Returning from a five-game absence, Sandeep Sharma produced a match-winning spell to dismantled the Mumbai Indians (MI) batting order on Monday. He took five wickets for 18 runs, thus registering the best bowling figures of IPL 2024 so far. The experienced pacer, returning after missing his side’s last five games, announced his presence with a bang.
Sandeep Sharma wreaks havoc vs MI
Partnering with Trent Boult at the start, Sandeep struck early blows, dismissing key batsmen Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav in his opening spell. He cleverly exploited the variations in the Jaipur pitch, mixing up his lengths and pace to keep the MI batsmen guessing.
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But the true highlight came in the final over. Sandeep displayed exceptional control and bowling brilliance, conceding a mere three runs while taking three crucial wickets. Tilak Varma, Tim David, and Gerald Coetzee all fell prey to his variations, effectively shutting the door on any late flourish from Mumbai. Incredibly, this (5/18) was Sandeep’s best bowling figures in T20 cricket as well.
Sharma’s spell restricted MI to a manageable 179/9 in their 20 overs This put Rajasthan Royals in a strong position for the win. Unfortunately for the fans, the match halted after RR’s six overs as rain interrupted the game. As per DLS score, RR are well ahead of in the encounter and will be declared victors if match doesn’t restarts.