Mumbai, Apr 1 (UNI) In a disappointing start for the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, their batting performance against the Rajasthan Royals turned into a nightmare.
Led by the precision of the Rajasthan Royals' bowling attack led by Trent Boult and Yazuvendra Chahal, Mumbai Indians struggled to a mere 125/9 in their allotted 20 overs.
The early dismissal of former skipper Rohit Sharma for a golden duck set a somber tone for the Mumbai Indians' innings, leaving the Wankhede spectators in stunned silence. The onslaught continued as bowlers like Boult, Nandre Burger, and Avesh Khan capitalized on the early breakthroughs.
Boult, in particular, wreaked havoc in his opening spell, claiming crucial wickets including Rohit, Naman Dhir (0), and the impact substitute Dewald Brevis (0).
Following suit, Burger added to Mumbai's woes by dismissing opener Ishan Kishan (16) cheaply, leaving Mumbai reeling at 20/4 within 3.3 overs.
Despite the efforts of skipper Hardik Pandya (34 off 21 6x4s) and Tilak Varma to stabilise the innings, Mumbai Indians failed to build a substantial partnership.
Pandya's dismissal after an ill-advised shot, courtesy of Chahal, further dented Mumbai's hopes of a competitive total.
While Varma contributed a valuable 32 off 29 balls and Tim David provided a brief cameo with 17 runs, Mumbai Indians struggled to maintain momentum amidst the flurry of wickets. The innings concluded with Mumbai settling for a below-par score of 125/9.
The standout performer in the first innings was Boult, whose impeccable spell of 3/22 in 4 overs dismantled Mumbai's batting lineup.
Chahal also made significant contributions, claiming a three-wicket haul that included the crucial dismissal of Pandya. UNI BDN AKS