IPL 2022 | RR vs MI | Mumbai register first win in 9 games; bail out on an unwanted record

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians have finally won their first game of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, presenting their Skipper Rohit Sharma with the perfect gift on his birthday. As a result of this victory, MI has avoided an unwanted record of 9 consecutive losses held by Pune Warriors India in 2012 and 2013.

Mumbai started by making a flurry of changes in their lineup by bringing Tim David back and giving a chance to debutant Kumar Kartikeya Singh. 

After opting to bowl first, MI controlled the powerplay despite Devdutt Paddikal scoring three fours in an over of Daniel Sams. Rajasthan managed 40 odd runs in the powerplay, with Jos Buttler still striking under 100.

Debutant Kartikeya and Hrithik Shokeen bowled tight lines and got wickets of Samson and Paddikal, respectively. Kartikeya was impressive with his clever variations and ended with one wicket for 19 runs in his quota of 4 overs.

Daryl Mitchell and his struggle in middle overs didn't help RR much. Buttler, meanwhile, broke free with four back to back sixes against Shokeen in the 16th over. However, the youngster had the last laugh as he got the better of the Englishman.

While Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer struggled badly in death, R Ashwin provided RR with a decent finish scoring a quickfire 21 off 9. Meredith bowled brilliantly at death to get rid of Ashwin and Parag, restricting Royals to 158-6.

After struggling to get a move on in the powerplay in recent games, Ishan Kishan looked as determined as ever. However, Boult came back to pick him in the final over of the powerplay. The Birthday boy couldn't get a move on and fell to Ashwin in the 3rd over.

Samson called Daryl Mitchell in attack just after the powerplay, and it helped Tilak Varma and Surya Kumar Yadav break free with 20 runs after they were left wobbling on 41/2 at the end of the powerplay. The right and left-hand combination helped MI as they stitched together a crucial partnership of 81 runs off 56 balls. 

Yuzi Chahal came back in the 15th over to get rid of SKY, who holed out to Riyan Parag trying to clear the long-on boundary. In the very next over, Tilak Varma lobbed one straight to Parag again, leaving Mumbai in a spot of bother with both set batters out.

Chasing 35 in the last four overs, Tim David eased the pressure, striking Chahal for a massive six. Although Pollard looked unsettled on the crease, he took three doubles in the 19th over and brought down the equation to 4 runs for the final over.

Kuldeep Sen came to bowl the last over and got Pollard out off the first delivery. Then, with nothing to defend, Daniel Sams finished the game off with an explosive hoick and gave MI camp a reason to smile after a disappointing season.

Brief Scores:

Rajasthan Royals - 158/6 (20)

Jos Buttler 67 (52), Ravichandran Ashwin 21(9)

Riley Meredith 2/24 (4), Hritik Shokeen 2/47 (3)

Mumbai Indians - 161/5 (19.2)

SuryaKumar Yadav 51(39), Tilak Verma 35(30)

Ravichandran Ashwin 1/21 (4), Prasidh Krishna 1/29 (4)

Mumbai Indian won by 5 wickets