The fourth and final IPL 2026 playoff position will be determined on the last day of the group stage, following around 70 games in 13 sites. For the Rajasthan Royals (RR), the formula is straightforward: win and advance to the playoffs (independent of other outcomes). The Punjab Kings' victory over the Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday night erased RR's tiny hopes of surviving even if they lost.
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| Jofra Archer finished with figures of 4-0-17-3 |
The fact that all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and skipper Riyan Parag are healthy for their last league match is a huge plus for RR. Jadeja missed their last two games due to an elbow and knee problem, while Parag was sidelined for two games due to a hamstring problem.
After losing three straight games in the latter part of the season, RR's campaign was derailed. However, they are now back on track to make the playoffs thanks to their recent convincing victory over the Lucknow Super Giants. Since 2015, RR has defeated the Mumbai Indians (MI) in three of their four meetings at the Wankhede, giving them an advantage.
After a disappointing season, this is MI's final opportunity to offer its home crowd something to look forward to. They might end up with the wooden spoon if they lose for the ninth time on Sunday.
In the spotlight: Part II of Bumrah vs. Sooryavanshi
The world saw Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs. Jasprit Bumrah for the first time when RR and MI last faced off. Although Sooryavanshi has hit 53 sixes this season, his first-ball six off Bumrah is perhaps the most memorable.
Bumrah only gave Sooryavanshi five balls, but he forced the bowler to use his reserves because two of his yorkers ended up as full-tosses, and a slower ball ended up on his legs. In Sunday's second round, can the seasoned veteran defeat the juvenile prodigy?
Team news: Parag and Jadeja are available
MI may think about replacing rookie legspinner Raghu Sharma with an additional seamer if the Wankhede pitch isn't slow enough. So far in this IPL, MI has rotated through 24 players, more than any other squad. Mohammed Izhar, a left-arm seamer from Bihar, will be their 25th player if he makes his debut.
Mumbai Indians (probable): 1 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Naman Dhir, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Hardik Pandya (capt), 7 Will Jacks, 8 Corbin Bosch, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 AM Ghazanfar, 12 Raghu Sharma/Shardul Thakur
Jadeja spent a little time with the ball and a lengthier time with the bat in the Wankhede nets the day before the match. Despite not attending RR's training session, Parag is scheduled to participate.
Rajasthan Royals (probable): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 3 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 4 Riyan Parag, 5 Donovan Ferreira, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Yash Raj Punja, 10 Brijesh Sharma/Tushar Deshpande, 11 Sandeep Sharma, 12 Sushant Mishra/Nadre Burger
Conditions and pitch
Pitch No. 6 at Wankhede is scheduled to be used for the third time this IPL and the fifth time since it hosted two T20 World Cup matches in February. Batting first might be a good option because this is an afternoon game, particularly if the surface is sticky and slows down as the game goes on. Mumbai is expected to have light showers on Sunday afternoon.
Trivia and Statistics
In 13 IPL innings, Sandeep Sharma has removed Rohit Sharma six times while limiting him to 38 runs off 47 balls at an 80.85 strike rate. In T20 cricket, Jorfra Archer has a strong head-to-head record against Rohit, taking three wickets for just 36 from 36 balls in nine innings.
In the IPL, Suryakumar Yadav has also struggled against Sandeep, scoring 33 runs off 32 balls for four wickets.
Chris Gayle's record for the most sixes in an IPL season is seven shots away from being surpassed by Sooryavanshi. In 15 games in 2012, Gayle hit 59 sixes. Sooryavanshi may play four more IPL games.
Ryan Rickelton has scored 326 runs in five innings at an average of 81.50 and a strike rate of more than 200, thanks to his enjoyment of hitting on the flat, bash-through-the-line surfaces at the Wankhede.
Despite managing 103 off 89 balls at a strike rate of 115.73, Tilak has been dismissed six times in ten innings due to his struggles against spin this season. Against pace, he has been more fluid, hitting at close to 170 and getting out only four times in 12 innings.
Quotes
"I think it's not fair just to bring those four guys, but I think as a group, a lot of the guys haven't been able to consistently perform. That's how I see it. Yes, they came from a very high, winning the World Cup and all that. What you have to understand is that how you play for your national team and how you play for the IPL franchise - sometimes it is different because the personnel is different."
MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene on Bumrah, Hardik, Suryakumar, and Tilak
"Jaiswal is a different kettle of fish from Vaibhav. He's been around, obviously, he's only 24-25 as well, so a young captain. He's so enthusiastic. In the team meetings, [he's] very good. He's really talking to all the bowlers, the batsmen. He's keen to really get the team together."
