In a must-win encounter at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Indians began their innings with promise against the Delhi Capitals, racing to 54/2 at the end of the powerplay. Their intent was clear from the outset, but as the pitch began to offer turn and grip, the momentum waned. Spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam stifled the scoring through the middle overs, conceding just 47 runs between them in a tight eight-over spell. Even Suryakumar Yadav, known for his aggressive strokeplay, found himself subdued during this tricky phase.
Despite the challenging surface, Suryakumar Yadav showcased his maturity and experience by resisting the urge to take unnecessary risks. He waited patiently for Delhi skipper Faf du Plessis to rotate his bowlers and bring the pacers back into the attack.
With Mumbai Indians crawling to 132/5 by the end of the 18th over, many would have feared a total well below par. However, SKY kept his calm, and alongside a fearless Naman Dhir, orchestrated a stunning late surge.
The turning point came in the 19th over when the pair launched a brutal assault on Mukesh Kumar, smashing three sixes and two boundaries to extract 27 runs. The fireworks didn’t stop there. Riding the wave of momentum, Suryakumar took on Dushmantha Chameera in the final over, hammering two more sixes and a four off the first four balls, putting MI in pole position for a strong finish.
With Delhi running out of options, Chameera reverted to his go-to toe-crushing yorker, hoping to stem the flow. But Suryakumar, in sublime form, anticipated the delivery and innovated brilliantly. He bent low and steered the ball past the keeper with a deft, hockey-like flick, drawing gasps from the crowd and disbelief from social media. The shot went viral almost instantly, with many comparing it to a field hockey assist during a penalty corner.
Thanks to Suryakumar’s late blitz, Mumbai Indians posted a competitive 180/5, having plundered a remarkable 48 runs in the final two overs.
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What looked like a middling total at the end of 18 overs was suddenly transformed into a defendable score, all due to SKY’s calculated brilliance and MI’s death-over onslaught. The innings served as a masterclass in pacing and finishing under pressure, keeping Mumbai’s playoff hopes alive.