Despite the pressure, both in-form Suryakumar Yadav and Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma led the chase against Chennai Super Kings.
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Photo credit: Mumbai Indians/Facebook
Mumbaikars Suryakumar Yadav and Rohit Sharma made significant contributions to steer Mumbai Indians to a convincing victory over Chennai Super Kings in the ongoing Indian Premier League at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Saturday, keeping their playoff chances intact.
Ro-HITman all way the!!! Captain's knock to lead us to a fabulous win. Much needed boost for us! Look forward to the games ahead now. #CSKvMI #IPL2018 @ImRo45 @mipaltan pic.twitter.com/jYadO3FfTT
— surya77 (@surya_14kumar) 28 April 2018
Yadav, who led Triumph Knights Mumbai North East to the title in the inaugural T20 Mumbai league, continued his solid form in the IPL by opening the innings and scoring a steady 44 runs in 34 balls, laced with five 4s and a 6, to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Suryakumar Yadav has been the uncapped batsman of the #IPL this year. Cricketing shots. Maturity on display too. #MIvCSK
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) 28 April 2018
"(A good start) was very important on this wicket," said Yadav, who now sits third on the leading runs-scorers' list this IPL season. "It was a good wicket to bat on, so the start was very important... I just tried to find the gaps, hit the boundaries and collect singles and couples.
"It was important to win this game. Beating one of the best teams in the tournament, coming here and taking the momentum - it's going to help us in the coming games."
Captain Sharma walked in following Kumar's departure in the 10th over and scored an unbeaten 56 off 33 deliveries, helped by six 4s and two biggies, ending his recent difficult run.
"(Walking in to bat at No. 3) was the match situation," explained Sharma, who was picked by ARCS Andheri in T20 Mumbai last month. "We wanted to get that right-left combination going. They've got an off-spinner, left-arm spinner and leg-spinner so we wanted to keep them guessing."
#MI have won two games. Rohit scored in both the games. His form is directly proportional to #MI’s fortunes. Must not bat lower than 3. #CSKvMI #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) 28 April 2018
With 37 needed off the final three overs, skipper Sharma struck four boundaries in the penultimate over bowled by Shardul Thakur, to take the edge off CSK's attack.
Rohit Sharma on FIRE 🔥!! COME ON MUMBAIII
— Gauravv K Chawla (@gauravvkchawla) 28 April 2018
#MumbaiIndians needed their captain to play the kind of innings he can. Top effort from #RohitSharma
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) 28 April 2018
Captain's knock by Rohit 👏👏👏#CSKvMI
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) 28 April 2018
Fantastic batting @ImRo45 excellent innings as captain under pressure. Huge win for @mipaltan
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) 28 April 2018
Sharma not only upped the run rate when needed, he also top scored for his side and led from the front for a crucial victory, rightly earning the Man of the Match.
My MOM decided: @ImRo45 for batting brilliantly, but more importantly captaining superbly to restrict Chennai to just 169
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) 28 April 2018
16th Man of the Match award for Rohit Sharma in IPL. Only Gayle (20) has more than him.
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) 28 April 2018
ABD and Yusuf Pathan also have 16 MoMs each. @mipaltan #CSKvMI
Mumbai, who now need to keep winning to feed their playoffs chances, chased Chennai's 169/5 with eight wickets and 2 balls to spare for their first away win of the season.
Rohit Sharma's teams have never lost when he has remained not out while chasing in IPL.
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) 28 April 2018
He has remained not out 16 times and won all - 4 times for Deccan Chargers & 12 for Mumbai Indians. #CSKvMI
"Wanted this win desperately," Sharma summed up in the post-match presentation. "We wanted to be calm, today was a perfect game. When you want to win games like this, all three departments have to come collectively. That's when you get results."
@ImRo45, beautiful and brutal at the same time. Powerful response by Mumbai yet.
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) 28 April 2018
Always feel happy for @ImRo45 ! Was under pressure , this innings could be the game changer.
— Vikram Sathaye (@vikramsathaye) 28 April 2018