RR assistant coach Trevor Penney on Jaiswal's leadership skills
What should RR do at this point?
If RR wins the first game of the Sunday doubleheader against MI, nothing else will matter. With a victory, RR will advance to 16 points and secure fourth place. However, if they lose, the fourth qualifier will have to wait until KKR plays DC in the season's final league game.
Conditions
At Wankhede, the sun is exceptionally hot, the grass is exceptionally green, and the sky is exceptionally blue. With about an hour left before the toss, it is empty. When the Mumbai Indians use their EFA effort to pack the stadium with 25,000 children for their season-ending game, the stands will fill in.
Pitch #6
On a practice pitch, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is honing his behind-the-wicket strokes. Riyan Parag is inspecting the field for the game. Pitch No. 6 is that pitch, and thus far this season, it has been a rather high-scoring strip.
The monster that T20 created
This essay by Himanish Ganjoo about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is always worth reading again. It's an amazing book in many aspects, but its innovative utilisation of biomechanical data is what really sets it apart. If you haven't already, please read it. And if you have, read it once more.
Bumrah, Parag, and Jadeja return after the MI bowl
The Mumbai Indians choose to bowl against the Rajasthan Royals.
In their last IPL 2026 match, the Mumbai Indians (MI) won the toss and decided to bowl on a steamy, muggy afternoon at Wankhede Stadium. Hardik Pandya, captain of MI, observed that the pitch for this game—Pitch No. 6—tends to get better for batting as games go on, even though teams typically like to bat first in afternoon games. Riyan Parag, captain of the Rajasthan Royals (RR), stated that he would have loved to chase as well.
RR needs to win this game. The final league game of the season, which takes place later tonight in Kolkata between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Capitals (DC), will determine if KKR or Punjab Kings (PBKS) secure the final playoff slot. A victory puts them in the playoffs, while a loss eliminates them from contention. MI is no longer in the running.
With Parag and Ravindra Jadeja recovering from their individual injuries and Nandre Burger joining the seam attack, RR was back to full strength for this crucial match. Interestingly, Jadeja starts on the bench, so unless he is substituted for a top-order hitter after being dismissed, his role as an Impact Player may be restricted to bowling.
For their season-ending match, MI rested Jasprit Bumrah and added Shardul Thakur to their assault. The next Bumrah vs. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi match will have to wait until IPL 2027 for fans, including the 20,000 kids in the stands as part of the Education and Sports for All (ESA) initiative.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma begins on the bench as an Impact Player.
Rajasthan Royals: 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 3 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 4 Riyan Parag (capt), 5 Donovan Ferreira, 6 Shubham Dubey, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Nandre Burger, 10 Yash Raj Punja, 11 Brijesh Sharma.
At Wankhede, the sun is exceptionally hot, the grass is exceptionally green, and the sky is exceptionally blue. With about an hour left before the toss, it is empty. When the Mumbai Indians use their EFA effort to pack the stadium with 25,000 children for their season-ending game, the stands will fill in.
Pitch #6
On a practice pitch, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is honing his behind-the-wicket strokes. Riyan Parag is inspecting the field for the game. Pitch No. 6 is that pitch, and thus far this season, it has been a rather high-scoring strip.
The monster that T20 created
This essay by Himanish Ganjoo about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is always worth reading again. It's an amazing book in many aspects, but its innovative utilisation of biomechanical data is what really sets it apart. If you haven't already, please read it. And if you have, read it once more.
Bumrah, Parag, and Jadeja return after the MI bowl
The Mumbai Indians choose to bowl against the Rajasthan Royals.
In their last IPL 2026 match, the Mumbai Indians (MI) won the toss and decided to bowl on a steamy, muggy afternoon at Wankhede Stadium. Hardik Pandya, captain of MI, observed that the pitch for this game—Pitch No. 6—tends to get better for batting as games go on, even though teams typically like to bat first in afternoon games. Riyan Parag, captain of the Rajasthan Royals (RR), stated that he would have loved to chase as well.
RR needs to win this game. The final league game of the season, which takes place later tonight in Kolkata between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Delhi Capitals (DC), will determine if KKR or Punjab Kings (PBKS) secure the final playoff slot. A victory puts them in the playoffs, while a loss eliminates them from contention. MI is no longer in the running.
