The highest-scoring match in IPL history unfolded at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) edging out Mumbai Indians (MI) by 31 runs. For Hardik Pandya-led MI it was their second straight loss in IPL 2024, but five-time champions will happily take the few positives from the match which includes Tilak Varma and Tim David’s fiery approach.
SRH redefine batting records in IPL
SRH set a new benchmark for team totals in the IPL, amassing a mammoth 277 for 3. Openers Abhishek Sharma (50 off 16 balls) and Travis Head (54 off 18 balls) smashed the fastest fifties for SRH in IPL history. Heinrich Klaasen’s 23-ball fifty, incredibly, ended up being the slowest of the innings!
MI Put up a fight
Despite the daunting target, MI displayed commendable grit in their chase. Youngsters Naman Dhir (30 off 14 balls) and Tilak Varma (64 off 34 balls) stitched together a rapid 84-run partnership, keeping MI in contention with an aggressive approach.
Tilak Varma’s stellar knock of 64 runs off 34 balls stood out for its sheer class and attacking flair. His elegant strokeplay, including a remarkable cover drive for six, epitomized his batting prowess.
“The talk in our dressing room is that we believe in our batting unit. We chased down some high scores last year, which was sticking to our approach as you can’t look at the total itself. It’s a process to get to that stage, and I think we were keeping up with the rate at a certain point. So, although we didn’t get the runs, it was a great batting performance from us, too,” Tim David said in the post match press conference.
Tilak Varma shines with classy knock
Tim David, the MI powerhouse, lauded Tilak Varma’s exceptional innings in the post-match press conference. He praised Varma’s clean hitting and control, suggesting this was close to his best performance yet. David expressed his belief that Varma has even more potential to unleash.
“Tilak (Varma) played beautifully. Hitting the ball cleanly is close to the best of what Tilak’s got. I say that because I still think he’s got more than that as well, and we saw a pretty special innings tonight. Yeah, it’s always great to see your teammates playing well down the line; I have a lot of faith that it will result in wins for us,” the Singaporean-born Aussie star said.
MI’s Chase Fizzles Out
Dhir’s dismissal proved a turning point, slowing down MI’s momentum. Hardik Pandya’s cameo was short-lived, and Tilak’s dismissal in the 15th over further dented their hopes. Ultimately, the sheer enormity of the target proved just out of reach for Mumbai.
Record-Breaking Encounter: SRH vs MI
This match saw a staggering 523 runs scored and 38 sixes hit, setting new records for both the IPL and T20 cricket as a whole. For SRH, it was a triumphant start to their home leg, while MI can take heart from their spirited batting performance despite the defeat.
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