlwind of power hitting, with seven massive sixes. But the most audacious stroke came against the mighty Jasprit Bumrah.
Dropping to his knee, Ashutosh audaciously paddle-swept Bumrah for a lusty six, a stroke that left everyone stunned. The sheer audacity of the shot was matched only by Ashutosh’s own priceless reaction, a moment that perfectly encapsulated the drama of the chase.