With Parag and Ravindra Jadeja recovering from their individual injuries and Nandre Burger joining the seam attack, RR was back to full strength for this crucial match. Interestingly, Jadeja starts on the bench, so unless he is substituted for a top-order hitter after being dismissed, his role as an Impact Player may be restricted to bowling.
For their season-ending match, MI rested Jasprit Bumrah and added Shardul Thakur to their assault. The next Bumrah vs. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi match will have to wait until IPL 2027 for fans, including the 20,000 kids in the stands as part of the Education and Sports for All (ESA) initiative.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma begins on the bench as an Impact Player.
Rajasthan Royals: 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 3 Dhruv Jurel (wk), 4 Riyan Parag (capt), 5 Donovan Ferreira, 6 Shubham Dubey, 7 Dasun Shanaka, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Nandre Burger, 10 Yash Raj Punja, 11 Brijesh Sharma.
Impact bench: Ravindra Jadeja, Sushant Mishra, Aman Rao Perala, Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar Deshpande.
Mumbai Indians: 1 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 2 Naman Dhir, 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Hardik Pandya (capt), 6 Will Jacks, 7 Corbin Bosch, 8 Deepak Chahar, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 AM Ghazanfar, 11 Raghu Sharma.
Mumbai Indians: 1 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 2 Naman Dhir, 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Hardik Pandya (capt), 6 Will Jacks, 7 Corbin Bosch, 8 Deepak Chahar, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 AM Ghazanfar, 11 Raghu Sharma.
Impact bench: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Rawat, Robin Minz, Krish Bhagat, Trent Boult.
Sooryavanshi, Chahar, Jacks
Sooryavanshi, Chahar, Jacks
Amazing cricket in the first over. First, a daring scheme from MI that nearly succeeds. As one of his two outfielders, Deepak Chahar starts with sweeper cover. He floats it full and wide, inviting Sooryavanshi to attempt to clear that fielder off the first ball he encounters. Will Jacks makes an incredible save after Sooryavanshi seemed to have just cleared the man.
When he collects the ball and throws it back into the field of play, he leaps backwards, keeping Sooryavanshi to just a single. His entire body is flying and beyond the rope. This plan may have been even more impressive if the bowling had come from the opposite end because of the shorter square boundary here.
Good response from Sooryavanshi as well. After all of this, he picks up a grass blade and lets it fall to determine the direction of the wind. This man considers everything.
The box of Jacks
In the early interactions, Will Jacks has had the biggest influence. In the first over, there was an amazing save. Then, in the second over, he comes on and gives up just four runs while bowling his offspin to the two left-handers. Yashasvi Jaiswal is also on the verge of being dismissed; a loud lbw shout occurs as Jaiswal stretches out and misses the sweep, and the ball is not distributed on the field. An umpire's decision about height at the stumps is returned by MI review and ball-tracking. little gaps. In two overs, RR is 13 for no loss.
Jacks wins Jaiswal
The match-up is successful, as is MI's choice to attempt a second over. Jaiswal appeared to be very threatening; earlier in this over, he had smashed three sixes, including a dance down the track. However, he takes on a ball that is too short to send down the ground and ends up skewing a high catch to the fielder at point. RR is 33 for 1 in 3.4 overs, while Jaiswal is out for 27 off 17.
Only five balls have been faced by Sooryavanshi. He has been nearly as much of a spectator thus far as the 20,000 schoolchildren who are watching this game from the stands.
Chahar receives Sooryavanshi
What a moment, wow. Good length, seam-up, angling into the channel and across Sooryavanshi. This kind of traditional good line and length may still be the best method for bowlers to limit damage and give themselves a chance to get him out, even if he has smashed many balls like this for six. He tries to hit over the on side, against the angle, but instead slices it high in the opposite way. Naman Dhir, who is sprinting in from the back point, catches him. In 4.1 overs, RR is 33 for 2. I wonder if this moment was in any way influenced by being starved of striking.
RR is down three after Ghazanfar's blow
This pitch has some grip, as the Jaiswal wicket and possibly the Sooryavanshi wicket demonstrated. Additionally, it aids AM Ghazanfar's first-over strike.
On the last two balls, Riyan Parag had struck him for a couple of fours (one wasn't off an in-control drive). Then, in an attempt to give himself space to release his arms, he finds himself farther away from a carrom ball's line than he would want because it clings and rotates somewhat. performs a good job of roughly centring his hit on the ground, but he falls short of clearing Tilak Varma, who makes a perfectly timed leaping and juggling catch at the rope's edge.
At 54 for 3, RR ends the powerplay.
Shanaka is off to a fast start
With assistance from MI's bowlers. He is now at 20 off 11 after hitting two sixes off delectable slot balls from Ghazanfar and Raghu Sharma. RR is 84 for 3 in nine overs, while Dhruv Jurel is on 14 off 12.
Run out, Shanaka
In a quite humorous way, at that. Shanaka rushes out of his crease at the non-striker's end after Jurel dabs Corbin Bosch in the direction of backwards point. By the time he learns that Jurel isn't interested in the single, Shanaka is nearly level with him. Even though Bosch mishandles the toss and Shardul Thakur mishandles the ball while collecting it, he still has two weeks to run Shanaka out.
RR are 99 for 4 in 10.3 overs, while he is out for 29 off 15.
Jurel starts moving
4 4 0 6 1 0
This season, he has struggled with slow starts and is usually most effective when striking pace rather than spin, especially in the middle overs. However, in a 15-run 12th over, he dismisses Ghazanfar for three crucial boundaries, and he is presently batting on 36 off 23.
Bosched is Jurel
Jurel is caught off guard by a fantastic yorker from Corbin Bosch and is unable to jam his bat down in time. Just as he was starting to get into speed, he was bowled for 38 off 26.
It's interesting to note that Jofra Archer was sent out at No. 7 instead of Ravindra Jadeja as Impact Player yet. With 7.1 overs remaining, it seems like Archer is in too early today, and Jadeja is a perfect fit to bat now and bowl later. RR had been hesitant to exploit Archer's batting abilities earlier this season; perhaps they read what I wrote about it. We'll see how it turns out.
This move also makes me question Jadeja's level of fitness. And there's still Shubham Dubey to bat!
Ferreira leaves
When Donovan Ferreira scores 18 off 15 balls, you know a pitch isn't simple. It's a touch slow and sticky, and now Deepak Chahar takes good use of it by using his slower ball to get into the pitch and quite wide of off stump. Ferreira tries to fetch a flat-bat pull from there but ends up holing out to long-on. Throughout his four overs today, Chahar has made superb use of the slower short ball.
In any case, Dubey is in now. Jadeja isn't here yet.
Archer is carrying out his duties
For RR, this promotion hasn't gone at all poorly. I believe his pure ball-striking abilities have been quite useful on this sluggish pitch. He is now at 21 off 11 after two blasted sixes over the leg side. In 17 overs, RR is 161 for 6.
Dubey leaves
Attempts to knock Thakur's slower, hard-length ball over long-on, but he is unable to clear the man. There was some controversy surrounding the dismissal because RR head coach Kumar Sangakkara was attempting to alert the fourth umpire to the fact that Thakur's towel had fallen off his waistline as he was about to deliver, but Dubey ultimately had to leave.
With 14 balls left, Jadeja is in. RR is 174 out of 7.
Archer is acquired by Thakur
For him, it's two out of three. This time, he is able to hit the hard length hard enough to raise the ball and prevent Archer from flat-batting it down the ground. He is out for 32 off 15 balls after being caught at long-on. Outstanding work. This is his best IPL score to date.
As it happens, Thakur was going to bowl this ball with six fielders outside the circle when Deepak Chahar noticed it and called for him to stop in his run-up. Before he bowled the ball, his backwards square leg entered the circle.
Because of his baseball-like approach of hitting hard-length balls, I believe Archer's promotion was particularly successful for RR. in addition to his height. On a surface where MI's seamers were continuously entering the pitch, it performed incredibly well.
205 for eight
Thirty off the final two overs, and in the last over, there was a little Sir vs. Lord squabbling between Jadeja and Thakur. 73 in the final five overs. RR had a fantastic finish, and they will confidently defend this in a day game.
In the first over, Archer strikes
Rohit Sharma delivers a duck with great skill. It has a decent length and is somewhat fuller, but it increases from there and has a late outswing as well. The ball ends up kissing the outside edge through to the keeper as Rohit plays the first angle, trying to whip it away through the leg side. It's also 145.1 kph.
In 0.4 overs, MI is 0 for 1.
Looking at the ball again, it's an inswinger that nips away after hitting the seam rather than an outswinger. I believe that once it straightened, the seam angle also tilted, causing it to appear to swing away slightly after the bounce.
The archer strikes once more
This is a true legcutter, with the seam being a little shaky and the fingers pushing slightly down the ball's side. After being angled into the stumps, it significantly straightens. Naman Dhir is bowled after swinging across it and missing.
