Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated Mumbai Indians (MI) by 27 runs in a rain-affected 11-over match in Guwahati. The game started late after a delay of more than two and a half hours, but RR made full use of the shortened format with an explosive batting display.
Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gave RR a flying start, adding 80 runs in just five overs. Sooryavanshi played a quickfire knock of 39 off 14 balls, showing no fear against MI’s top bowlers, including Jasprit Bumrah. Jaiswal continued the attack and remained unbeaten on 77 off 32 balls, smashing boundaries all around the ground. Despite a couple of middle-order wickets, RR posted a strong total of 150 for 3.
Chasing a steep target, MI got off to a poor start and lost three wickets early in the shortened powerplay. Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Ryan Rickelton were dismissed cheaply, putting the team under pressure. Although Sherfane Rutherford and Naman Dhir tried to fight back with a quick partnership, the required run rate kept climbing, making the chase difficult.
RR’s bowlers executed their plans well, especially on a slightly slower pitch. Sandeep Sharma, Nandre Burger, and Ravi Bishnoi picked up two wickets each, while Jofra Archer provided an early breakthrough. Their disciplined bowling ensured MI were restricted to 123 for 9.
With this win, RR continued their strong form, moving to the top of the points table with three wins in three matches. Meanwhile, MI suffered their second consecutive defeat, raising concerns about their performance in the tournament.
