Suryakumar outshines all-round Rashid Khan as Mumbai Indians thrash Gujarat Titans by 27 runs in IPL
Mumbai, May 12: Suryakumar Yadav played some outrageous shots en route his maiden IPL hundred (103 not out) as his stunning knock outshone a superlative all-round show from Rashid Khan to set up Mumbai Indians' 27-run win over Gujarat Titans here on Friday.
Invited to bat, MI posted 218 for 5 on the back of world number one T20 batter Suryakumar's 103 not out off just 49 balls and then restricted GT to 191 for 8 to notch up their seventh win this season.
This was MI's fourth consecutive 200-plus score on their home ground.
While Suryakumar played a blinder of an innings which was studded with 11 fours and six sixes, Rohit Sharma (29), Ishan Kishan (31) and Vishnu Vinod (30) chipped in for the home side.
Chasing 219, GT were in danger of being bowled out for a low total, but a brutal unbeaten 79 off just 32 balls from Rashid -- which had three fours and 10 sixes -- reduced the margin of the defeat drastically.
For Mumbai, Akash Madhwal (4-0-31-3), Kumar Kartikeya (3-0-37-2) and veteran Piyush Chawla (4-0-36-2) produced a superb show with the ball.
But the indomitable Rashid was simply unstoppable. He followed his superb bowling effort of 4/30 during the MI innings with a stunning show with the bat as he added 88 runs from just 40 balls for the unconquered ninth wicket with Alzarri Joseph (7 not out), but his effort was just not enough.
GT's fourth loss in 12 matches was their first in away games this season.
With eight wins and 16 points, they remained at the top of the table.
MI's seventh win in 12 matches thus took them back to third spot with 14 points and a net run rate of -0.117.
Gujarat Titans made the worst possible start. Coming off a fine 81 in his last outing, Wriddhiman Saha played one across the line to be adjudged LBW for 2 off Madhwal, while captain Hardik Pandya (4) was caught behind off Jason Behrendorff in the third over.
The in-form Shubman Gill (6) was also beaten by the skiddy pace of Madhwal, who sent the opener's off-stump cartwheeling.
With the task of rebuilding falling on their shoulders, Miller made a cautious start while Vijay Shankar unleashed a flurry of fours.
After powerplay, GT had knocked off 48 from their target but a huge blow was dealt by Chawla, who got a googly to pass between Shankar's bat and pad to crash into his wickets. In 14 balls, Shankar did well to hit six fours to make 29.
Kartikeya cleaned up Abhinav Manohar (2) next, leaving the visitors reeling at 55 for 5 inside eight overs.
Miller (41 from 26 balls) added 45 runs for the sixth wicket with Rahul Tewatia (14) to help GT stabilise, but could not lead a comeback for his side.
In the 12th over, Madhwal's skiddy pace once again found another victim as Miller fell leg-before.
In the next over, Tewatia swept one straight to Cameron Green at deep square leg.
Earlier, India and MI skipper Rohit could not convert his start but appeared to be getting back to his usual self at the crease, hitting a few exquisite shots in his 61-run opening stand in the powerplay with Ishan Kishan (31) to lay the platform for a big total.
Rashid, who took his overall wickets tally to 23 to top the bowling chart, jolted MI right after the powerplay to have Rohit caught in the first slip for an 18-ball 29, which included three fours and a couple of sixes.
The second breakthrough came four balls later, with the Afghan leg-spinner trapping Kishan LBW.
Rashid continued to make inroads as he had Nehal Wadhera (15) chop one onto his wickets, but MI's acceleration was enough to take them to 96 for three at halfway mark.
Suryakumar and Vinod then took the attack to Mohammed Shami (0/53), hitting him for 15 runs in the 13th over, before the two batters smacked Joseph for a six each in the 12th.
Vinod perished in the 16th over as he hit a full toss off Mohit to be dismissed for a fine 30 off 20 balls (2x4s, 2x6s), having put on a 42-ball 65 for the fourth wicket with Suryakumar.
Rashid, however, kept chipping away as he snapped the key wicket of Tim David (5) in the 17th over, taking an easy return catch for his fourth wicket in the game.
But Suryakumar continued with his barrage of shots from the other end, hitting Mohit for 20 runs in the 18th over with three fours and a six and brought up his first century of IPL career with a six off the last ball of the innings.
In the process, Suryakumar also put on another 54 runs for the sixth wicket with Cameron Green (3 not out), which came off only 18 balls.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Rahul's exhilarating 152 powers DC to 264/2
New Delhi (PTI): KL Rahul blended grace with power to script a stroke-filled 152, the third-highest individual IPL score, while Nitish Rana (91) batted with authority as the duo powered hosts Delhi Capitals to a mammoth 264 for 2 against Punjab Kings here on Saturday.
Setting a target for the first time this season, the Capitals came out with clear intent, attacking anything in their arc from the outset.
The home team hit a total of 29 fours and 13 sixes to put on board the highest total of the 2026 IPL season.
Striking at over 200 throughout the 20 overs, Rahul (152 off 67 balls) unfurled a range of classical strokes all around the ground, seamlessly combining timing with aggression to put up the highest-score ever by an Indian in the IPL.
With the knock, he also became only the third player to go beyond 150-run mark after Chris Gayle (175) and Brendon McCullum (158).
Dropped on 18 by Shashank Singh, he made full use of the reprieve, forging a 220-run stand with local boy Rana for the second wicket. It was second biggest stand in IPL history behind 229 set by Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.
Rana looked completely at ease on his home ground. His 44-ball knock, laced with 11 fours and 4 sixes, provided the perfect foil as the duo kept the scoreboard ticking at a brisk pace.
Rahul set the tone early, striking back-to-back boundaries in the second over before Pathum Nissanka chipped in with a crisp four.
Although Punjab struck an early blow with Nissanka top-edging to the keeper, their bowlers found little respite thereafter. They were also guilty of a few misfields, which only added to their woes.
Rahul and Rana seized control, punishing anything loose and propelling Delhi to 68 for one, DC's best powerplay score of the season before plundering 145 runs in the middle overs.
Rana then shifted gears in spectacular fashion, taking apart Australian pacer Xavier Bartlett in the 12th over for 28 runs.
The left-hander dealt exclusively in boundaries, smashing two sixes and four fours in a sequence of 6,4,4,4,4,6.
At the other end, Rahul was equally ruthless, taking a liking to Vijaykumar Vyshak in the 16th over, from which he plundered three sixes and a four, as Delhi tightened their grip on the contest.