In 2.3 overs, MI is 18 for 2. Archer is having a great time.
Run-out missed, wicket next ball
When he collects the ball and throws it back into the field of play, he leaps backwards, keeping Sooryavanshi to just a single. His entire body is flying and beyond the rope. This plan may have been even more impressive if the bowling had come from the opposite end because of the shorter square boundary here.
Good response from Sooryavanshi as well. After all of this, he picks up a grass blade and lets it fall to determine the direction of the wind. This man considers everything.
The box of Jacks
In the early interactions, Will Jacks has had the biggest influence. In the first over, there was an amazing save. Then, in the second over, he comes on and gives up just four runs while bowling his offspin to the two left-handers. Yashasvi Jaiswal is also on the verge of being dismissed; a loud lbw shout occurs as Jaiswal stretches out and misses the sweep, and the ball is not distributed on the field. An umpire's decision about height at the stumps is returned by MI review and ball-tracking. little gaps. In two overs, RR is 13 for no loss.
Jacks wins Jaiswal
The match-up is successful, as is MI's choice to attempt a second over. Jaiswal appeared to be very threatening; earlier in this over, he had smashed three sixes, including a dance down the track. However, he takes on a ball that is too short to send down the ground and ends up skewing a high catch to the fielder at point. RR is 33 for 1 in 3.4 overs, while Jaiswal is out for 27 off 17.
Only five balls have been faced by Sooryavanshi. He has been nearly as much of a spectator thus far as the 20,000 schoolchildren who are watching this game from the stands.
Chahar receives Sooryavanshi
What a moment, wow. Good length, seam-up, angling into the channel and across Sooryavanshi. This kind of traditional good line and length may still be the best method for bowlers to limit damage and give themselves a chance to get him out, even if he has smashed many balls like this for six. He tries to hit over the on side, against the angle, but instead slices it high in the opposite way. Naman Dhir, who is sprinting in from the back point, catches him. In 4.1 overs, RR is 33 for 2. I wonder if this moment was in any way influenced by being starved of striking.
RR is down three after Ghazanfar's blow
This pitch has some grip, as the Jaiswal wicket and possibly the Sooryavanshi wicket demonstrated. Additionally, it aids AM Ghazanfar's first-over strike.
On the last two balls, Riyan Parag had struck him for a couple of fours (one wasn't off an in-control drive). Then, in an attempt to give himself space to release his arms, he finds himself farther away from a carrom ball's line than he would want because it clings and rotates somewhat. performs a good job of roughly centring his hit on the ground, but he falls short of clearing Tilak Varma, who makes a perfectly timed leaping and juggling catch at the rope's edge.
At 54 for 3, RR ends the powerplay.
Shanaka is off to a fast start
With assistance from MI's bowlers. He is now at 20 off 11 after hitting two sixes off delectable slot balls from Ghazanfar and Raghu Sharma. RR is 84 for 3 in nine overs, while Dhruv Jurel is on 14 off 12.
Run out, Shanaka
In a quite humorous way, at that. Shanaka rushes out of his crease at the non-striker's end after Jurel dabs Corbin Bosch in the direction of backwards point. By the time he learns that Jurel isn't interested in the single, Shanaka is nearly level with him. Even though Bosch mishandles the toss and Shardul Thakur mishandles the ball while collecting it, he still has two weeks to run Shanaka out.
RR are 99 for 4 in 10.3 overs, while he is out for 29 off 15.
Jurel starts moving
4 4 0 6 1 0
This season, he has struggled with slow starts and is usually most effective when striking pace rather than spin, especially in the middle overs. However, in a 15-run 12th over, he dismisses Ghazanfar for three crucial boundaries, and he is presently batting on 36 off 23.
Bosched is Jurel
Jurel is caught off guard by a fantastic yorker from Corbin Bosch and is unable to jam his bat down in time. Just as he was starting to get into speed, he was bowled for 38 off 26.
It's interesting to note that Jofra Archer was sent out at No. 7 instead of Ravindra Jadeja as Impact Player yet. With 7.1 overs remaining, it seems like Archer is in too early today, and Jadeja is a perfect fit to bat now and bowl later. RR had been hesitant to exploit Archer's batting abilities earlier this season; perhaps they read what I wrote about it. We'll see how it turns out.
This move also makes me question Jadeja's level of fitness. And there's still Shubham Dubey to bat!
Ferreira leaves
When Donovan Ferreira scores 18 off 15 balls, you know a pitch isn't simple. It's a touch slow and sticky, and now Deepak Chahar takes good use of it by using his slower ball to get into the pitch and quite wide of off stump. Ferreira tries to fetch a flat-bat pull from there but ends up holing out to long-on. Throughout his four overs today, Chahar has made superb use of the slower short ball.
In any case, Dubey is in now. Jadeja isn't here yet.
Archer is carrying out his duties
For RR, this promotion hasn't gone at all poorly. I believe his pure ball-striking abilities have been quite useful on this sluggish pitch. He is now at 21 off 11 after two blasted sixes over the leg side. In 17 overs, RR is 161 for 6.
Dubey leaves
Attempts to knock Thakur's slower, hard-length ball over long-on, but he is unable to clear the man. There was some controversy surrounding the dismissal because RR head coach Kumar Sangakkara was attempting to alert the fourth umpire to the fact that Thakur's towel had fallen off his waistline as he was about to deliver, but Dubey ultimately had to leave.
With 14 balls left, Jadeja is in. RR is 174 out of 7.
Archer is acquired by Thakur
For him, it's two out of three. This time, he is able to hit the hard length hard enough to raise the ball and prevent Archer from flat-batting it down the ground. He is out for 32 off 15 balls after being caught at long-on. Outstanding work. This is his best IPL score to date.
As it happens, Thakur was going to bowl this ball with six fielders outside the circle when Deepak Chahar noticed it and called for him to stop in his run-up. Before he bowled the ball, his backwards square leg entered the circle.
Because of his baseball-like approach of hitting hard-length balls, I believe Archer's promotion was particularly successful for RR. in addition to his height. On a surface where MI's seamers were continuously entering the pitch, it performed incredibly well.
205 for eight
Thirty off the final two overs, and in the last over, there was a little Sir vs. Lord squabbling between Jadeja and Thakur. 73 in the final five overs. RR had a fantastic finish, and they will confidently defend this in a day game.
In the first over, Archer strikes
Rohit Sharma delivers a duck with great skill. It has a decent length and is somewhat fuller, but it increases from there and has a late outswing as well. The ball ends up kissing the outside edge through to the keeper as Rohit plays the first angle, trying to whip it away through the leg side. It's also 145.1 kph.
In 0.4 overs, MI is 0 for 1.
Looking at the ball again, it's an inswinger that nips away after hitting the seam rather than an outswinger. I believe that once it straightened, the seam angle also tilted, causing it to appear to swing away slightly after the bounce.
The archer strikes once more
This is a true legcutter, with the seam being a little shaky and the fingers pushing slightly down the ball's side. After being angled into the stumps, it significantly straightens. Naman Dhir is bowled after swinging across it and missing.
In 2.3 overs, MI is 18 for 2. Archer is having a great time.
Run-out missed, wicket next ball
Rickelton and SKY made a terrible mistake, but Brijesh Sharma's throw from midwicket, while Rickelton is far from his crease, is almost two feet too high to hit the stumps, and they also receive an overthrow. Unbeknownst to him, Brijesh had more time to calm down and toss.
In any case, Rickelton is caught at short midwicket off the inner half of the bat after swiping at the next ball from Nandre Burger, a hard-length ball that nips into him. It's a simple opportunity, but it's good to see Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the field making his first IPL catch.
In 3.2 overs, MI is 24 for 3.
Brijesh breaks through Tilak
Brijesh Sharma gets his first-ball wicket after entering the game to bowl the sixth over. This ball jags in and stays low from a length that prevents Tilak Varma from moving forward or backwards as it round the wicket. Not playable. attempts to jam his bat down but is unsuccessful, particularly with that motion.
RR may have a chance to make the playoffs, while MI are 38 for 4 in 5.1 overs.
Jacks and SKY deliver consecutive punches
What's going on here? First, Will Jacks tries to block a beamer that Brijesh lets slip, but he is hit in the gloves.
After the batters have run a single, SKY is on strike for the next ball. He tries to drop down low and play his scoop off another full-toss, but he edges the ball right into his helmet.
Fortunately, though, both of them are doing well.
MI 49 for 4 concludes the powerplay.
MI is still involved
At least as long as Jacks and SKY are out there. SKY just played the shot of the innings, creating space to hit a back-of-a-length ball from Jadeja over the covers for six after they have already put on 43 off 24 balls. MI needs 125 to win the final 11 overs after being 81 for 4.
