Mumbai Indians delivered a commanding performance to secure their sixth consecutive victory in the IPL 2025

Mumbai Break Jaipur Hoodoo in Style, Crush Royals to Go Top The Mumbai Indians finally broke their Jaipur jinx in emphatic fashion, crushing Rajasthan Royals by 100 runs to go top of the IPL points table—and in doing so, eliminated the hosts from playoff contention. Coming into this match without a win at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium since 2012, Mumbai turned the tide with a complete performance built on batting dominance and clinical bowling. After a subdued start, openers Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton exploded into form, each notching up half-centuries to lay the foundation for a formidable total. Sharma, who survived a close lbw thanks to a last-second DRS call, made 53 (41), while Rickelton powered through with 61 (38). Their 116-run stand was followed by fireworks from Suryakumar Yadav (48* off 21) and Hardik Pandya (48* off 19), propelling MI to 217/2—the joint-highest IPL total at this ground. In reply, Rajasthan’s chase unraveled quickly. Teen prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, fresh off a record-breaking century, fell for a duck, triggering a top-order collapse. Jasprit Bumrah (2/15), Karn Sharma (3/23), and Trent Boult (3/28) ripped through the Royals' lineup, bundling them out for just 117 in 16.1 overs. The 100-run margin reflected the gulf in form and execution. Mumbai, now with six straight wins, are peaking at the right time. Rajasthan, meanwhile, bow out of the tournament with a whimper, their campaign undone by inconsistency and a ruthless opponent. Rohit and Rickelton Turn the Powerplay Tide with Precision and Power After a sluggish start—just 16 runs in the first three overs—it felt like another tense outing at a ground that hasn’t been kind to Mumbai. But then something clicked. The next three overs of the powerplay unleashed an onslaught, yielding 42 runs and shifting the momentum entirely in MI’s favour. At the heart of this surge was Rohit Sharma’s cricketing acumen. His eventual score—53 off 41—only told part of the story. It was how he batted that stood out. Spotting Jofra Archer’s plan to bowl straight with both leg-side boundary riders in place, Rohit adjusted. He moved across, created room, and turned a ball aimed at leg stump into a cuttable delivery, threading it for four. The execution was effortless, but the intent was razor sharp. RR’s attempts to stifle the flow by taking pace off backfired. Maheesh Theekshana and Fazalhaq Farooqi were guilty of being too full, allowing Rohit to use the depth of the crease and pierce unprotected off-side regions. The hallmark of his innings was clarity—each shuffle across the stumps and each swing of the bat had purpose. He not only dominated the attack but also crossed the milestone of 6000 runs for Mumbai Indians, further cementing his legendary status at the franchise. Meanwhile, Ryan Rickelton’s response to RR’s leg-side heavy tactics was just as calculated. When they bowled into his body to cramp him, he countered with powerful short-arm pulls. When they dropped their pace and dug it in, he held his shape, waiting to pounce. Incredibly, 34 of his first 51 runs came on the leg side, scored in just nine deliveries. He dared RR to test the long boundary, and when they did, he cleared it with ease. Their partnership wasn’t just productive—it was authoritative. The duo didn’t just recover from a quiet start; they dismantled Rajasthan’s strategy with smart, proactive batting. Suryakumar, Hardik Light Up the Finish as MI Deliver Knockout Blow When the opening stand of 116 between Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton finally ended, it was less of a disruption and more of a calculated launch pad. It left 8.1 overs—plenty of time—for Suryakumar Yadav to do what he does best: unleash. With typical flair, Suryakumar attacked six of the first seven balls he faced. The one he didn’t? It was deliberately wide, the kind of bait bowlers offer when they’ve run out of answers. Suryakumar, however, rarely misses. In a blitz filled with surgical intent, he carved 48* off 23 balls, continuing a scarcely believable streak—his 11th consecutive IPL innings with 25 or more runs, an all-time league record. Among the standout moments was his audacious shot in the 19th over. A Jofra Archer delivery, bowled at full speed and meant to be a yorker, ended up as a full toss. Suryakumar, almost horizontal, swatted it over short fine for four—even as he tumbled and rolled, bat flung aside. It was chaotic, improvised, and completely effective. Vintage SKY. At the other end, Hardik Pandya was just as ruthless. Eschewing fancy footwork for brute calculation, he sat deep in the crease and punished anything that wasn’t perfectly executed. He thumped Fazalhaq Farooqi for three fours and a six in the 18th over, accelerating MI into overdrive. Their third-wicket partnership of 94 in 44 balls was devastating and historic: this was the first time in IPL history that four MI batters scored 40-plus in a single innings. The Big Wicket: From Century to Silence Rajasthan Royals' reply started with hope—and a sense of expectation. After all, just weeks earlier, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi had lit up the league with a blistering 35-ball century in a chase over 200. But cricket, true to form, offered a classic dose of humbling contrast. This time, the prodigy lasted just one ball in his attempt to replicate the magic. He went big and fell instantly. From unforgettable high to cruel low—cricket remains, as always, the great leveller. The crowd's stunned silence told its own story. Hands-on-head disbelief in the stands. In the MI dugout, fists pumped—not just for a wicket, but for that wicket. The boy may be young, but he’s no ordinary player. His dismissal was not just a breakthrough; it was the moment. RR’s fight crumbled soon after. Mumbai Indians 217 for 2 (Rickelton 61, Rohit 53, Suryakumar 48*, Hardik 48*) beat Rajasthan Royals 117 (Archer 30, Boult 3-28, Karn 3-23, Bumrah 2-15) by 100 runs