Twitter Reactions: Quinton de Kock shines in Mumbai Indians' clinical display against Rajasthan Royals

Quinton de Kock remained unbeaten on 70 off 50.

By Pratyay Tiwari

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Quinton de Kock
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Quinton de Kock. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

Mumbai Indians got back to winning ways after a disciplined effort with the ball was well-supported by the batsmen, especially Quinton de Kock, who remained unbeaten on 70 off 50, including six fours and a couple of sixes, to ensure a victory for his side.

Winning the toss at the new venue, Rohit Sharma confidently opted to chase intending to know the target on a fresh surface. Crucial 40s from Jos Buttler and skipper Sanju Samson alongside a couple of cameos from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube led Rajasthan to a competitive score.

Royals fly off the blocks after a sedate start

The Royals’ struggle in the first six overs has been evident since the last season, losing more wickets than any other team and scoring far too slow despite the field restrictions. Although, that changed courtesy of the openers’ balanced approach and a couple of reprieves: Rahul Chahar dropped Buttler off Jayant Yadav, while a direct hit was missed to give him another chance.

Their proceedings started in style as Buttler worked Trent Boult on the leg-side to get a boundary on the very first ball. Maneuvering the pacers vigilantly, the two batters ensured getting their eyes in before launching an assault as Buttler whacked Jayant Yadav over midwicket for a four and six. Yashasvi Jaiswal followed suit against Nathan Coulter-Nile, picking 10 off successive deliveries in what was Royals’ first unscathed powerplay partnership of the season.

MI’s bowlers continued to bowl short of a length, allowing Buttler to free his arms and target the midwicket boundary. He picked a six off Chahar in the 8th over but got himself stumped for a 32-ball 41 in an attempt to make it two in two.

Dube, Samson get going

Having broken the 66-run opening stand, Chahar struck in his immediately following over, outfoxing Jaiswal (32 off 20), who chipped a googly back as a return catch. Despite the fall of openers, Shivam Dube and Sanju Samson held their nerves, kept picking an odd boundary apart from rotating strike regularly in their 57-run stand. After a slightly controlled phase, the duo accelerated in overs 15-16, which produced 27 runs.

Although, the opponents’ most crucial strikers returned to put a lid on the scoring, giving only 31 runs in the last four overs. Boult uprooted Samson’s middle-stump with a ripping yorker to end his 27-ball 42, while Bumrah grabbed an easy return catch in the 18th to remove Dube (35 off 31) before David Miller and Riyan Parag scored 12 off the last over to push the score past 170.

Quinton de Kock sets up the chase

Much like their opponents, MI has had an issue of their own in the powerplay this year. Although taking a cue from the Buttler-Jaiswal pair, Quinton de Kock accelerated to break a rut of low scores, even as Rohit Sharma did not get into his groove. De Kock had raced to 29 off just 19, hitting a couple of sixes and fours, and it seemed that MI would finish the powerplay undamaged, only for Rohit (14 off 17) to chip Chris Morris straight to mid-on on the last ball.

The new man, Suryakumar Yadav, showed his intent immediately upon entry, whacking successive fours of Rahul Tewatia, but continuing with the trend of wasting starts, he deposited Morris straight to Buttler at midwicket a couple of overs later.

Krunal in the runs

With a string of single-digit scores behind his back in the tournament, Krunal Pandya ensured to not squander the opportunity by playing a fluent hand of 39 off just 26, including two fours and as many sixes. Adding 63 alongside a free-flowing de Kock, it seemed that he might take them across the line, however, he chopped on Mustafizur Rahman’s length ball in an attempt to cut him.

Needing merely 26 for the win by then, the chase was finished by Kieron Pollard and de Kock, who both remained unbeaten and took MI home with 7 wickets and 9 balls to spare.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

https://twitter.com/The_Hitman_Era/status/1387763194903601157?s=20

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IPL 2024Rajasthan RoyalsMumbai Indians