Punja receives Jacks
The legspinner hits. A wicket from the playbook of Yuzvendra Chahal. After hitting Yash Raj Punja for a six off the previous ball, Jacks encourages him to repeat the feat by delivering a similar wide-line legbreak that is not quite as full. Jacks accepts it, launches it into the air, and it eventually finds its way into Jurel's gloves.
In any case, Rickelton is caught at short midwicket off the inner half of the bat after swiping at the next ball from Nandre Burger, a hard-length ball that nips into him. It's a simple opportunity, but it's good to see Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the field making his first IPL catch.
In 3.2 overs, MI is 24 for 3.
Brijesh breaks through Tilak
Brijesh Sharma gets his first-ball wicket after entering the game to bowl the sixth over. This ball jags in and stays low from a length that prevents Tilak Varma from moving forward or backwards as it round the wicket. Not playable. attempts to jam his bat down but is unsuccessful, particularly with that motion.
RR may have a chance to make the playoffs, while MI are 38 for 4 in 5.1 overs.
Jacks and SKY deliver consecutive punches
What's going on here? First, Will Jacks tries to block a beamer that Brijesh lets slip, but he is hit in the gloves.
After the batters have run a single, SKY is on strike for the next ball. He tries to drop down low and play his scoop off another full-toss, but he edges the ball right into his helmet.
Fortunately, though, both of them are doing well.
MI 49 for 4 concludes the powerplay.
MI is still involved
At least as long as Jacks and SKY are out there. SKY just played the shot of the innings, creating space to hit a back-of-a-length ball from Jadeja over the covers for six after they have already put on 43 off 24 balls. MI needs 125 to win the final 11 overs after being 81 for 4.
Punja receives Jacks
The legspinner hits. A wicket from the playbook of Yuzvendra Chahal. After hitting Yash Raj Punja for a six off the previous ball, Jacks encourages him to repeat the feat by delivering a similar wide-line legbreak that is not quite as full. Jacks accepts it, launches it into the air, and it eventually finds its way into Jurel's gloves.
In 11.3 overs, MI is 101 for 5.
And with the subsequent ball, Punja creates another opportunity. Hardik Pandya attempts to hit it over the covers with a similar line and trajectory, as well as some grip and turn once more. Parag spins around, sprints, and tries to make a challenging, over-the-shoulder catch, but he can't quite grasp on on the dive after hitting it higher and with less force than he desires.
Hardik gets off to a great start
He's had a difficult season with the bat, but at the end of it, we might see a classic Hardik Pandya knock. He has been striking the ball with a terrifying confidence ever since the first-ball half-chance. In his first over at the crease, Punja hit two sixes, and Dasun Shanaka hit two pulled fours. MI are 131 for 5, and he's rushed to 25 off seven balls. They require 75 off of 42.
For SKY, fifty
And with the subsequent ball, Punja creates another opportunity. Hardik Pandya attempts to hit it over the covers with a similar line and trajectory, as well as some grip and turn once more. Parag spins around, sprints, and tries to make a challenging, over-the-shoulder catch, but he can't quite grasp on on the dive after hitting it higher and with less force than he desires.
Hardik gets off to a great start
He's had a difficult season with the bat, but at the end of it, we might see a classic Hardik Pandya knock. He has been striking the ball with a terrifying confidence ever since the first-ball half-chance. In his first over at the crease, Punja hit two sixes, and Dasun Shanaka hit two pulled fours. MI are 131 for 5, and he's rushed to 25 off seven balls. They require 75 off of 42.
For SKY, fifty
Beautiful evening. Although I don't believe he has yet fully recovered his range, he has used all of his experience to reach his fifty off thirty-two balls. Not much to celebrate. SKY wants to be present when they arrive, while MI wants to finish with a victory.
The archer continues to arch
One of the best all-around performances in the IPL is this one. 32 off 15 following a promotion to No. 7. Then two incredibly fast and agile new-ball wickets. Now that MI is threatening to end RR's chances of making the playoffs, he returns for his fourth over and uses the ideal hard-length ball to dismiss a very dangerous-looking Hardik Pandya. The attempted flat-bat hit finishes up as a straightforward catch at long-on after being banged into the pitch and raised high, probably in the vicinity of Hardik's rear shoulder.
He ends with figures of 4-0-17-3; SKY is still at the crease on 58 off 39, and MI needs 56 off the final four overs.
