Another double-header Sunday is done and we are ready for a fresh week. Eden Gardens is all set to welcome everyone on Monday, 21st April, 2025, with Kolkat Knight Riders hosting Gujarat Titans. It is a clash between number 7, KKR and the table toppers. Like CSK, KKR too, need to work on things that can make the tournament go their way. The first ball will be bowled at 7.30 pm IST (1400 GMT) but our buildup will begin well in advance. So do tune in early! In the meanwhile, you can catch all the action from the Pakistan Super League and the Test match between Zimbabwe and Ireland. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

Cometh the hour, cometh the champion. How many times have we used this for Mumbai Indians? With 4 wins in 8 games, and 3 of those coming on the trot, MI find themselves in 6th spot, just 2 points away from the table toppers! They now head to Hyderabad, to meet the Sunrisers Hyderabad, another team from the bottom, on Wednesday, 23rd April, 2025. On the other hand, time is quickly running out for Chennai Super Kings. Or it already has. With just 4 points from 8 games, they need to win each and every game to give themseves even an outside chance of a playoffs qualification. They too, meet Sunrisers Hyderabad in their next clash, but that game will be at the Chepauk, on Friday, 25th April, 2025. Gives them some time to reflect on this loss.

MI's ROHIT SHARMA HAS BEEN ADJUDGED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH, for his blistering unbeaten 76 (45). Rohit praises the Wankhede crowd for supporting good cricket and says that it was a good day for Mumbai Indians. On his batting slump, Sharma says that having been at this stage for so long, it is easy to get confused and start trying different things, but he says that he never doubted himself and just focussed on maintaining his processes. On him not overhitting the ball in this game, RS says that holding one's shape is extremely important while batting. Details that he wanted to hit the ball but did not want to lose his balance either. Aims to have a clear mindset going forward and bat the way he has been, for the past few months. On him being an impact sub and coming out to field for 3-4 overs rather than directly coming out to bat, Rohit Sharma says that there was some discussion regarding this and he did do that for a couple of games, but feels that it does not make much of a difference. However, he adds that he is ready to do whatever the management wants. On him hitting towering sixes. Rohit jumps off the question saying that the win was more satisfying and as a team, he now wants his side to win a couple of more games on the trot. On a stand about to be named after him at the Wankhede, Sharma calls it a great honour, remembering that in his childhood days, sometimes they were not allowed inside the ground and is not sure how will he react when the stand does get named after him.

The captain of Mumbai Indians, Hardik Pandya, says the way they bowled on this track, they knew it is going to be a high scoring game. Also appreciates with the way they batted. Says when Rohit and Suryakumar bat like this, it's just a spectacle and a happy scene from outside. Adds when Rohit comes good, they know the opposition will be out of the game. Also mentions that Suryakumar Yadav batted greatly and that the partnership between both of them took the game away. Tells that they are sticking to the basics and playing simple cricket. Adds that the pacers did go for some runs, but at the end of the day, he reckons 175 was a bit below-par. Ends by saying that they had to put things together to get this win.

... THE PRESENTATION ...

MI's SURYAKUMAR YADAV is up for a chat next. SKY is really happy with this win. Says that is always easy to bat with Rohit Sharma as the latter knows the game well, calling him the legend of the sport. Details that he was told by Rohit to just play his shots. Details that he (Surya) has grown up playing in Mumbai and to counter the bounce on red soil, one needs to come up with enterprising shots and that's the reason for his success. Says that he was really looking to bat in this game as he was really hitting the ball nicely in the nets. On targeting Ravindra Jadeja in his second over, Surya says that one cannot let Jadeja be on top as he is a quality bowler and it worked. Given that CSK were playing a lot of spinners, SKY says that he put his hand up to go up at number 3 as he wanted to take the attack to the spinners. On MI's resurgence, SKY is happy with the dressing room atmosphere but does not want to think about the playoffs scenario right now, aiming to take it game by game.

The captain of Chennai Super Kings, MS DHONI, reflects that they were quite below par as they knew that dew would come in the second half. Mentions there could have been a few overs where they could have scored more runs. Admits that 175, with dew coming in was not at all a par score. On Ayush Mhatre, he says he batted well, and picked his shots well. Says the odd ball was gripping, but also accepts that the MI batters did well against the spinners. Also admits that they should have started their slog a bit more early. Appreciates how SKY batted. Says it is important not to get too emotional, but to be more practical. Highlights that the 2020 season also didn't go well for them. Opines that they need to play the right form of cricket and try to put right amount of runs. Mentions about plugging in the holes and taking one game at a time, and also says that they will look for the combinations for the next season, if they do not qualify.

Forgetful game with the ball for CSK. Barring Ravichandran Ashwin, no one could put any leash on the MI batters with Ryan Rickelton being the only wicket to be picked up. Everyone else went for a tour around the park and Chennai would want to forget this mauling as quickly as possible. Their batters managed to put up a fighting 176, thanks to fifties from Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja, but barring for an exciting firework display by debutant Ayush Mhatre and some fireworks towards the end, the innings lacked intent. Mumbai Indians were excellent with the ball and on the field, with Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Santner just choking CSK with combined figures of 7-0-39-3.

Talking of greats, there was another great, Suryakumar Yadav. He just soaked himself in, as Rohit was going great guns at the other end. Ended up unbeaten on 68 from just 30 balls, with 5 sixes off his blade as well. And just like that, SKY has rocketed to number 3 in the Orange Cap race, just 35 behind the leader, Nicholas Pooran!

Rohit started to get into the bowlers' minds as he was not just targetting one side of the boundary. His recent batting technique has made everyone seem that he likes to target the leg side a bit too often. But in this game, he was picking the ball early but playing it on merit. The pull shots were definitely there, but along with that came the drives and the cuts. He got his first fifty of the season, studdied with 10 hits to the fence, with 6 of them sailing over. Another good thing with great players is that they start to fire with the business end approaching.

What a big difference it makes to a batting side when their star players start firing. The spotlight has been on Rohit Sharma throughout this season and having been dismissed each time in the Powerplay prior to this game, the criticism was getting louder and louder. But that's what is the difference between good players and great players. Form is temporary, while class is permanent. Rohit just rode through his patchy form prior to this game and come this match, he just cut loose on the CSK bowlers, feasting on a proper batting track. Took a little bit of time in the first couple of overs, but once he got that first six off Jamie Overton in that second over, it did seem like this night was going to be his night.

Win the toss, win the match? That's how it seems like, at the Wankhede. In 4 matches here of IPL 2025, 3 have gone to the side opting to chase, with the only exception being the MI-RCB game, where Mumbai fell short by 12 runs. 176 was a decent total but at Wankhede, it seemed to be 50 short! And given that MI have won with more than 4 overs left, it does seem that way. The Powerplay was the key for both sides in the second innings and for the first time in this season, Mumbai ended wicketless with the bat, making a commanding 62. After that, CSK were just playing catchup and could barely catch up with the rampant home side's batters.

Game, set, match. Mumbai Indians have finally woken up in IPL 2025. Not that they did not play well in their previous wins, but just as Hardik Pandya mentioned at the toss, they had not played to the best of their potential. Come the 20th of April, 2025, in the classical El Clasico, they have produced an absolute classic, shooting their net runrate to 0.483, which is the fourth best in the tournament! However, owing to this being just their 4th win, they are currently placed 6th in the points table.