In Jaipur, the Mumbai Indians made a clear statement of intent by crushing the Rajasthan Royals by 100 runs in a lopsided match that not only put them atop the IPL 2025 points standings but also ended the Royals’ hopes of qualifying for the playoffs.
Openers: Rohit and Rickelton
The Mumbai Indians appeared to be a team on a mission from the first ball. Opening batsmen Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton set the tone with a scorching partnership after being put in to bat at Sawai Mansingh Stadium. The Rajasthan bowlers were under tremendous pressure as the pair quickly reached a 116-run partnership. Rickelton top-scored with a dominant 61, while Rohit, in sublime form, hit a fluid 53. Both players recorded half-centuries that set the stage for an enormous total.
Impact of Suryakumar Yadav
The momentum continued after the openers departed. In the final overs, Suryakumar Yadav and captain Hardik Pandya took the initiative and hit a barrage of boundaries. Together, they formed a quick 94-run partnership that helped Mumbai reach a commanding 217/2 in their 20 overs, with both players finishing undefeated at 48. Jofra Archer and Maheesh Theekshana, two of the Royals’ bowlers, were at a loss for answers as the visiting batters exploited any openings they could.
Wickets Crumble
The Rajasthan Royals needed to get off to a fast start in order to chase 218 runs, but their innings quickly fell apart. While Deepak Chahar dismissed the young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi for a duck, Trent Boult, playing against his old team, took out Nitish Rana and Yashasvi Jaiswal early on. Only Riyan Parag showed some tenacity with a quick 16 before falling to Jasprit Bumrah, as the Royals’ top order collapsed under pressure.
There was not much resistance from the middle order. At eleven, Dhruv Jurel’s brief appearance came to an end, and star batsman Shimron Hetmyer was removed for a golden duck. The required run rate skyrocketed out of reach as wickets continued to tumble. Leg-spinner Karn Sharma, Boult, and Bumrah all took three wickets apiece, while Bumrah finished with a commanding 2/15. In 16.1 overs, Rajasthan was bowled out for just 117, giving Mumbai a decisive victory.
The Magic Win
The Mumbai Indians’ victory was particularly noteworthy because it was their first in Jaipur since 2012, and it extended their winning run to six games. The outcome also solidified the Rajasthan Royals’ elimination from the playoffs—a devastating blow to a team that showed early promise but faltered at key moments.
The foundation for Mumbai’s enormous total was laid by the opening stand of Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton, who combined for 116 runs. Mumbai easily reached 200 thanks to the unbeaten 94-run partnership between Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya in the late innings. Rajasthan was left reeling after Trent Boult’s early strikes and his double blow during the powerplay. The leg-spinner ran through the lower order with Karn Sharma’s triple strike, ensuring the Royals’ doom. Any hopes of a Rajasthan comeback were crushed by Jasprit Bumrah’s economy during his tight spell (2/15).
Mumbai’s complete dominance in this game serves as a stark reminder to the other teams in the league as they aim to win another IPL championship. It’s a time for introspection for Rajasthan following a campaign that promised much but ultimately fell short.
Written by Smita Singh
