Bumrah’s Record-Breaking Spell Powers MI to Fifth Consecutive Win

Bumrah’s Record-Breaking Spell Powers MI to Fifth Consecutive Win

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MUMBAI: At the toss for Sunday’s afternoon IPL match at the Wankhede Stadium, Lucknow Super Giants sparked excitement by including young fast bowler Mayank Yadav in the eleven against Mumbai Indians. Making his first competitive appearance in seven months, the most thrilling Indian fast bowling prospect to emerge recently, Mayank shone intermittently and took two significant wickets – Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya.

On any other occasion, this could have been a headline moment. However, against MI, he faced off against Jasprit Bumrah, the world’s top pace bowler. For LSG fans, it was unfortunate that the MI spearhead chose this match to showcase his best performance of the season, securing four wickets to lead the home team's dominance.

Yadav’s returning performance was futile as MI triumphed by 54 runs. After scoring 215, MI bowled out LSG for 161, marking their fifth consecutive victory, moving to the second position in the league table (prior to the DC vs RCB match) with 12 points. After getting the early breakthrough by dismissing opener Aiden Markram, Bumrah returned to dismiss David Miller, Abdul Samad, and Avesh Khan with figures of 4-0-22-4. Bumrah himself was back in the IPL after a prolonged absence due to lower back stress and had had average outcomes in his first five matches, with a best of 2/25 against Chennai Super Kings.

He received solid support from experienced pacer Trent Boult, who concluded with 3/20. The left-arm bowler delivered crucial strikes by taking the wickets of the well-set Mitch Marsh and Ayush Badoni.

Part-time off-spinner Will Jacks was awarded Player-of-the-Match for his all-around performance. The English player’s double strike in the seventh over, dismissing Nicholas Pooran and LSG captain Rishabh Pant within three deliveries, proved critical. He also contributed a quick 21-ball 29. Ryan Rickleton (58 runs off 32 balls) and Suryakumar Yadav (54 off 28) were the other significant contributors to MI’s commanding score. During his innings, Surya reached 4,000 runs in IPL, achieving this milestone as the third-fastest in terms of balls.

This marks the first occasion that MI has defeated LSG in a league match, with the latter entering the game holding a 6-1 head-to-head record.

Aside from the match outcome, considerable attention was on how Mayank would perform. The 22-year-old had burst onto the scene by consistently bowling 150kph-plus during IPL 2024. Making his debut against Punjab Kings in Lucknow, he had recorded 3/27 in his four overs, reaching a peak speed of 155. 8kph. Since then, his bowling had garnered additional interest.

On Sunday, fans did not have to wait long to see him bowl as Pant, after choosing to bowl, handed the ball directly to the fast bowler.

While he was unable to generate the same excitement he had last season with 150-plus deliveries, his run-up was fluid, and he executed his action effectively. It was evident that he was not giving his utmost, being satisfied to bowl in the 140s.

Mayank didn’t take long to get settled. He began with three dot balls and allowed only one four in the over, which was an over-pitched ball driven past him by Rickleton, who faced all six deliveries. The beginning was more challenging against Rohit in his second over. He made a mistake in attempting to bounce the MI opener. After being hit for two sixes, he adeptly revised his strategy and received his reward right away. He bowled a wide, slower ball, and Rohit played into his hands by directing it into the grasp of short third.

He performed at his peak in his last over after his captain asked him to bowl the 16th over of the innings. With his first delivery, he clean bowled MI captain Hardik Pandya with a ball that curved back and struck the leg-stump. Skillfully varying his pace, he conceded only five runs in the over to conclude with figures of 4-0-40-2.

LSG mentor and former India pacer Zaheer Khan conveyed his approval of Mayank’s performance, stating it was primarily about overcoming the initial hurdle, confident that the pace and wickets will improve with additional game time. “I am pleased with the way he has bowled. It was crucial he needed to get through the game. He lasted for 20 overs, he bowled four overs. The execution is only going to get better. The speed is only going to get better as he plays more,” Zaheer remarked.

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