Mumbai Indian’s Game Completely Crushed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru
It was the match number 20, and the first of the ongoing rivalry week in the Indian Premier League 2025. Two dominant teams Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians took each other on at the iconic Wankhede Stadium.
It is the second season of Hardik Pandya as the captain of MI and looks like it is not going as per his plan at all. The all-rounder returned to MI ahead of last season and had replaced Rohit Sharma as the skipper. Hoping the team would win yesterday’s match, not even the return of Jasprit Bumrah could save them though.
In what can be considered as the El Clasico of IPL, RCB were asked to bat first by Hardik, and they raced to a massive total of 221 for 5 in 20 overs. This score came through courtesy some power packed batting from King Virat Kohli, RCB skipper Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma.
After being hammered around by the RCB batters, Pandya thought his batting line up would turn on their magic and chase the total, which the bowlers could not restrain despite all their efforts.
When Mumbai Indians came to bat in the second innings, the start was poor, with wickets of Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Ryan Rickelton falling in quick succession.
Chasing 222 runs, the MI batsmen had started to fall like a pack of cards, as at one point they 99 for 4. Their actual batting began with the entry of Tilak Varma, who was pulled out retired hurt by Mumbai Indians in their previous match.
Varma hammered a brilliant knock of 59 runs in 29 balls and raised 89 run partnership for the fifth wicket with Hardik Pandya, but their efforts went totally futile as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated the five-time champions by 12 runs.
At one point MI needed just 41 runs off 18 balls and looked like they were all guns blazing; but RCB ended their sensational fightback as Bhuvneshwar Kumar sent back Varma, and Josh Hazlewood got Hardik in the death overs.
The final over of the high-octane encounter was the match stealer, as Krunal Pandya’s sizzling display took the game away from the MI Paltan. Ahead of the 20th over, MI needed mere 19 runs off six balls.
The spinner began on a dominant note, claimed wickets and silenced the MI dugout with a twist in the story that nobody was prepared for. Krunal ended the match for his team by clinching an epic win, a much-desired victory at the Wankhede Stadium after a long gap of 10 years, ending the unfortunate jinx that RCB had until now.
Hardik Pandya’s expressions completely changed from a smile to one of embarrassment and disappointment. The irony of the situation was that it was his elder brother who cost him the match, after he took MI so close to the finish line.
While Virat Kohli was visibly joyous, his animated expressions and over the top celebration were the highlight post the win. He was all charged up as the former skipper roared in all glory in the middle of the ground, as the match drew its end.
Thanks to the all-round efforts from the batsmen and bowlers, RCB beat MI and snatched the two points to go third on the points table, MI’s poor form as a team continues, with nothing going right for them in this season.
They certainly have many things to reflect upon and re-work, if they wish to qualify for the play-offs.
By: Tulika Agarwal
