No flat tracks, no party for SRH as Mumbai Indians claim 3rd win of IPL 2025 to stay alive

Mumbai Indians (MI) are known as slow starters. And as we move to the second half of the Indian Premier League (IPL), they are finding their feet. Jasprit Bumrah’s return has bode well for them. But it’s not just their ace pacer. Their batters are getting in form. Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Will Jacks, and Suryakumar Yadav all played well on what was a tricky Wankhede Stadium pitch against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Despite losing Karn Sharma to an injury in the third over of the match, MI restricted SRH to just 162. Trent Boult, Bumrah, and Jacks took control of the match, keeping the destructive SRH batters quiet. Once again the world saw how one-dimensional the SRH batting lineup was.

SRH batting exposed again

Even those with technique good enough to score a Test hundred in Australia, like Nitish Kumar Reddy, weren’t ready to play the situation or conditions. While one understands that intent is paramount in the current T20 dynamics, what’s the use of trying to score 300 on pitches where even 180 might be defended?

The pitch had spin. There was early movement as well. SRH had lost no wickets in the first seven overs. Yet, 59/0 in 7.2 overs, they scored just 162 runs and lost just 5 wickets. That’s 103 runs in 66 balls. So despite trying to whack every ball, they didn’t even score 8.5 runs per over.

Had they tried to navigate through, they might have scored more. One mustn’t forget that SRH added 47 runs in the 3 overs. This my way or the highway approach isn’t working. And it seems like Pat Cummins and co. aren’t willing to try something else either. The pitches will get only slower from here, due to the wear and tear. SRH already are almost out, but they might end last if they don’t change their methods.

MI’s collective batting effort

There was some purchase in the pitch, and to start with, Mohammed Shami and Pat Cummins bowled well. But once Rohit Sharma took Shami on in the third over, MI had complete control over the match. By the 6th over, 55 runs were already scored, and just 108 were needed in 14 overs.

SRH got Rickelton in the 8th over, but the run rate was the issue. MI had been scoring at over 8. The only way to victory was quick wickets. And when Suryakumar Yadav joined Jacks, the run rate rose. By the time both departed, MI needed just 35 runs in 33 balls. Ehsan Malinga got the wickets of Hardik Pandya and Naman Dhir in the 18th over but MI beat SRH with 4 wickets in hand and 11 balls to spare.