Twitter Reactions: Mumbai Indians maul Royals in a must-win game to stay alive

It has been a tough Indian Premier League (IPL) season for Mumbai Indians (MI) but they aren’t going to go down without putting up a fight. It was a must-win encounter for the five-time champions against Rajasthan Royals and boy what a show they put up with the ball! Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Neesham and Jasprit Bumrah were the catalysts for MI as they cantered home like a walk in the park to stay alive.

Earlier, Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to field first and much to Royals’ liking, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Evin Lewis once again got them off to a decent start. Boundaries came thick and fast but soon MI bowlers found their length and it was Coulter-Nile to send back Jaiswal first. Then Bumrah pinned the dangerous Lewis in front of the stumps and what followed was the abject surrender from the Royals’ batters.

James Neesham, playing his first game of the UAE leg, picked wickets for fun sending back Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube and Rahul Tewatia. David Miller tried hanging around in the middle but runs weren’t coming either. Coulter-Nile was fantastic as he added wickets of Miller, Glenn Phillips and Chetan Sakariya to end with the magical figures of 4/14 in his four overs.

Bumrah picked up 2/14 with Neesham also conceding only 12 runs in his four overs. The Royals’ innings never had any momentum as they could only reach 90 runs in their 20 overs and even that took a six from Mustafizur Rahman in the final over off Trent Boult.

MI canter to victory inside 10 overs

Given their poor net run-rate, Mumbai were expected to go bonkers from the word go and Rohit Sharma did just the same. He smacked a couple of sixes to complete 400 maximums in T20s and got out after scoring a quickfire 22 off 13 balls. Ishan Kishan, opening the innings, also found his groove as he churned out quick runs inside the powerplay overs.

Though they lost two wickets, MI reached 56 in the first six overs. After a quite couple of overs, Kishan once again got stuck at the RR bowlers taking apart Chetan Sakariya and Mustafizur Rahman to score last 34 runs off just 8 balls. It was some sublime hitting from the left-hander as he remained unbeaten on 50 off just 25 balls while MI got over the line in just 8.2 overs registering the second largest victory in IPL ever in terms of balls remaining.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

yet another sparkling innings by a young indian opening batter this season #RRvsMI #IPL2021

— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) October 5, 2021

Mumbai Indians chased down 91 runs from just 8.2 overs against Rajasthan Royals in the do-or-die match.

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 5, 2021

WE WIN 💙💙💙💙💙💙

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) October 5, 2021

Might not be enough for them to qualify, but it's always awesome to see #MumbaiIndians in full form. #RRvsMI

— Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) October 5, 2021

One chat with Kohli changed everything for Kishan.

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) October 5, 2021

Hey @ishankishan51, good to see you back! 👋 #IPL2021 https://t.co/lsuYEIgx6r

— Yash Lahoti (@YvLahoti) October 5, 2021

Rajasthan again help Mumbai who needed a big win. Kolkata feeling good about it. 😉

— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) October 5, 2021

Later Ishan Kishan will attribute this return to form to that day with Virat Kohli.

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) October 5, 2021

This Glenn Phillips is a tremendous fielder. Very fast, athletic and smart fielder. In the league of @JontyRhodes8 and @hershybru if not better and faster than them. #IPL2021

— Aravind (@netcitizen) October 5, 2021

The Ishan Kishan we know.

— Abhishek Mukherjee (@SachinAzharCT) (@ovshake42) October 5, 2021

That time of the year to quote tweet. Advantage for MI over KKR.Have to figure out some other solution than NRR. If i remember right this is the 8th straight year in which the tournament is going to the last round with NRR in play. Time for Aditya Tare to get ready #youremember https://t.co/LURWVB1fES

— Gaurav Sundararaman (@gaurav_sundar) October 5, 2021

A four and a SIX to wrap it up 👊🔥

Ishan Kishan brings up his half-century from just 25 balls 😍#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #IPL2021 #RRvMI pic.twitter.com/PnwVxUgeSn

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) October 5, 2021

Won’t be surprised if Mumbai Indians go all the way from here. All the way…..#MIvsRR #IPL2O21

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) October 5, 2021

Ishan Kishan back to form. Highlight of the day on this sluggish pitch and game. #mi #IndianCricketTeam

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 5, 2021

Credit to Ishan Kishan. Coming into must-win match, bereft of runs and under pressure and required to attack from the word go to up the run rate.

He aces all the tests. On a track where #RR managed just 90, he goes on to hit a 25-ball fifty. #RRvsMI

— Jigar Mehta (@jigsactin) October 5, 2021

Now, that was some batting!!

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 5, 2021

MI beat RR by eight wickets and 70 balls remaining.

This is the fifth largest victory for any team by balls remaining in IPL. #RRvMI #IPL2021

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) October 5, 2021