The 33rd match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 saw Mumbai Indians (MI) emerge victorious against Punjab Kings (PBKS) by a narrow margin of nine runs at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh.
Punjab Kings captain Sam Curran won the toss and elected to field first. The visitors lost their swashbuckling opener Ishan Kishan early, but a crucial 81-run stand between Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav steadied the innings. The Hitman, playing his 250th IPL match, achieved several milestones – reaching 6500 IPL runs, becoming the highest six-hitter for MI (surpassing Kieron Pollard‘s record), before departing for 36. Tight bowling spells from the Kings in the middle overs slowed the scoring rate, but SKY (78) and Tilak Varma (34*) maintained the run flow with a 49-run partnership. A late cameo from Hardik Pandya, and Tim David propelled MI to a competitive total of 192/7. Harshal Patel emerged as the pick of the bowler for the home team, claiming three wickets, while Curran and Kagiso Rabada chipped in with two and one wicket respectively.
Chasing a challenging target, Punjab Kings’ start to the innings was disastrous. Jasprit Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee wreaked havoc, picking up two wickets each within the first two overs, reducing the home team to a precarious 14/4. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, but Shashank Singh‘s quickfire 41 off 25 runs in the middle overs provided a ray of hope. Harpreet Brar (21 off 20) and Ashutosh Sharma (61 off 28) displayed fighting spirit with a crucial partnership, keeping the host in the hunt. However, some tight and clinical death bowling from the five-time IPL champions restricted the chase. PBKS ultimately fell short by nine runs, despite a valiant effort. Coetzee bagged three wickets for MI, ably supported by Bumrah’s three-wicket haul. Pandya, Akash Madhwal, and Shreyas Gopal chipped in with a wicket each.
With this win, MI climbed to the seventh position in the points table with three wins in seven matches. Punjab, on the other hand, slipped to the ninth position with just two wins in seven matches.
Jasprit Bumrah was adjudged Player of the Match for his clinical bowling performance, taking three wickets for just 21 runs. This stellar performance cemented his position as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament and the owner of the coveted Purple Cap.
Scorecard:
Mumbai Indians: 192-7, Overs 20, Suryakumar Yadav 78, Harshal Patel 3/31
Punjab Kings: 183, Overs 19.1, Ashutosh Sharma 61, Jasprit Bumrah 3/21