IPL 2022: Match 9, MI vs RR – Who Said What

Rajasthan Royals beat Mumbai Indians by 23 runs to register their second straight win in IPL 2022 at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on April 2. After an excellent batting display in the first innings, the RR bowlers showcased a disciplined performance in the second, as the MI batters could not capitalize on crunch situations after a point in time.

After being put in to bat by Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma, a quickfire 100 runs from 68 balls by opener Jos Buttler set the platform for Rajasthan to get a big score. Meanwhile, this was also the first century of IPL 2022. Buttler took up the responsibility after Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal were dismissed cheaply.

The English wicketkeeper-batter added 82 runs for the third-wicket stand with skipper Sanju Samson and was then involved in a 53-run stand for the fourth wicket with Shimron Hetmyer, as the 2008 winners posted a stiff total of 193/8 from their 20 overs.

MI lose the plot in a stiff run chase

In reply, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma kept Mumbai in the hunt with an 81-run stand for the third wicket. Kishan scored 54 runs from 43 deliveries, while Varma contributed with a quickfire 33-ball 61. However, once the duo was sent back, it opened up the floodgates for the RR bowlers and they ran through MI’s middle-order.

Kieron Pollard did try to do the unthinkable but unfortunately, with the asking rate getting steeper and no support from the other end, there was no extraordinary performance from him as the five-time champions were restricted to 170/8 from their 20 overs.

Losing skipper, Rohit Sharma said:

I thought they batted pretty well to get to 193. Buttler played an exceptional innings. We tried everything to get him out but he played really well. I thought 193 on that pitch could have been chased, especially when we needed 70 off 7 overs. But these things can happen as it is early days in the tournament, we can learn from that and come out better.

(The positives are) Bumrah bowling well, Mills too, Tilak’s batting was exceptional and so was Ishan’s. I think one of those two should have batted through. The other side is big and we wanted to make the batters hit to that side, but it happens when you come up against a quality batter like Buttler.

He (SKY) is a key player for us. Once he is fit he will come straight back. These finger injuries can be tricky and we want to give him time.

Winning skipper, Sanju Samson said:

It feels really good to win. With Pollard there at the end, the game was still on and we did well. Playing a quality team like Mumbai Indians, we know they will come after you. Have to trust in your death bowlers and that’s what I had.

We knew that a couple of wickets and things would turn. Have to trust our bowling attack, there are a lot of thinkers and it was about just trusting them. As the tournament goes on, we have to learn our lessons and move forward, whether we win or lose.

Player of the Match, Jos Buttler said: