IPL 2024: Mumbai Indians 1st innings highlights against RR in Match 38

Hardik Pandya won the toss and surprised everyone by deciding to bat first. The 30-year-old was marking a special day as he was playing his 100^th game for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.

Nuwan Thushara, the exciting Sri Lankan bowler was making his IPL debut in place of Romario Shepherd. Nehal Wadhera too came in for his first game of the season in place of Akash Madhwal. Shreyas Gopal was replaced by veteran Piyush Chawla for the five time IPL winners.

Rajasthan Royals are coming into the back of their last-gasp win against KKR just a few days ago. Jos Buttler had scored a century in the game began on the bench for the home team. Kuldeep Sen was rested for the game as Sandeep Sharma made his return to the side after being out for a few games due to an injury.  

Powerplay: Overs 0.1 to 6 (Mandatory – 45/3)

Just like the previous game in Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Indians found themselves in early strife. Rohit Sharma was dismissed yet again by Trent Boult for six. Sandeep Sharma then accounted for Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav to leave MI in trouble.

Mumbai Indians: 50 runs off 7 overs

Mohammad Nabi played a few cracking shots just before the first six overs could end. The veteran Afghan star found good support from Tilak Varma who played sensible cricket.

Milestone Alert: 200 wickets for Yuzvendra Chahal in IPL

It was a historic moment in the history of the Indian Premier League. Veteran spin bowler Yuzvendra Chahal became the first bowler to reach 200 wickets in the history of the league. Mohammad Nabi offered a simple return catch to Chahal for 23 as the bowler sunk to his knees and thanked the stars.

Mumbai Indians: First Strategic time-out (52/4 from 7.3 overs)

Just when it looked like Mumbai Indians were finally starting to get back into the game massive tragedy struck. Mohammad Nabi was out for 23 from 17 balls to give Chahal his first wicket of the day.

Mumbai Indians: 100 runs from 13 overs

It took Mumbai Indians six more overs to score their next 50 runs for the loss of just one wicket. Tilak Varma took charge of the scoring and found good support from Nehal Wadhera.

Mumbai Indians: Second Strategic Time-Out (120/4 from 14 overs)

Avesh Khan was hit for 19 runs by Nehal Wadhera and Tilak Varma. Two sixes were hit by Nehal Wadhera in particular who is playing his first game of the season. The Mumbai Indians with six overs in hand will be hoping to do more damage.

Half-Century: Tilak Varma off 38 balls

Just when the Mumbai Indians team were looking for inspiration, Tilak Varma stood up. The young batter scored his fifth IPL half-century to bring Mumbai Indians back into the contest. The mark was achieved with a slog sweep off Yuzvendra Chahal who had become just the first bowler to reach 200 IPL wickets.

Milestone Alert: 1000 runs in IPL cricket for Tilak Varma

The six runs by Tilak Varma not only got the youngster his 50 runs but also his 1000^th run in IPL cricket. The left-handed batter became the third youngest batter to reach the mark after Rishabh Pant, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Tilak Varma also got to the mark ahead of Prithvi Shaw and Sanju Samson with Shaw’s feat coming in 21 years and 169 days compared to Varma who got to the mark in 21 years and 166 days. 

Mumbai Indians: 150 runs from 15.5 overs

Nehal Wadhera and Tilak Varma continued to hammer the RR bowlers to all parts of the ground. With two sixes off Chahal, the MI duo were signalling their intentions as the 150-run mark came up in the 16^th over.

Milestone Alert: 250 wickets for Trent Boult in T20 cricket

The first ball of the 17^th over saw Nehal Wadhera mistime a shot only to be caught by Sandeep Sharma for 49. This gave veteran Kiwi pacer his 250^th wicket T20 wicket and also broke a 99-run stand between the two young Mumbai Indians batters.

Milestone Alert: First IPL fifer for Sandeep Sharma 

It was a great return to the team for pacer Sandeep Sharma who got to his first ever fifer in IPL. The bowler began by taking the wickets of Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav. Three wickets in the final over of the innings got him to his first-ever IPL fifer. 

End of the Innings: Mumbai Indians - 179/9 from 20 overs. 

Rajasthan Royals came back into the game in the last two overs. Avesh Khan and Sandeep Sharma bowled a few tight overs to keep Mumbai Indians from posting a big score. Sandeep Sharma was the hero for the home team with the ball.