Bosch is given to Punja
Donovan Ferreira's effortless athleticism at the midwicket boundary was lovely. In an attempt to slog-sweep Punja against the turn, Corbin Bosch falters. Ferreira runs to his right, stumbles to his right, and emerges grinning and holding the ball.
In 16.3 overs, MI is 152 for 7.
SKY leaves
Nandre Burger ends up early on his draw after going hard length, pace off, and crosses Suryakumar. Instead of going over midwicket, where he was aiming, he toe-ends it directly back to the bowler. MI are 157 for 8 in 17.4 overs while he is out for 60 off 43, which is 10 off 11 balls since he reached his half-century. 48 off 15 balls is what they require.
Oh no, what's going on here? Deepak Chahar skies a draw to his right while Archer is at mid-on for the subsequent ball. dives, pursues, and is unable to hold onto the catch. After a few moments of grimacing on the ground, he gets up and goes back to his fielding position. He appeared to hold his hamstring for a moment, but it should be alright. I hope he's alright.
Wickets continue to wicket
Brijesh uses a beautiful, slower, dipping full-toss to get Chahar lbw. Despite the fact that it seems and is plumb, Chahar reviews it because, well, why not? This is his final opportunity to request a review for this season.
RR secures the last playoff spot
The match between DC and KKR has started in Kolkata, but it's the deadliest of dead rubbers to end the league round. With a performance that will give them a lot of confidence, the Rajasthan Royals are in the playoffs.
They lost both of their openers early, struggled with the bat, and struggled to gain much momentum in the early middle overs on a slow pitch. After being elevated to No. 7, Jofra Archer started putting together one of the best all-around performances in the IPL. And for the most part, RR was in control despite the best efforts of SKY, Jacks, and Hardik in the chase.
On May 27 in New Chandigarh, RR will now play Sunrisers Hyderabad in the eliminator. Travishek vs. JaiSoorya in a batting-friendly setting. That will be an amazing game. I'm eager for that!
The archer continues to arch
One of the best all-around performances in the IPL is this one. 32 off 15 following a promotion to No. 7. Then two incredibly fast and agile new-ball wickets. Now that MI is threatening to end RR's chances of making the playoffs, he returns for his fourth over and uses the ideal hard-length ball to dismiss a very dangerous-looking Hardik Pandya. The attempted flat-bat hit finishes up as a straightforward catch at long-on after being banged into the pitch and raised high, probably in the vicinity of Hardik's rear shoulder.
He ends with figures of 4-0-17-3; SKY is still at the crease on 58 off 39, and MI needs 56 off the final four overs.
Bosch is given to Punja
Donovan Ferreira's effortless athleticism at the midwicket boundary was lovely. In an attempt to slog-sweep Punja against the turn, Corbin Bosch falters. Ferreira runs to his right, stumbles to his right, and emerges grinning and holding the ball.
In 16.3 overs, MI is 152 for 7.
SKY leaves
Nandre Burger ends up early on his draw after going hard length, pace off, and crosses Suryakumar. Instead of going over midwicket, where he was aiming, he toe-ends it directly back to the bowler. MI are 157 for 8 in 17.4 overs while he is out for 60 off 43, which is 10 off 11 balls since he reached his half-century. 48 off 15 balls is what they require.
Oh no, what's going on here? Deepak Chahar skies a draw to his right while Archer is at mid-on for the subsequent ball. dives, pursues, and is unable to hold onto the catch. After a few moments of grimacing on the ground, he gets up and goes back to his fielding position. He appeared to hold his hamstring for a moment, but it should be alright. I hope he's alright.
Wickets continue to wicket
Brijesh uses a beautiful, slower, dipping full-toss to get Chahar lbw. Despite the fact that it seems and is plumb, Chahar reviews it because, well, why not? This is his final opportunity to request a review for this season.
RR secures the last playoff spot
The match between DC and KKR has started in Kolkata, but it's the deadliest of dead rubbers to end the league round. With a performance that will give them a lot of confidence, the Rajasthan Royals are in the playoffs.
They lost both of their openers early, struggled with the bat, and struggled to gain much momentum in the early middle overs on a slow pitch. After being elevated to No. 7, Jofra Archer started putting together one of the best all-around performances in the IPL. And for the most part, RR was in control despite the best efforts of SKY, Jacks, and Hardik in the chase.
On May 27 in New Chandigarh, RR will now play Sunrisers Hyderabad in the eliminator. Travishek vs. JaiSoorya in a batting-friendly setting. That will be an amazing game. I'm eager for that!
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