Mumbai Indians secured a thrilling four-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their IPL clash on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the Wankhede Stadium. Chasing a target of 163, MI comfortably crossed the finish line with 11 deliveries to spare, ending at 166/6 in 18.1 overs.
Will Jacks led the scoring for the Mumbai Indians with a composed 36 runs off 26 balls, supported by Ryan Rickelton’s 31. Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav contributed 26 runs each, while skipper Hardik Pandya provided the finishing touch with a quick-fire 21 runs from just nine deliveries.
For Sunrisers Hyderabad, captain Pat Cummins was the standout bowler, claiming three wickets for 26 runs, while Eshan Malinga picked up two scalps. Batting first after being put in, SRH managed to post a challenging total of 162/5 in their 20 overs, thanks to contributions from Abhishek Sharma (40 off 28), Heinrich Klaasen (37), Travis Head (28), Nitish Kumar Reddy (19), and a late flourish by Aniket Verma (18 off 8).
The match began with the Mumbai Indians winning the toss and opting to field first. It was a decision that paid off as their bowlers put on a stranglehold on the SRH batting lineup. Will Jacks made a significant impact with the ball, taking 2 wickets for just 14 runs in his three overs, while Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya each chipped in with a wicket.
Abhishek Sharma provided a steady start for SRH, scoring 40 runs, but his innings was marred by a dropped catch on the very first ball by Jacks. Sharma was eventually dismissed by Pandya, who took a well-judged catch. Heinrich Klaasen tried to stabilize the innings, smashing 37 runs off 28 balls, but the MI bowlers kept the pressure on.
Travis Head’s struggles continued as he managed only 28 runs off 29 balls before being dismissed by Jacks, marking a disappointing outing for the SRH opener. The innings saw some late fireworks from Aniket Verma, who struck three sixes in the final over off Pandya, helping SRH reach a respectable total of 162.
In response, the Mumbai Indians started cautiously, with openers Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma negotiating the early overs against a disciplined SRH bowling attack. Sharma, looking in sublime touch, scored 26 runs off 16 balls, including three sixes, before falling to Cummins.
Rickelton and Jacks then steadied the innings, with Jacks leading the charge. However, the MI innings faced a hiccup when they lost Suryakumar Yadav to Cummins after a brief cameo of 17 runs off just eight balls. At this stage, MI needed 44 runs off 42 balls, but the pressure was on as they lost wickets at crucial moments.
Despite the setbacks, Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma kept the scoreboard ticking, with Pandya’s explosive batting providing the momentum needed for MI. He hit a couple of boundaries before falling to Malinga, leaving MI in a tricky situation.
As the match progressed, MI found themselves needing just one run for victory when they lost two wickets in quick succession, which raised concerns about their net run rate. However, Tilak Varma managed to sweep a delivery from Zeeshan Ansari for the winning boundary, sealing the game for MI and adding another win to their campaign.
After the match, Will Jacks was awarded the Player of the Match for his all-round performance, contributing both with the bat and the ball. He expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance and emphasized the importance of adapting to the conditions.
Hardik Pandya, MI's captain, praised his bowlers for their disciplined performance, stating, "The way we bowled today was very smart, forcing the opposition to play better shots." He also acknowledged the need for his team to play smartly while chasing down targets.
On the other hand, SRH skipper Pat Cummins reflected on the match, noting that the pitch was not the easiest to bat on and that they fell short of runs. He mentioned that despite having all bases covered, scoring 160 was always going to be a challenge.
As the IPL season progresses, both teams will look to build on their performances. The Mumbai Indians will aim to maintain their winning momentum, while Sunrisers Hyderabad will need to regroup and address their inconsistencies as they strive to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Next up in the IPL 2025 is a highly anticipated clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday, April 18, 2025. Fans can expect another thrilling encounter as the competition heats up.
