The Rajasthan Royals continued their dream run in IPL 2024, thrashing the Mumbai Indians by 7 wickets in a one-sided contest at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This comprehensive victory propelled the Royals to the top of the IPL 2024 Points Table, while the five-time champions, Mumbai Indians, slumped to their third consecutive defeat and remain the only winless team in the tournament.
Mumbai Batting Crumbles Under Trent Boult Onslaught
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, the Rajasthan Royals got off to a dream start thanks to their lethal pace attack. Trent Boult, the Kiwi pacer, wreaked havoc in the very first over, dismissing both Rohit Sharma and debutant Naman Dhir for golden ducks off consecutive deliveries. This early double blow set the tone for a nightmarish batting performance for Mumbai Indians.
The woes continued as Devald Brevis also fell for a golden duck to Boult in the third over. The dismissal of Ishan Kishan by Daryl Mitchell in the fourth over left Mumbai reeling at a precarious 20 for 4.
Brief Spark Extinguished by Yuzvendra Chahal’s Spin Web
A glimmer of hope emerged for Mumbai Indians as Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma stitched together a 56-run partnership for the fifth wicket. However, the introduction of Yuzvendra Chahal into the attack proved decisive.
The wily spinner dismissed both Pandya and Varma in quick succession, derailing Mumbai’s fightback. The remaining batsmen could only manage cameo appearances as Mumbai limped to a below-par total of 125/9 in their allotted 20 overs.
Riyan Parag Stars as Rajasthan Royals Cruise to Victory
Chasing a modest target, the Rajasthan Royals encountered some early hiccups. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s poor run of form continued as he was dismissed cheaply in the first over. Sanju Samson and Jos Buttler, two of Rajasthan’s batting mainstays, also fell prey to Mumbai’s bowling attack.
However, the young Riyan Parag once again proved his mettle with a mature and composed knock of 54 runs off 39 deliveries. He found able support from Ravichandran Ashwin, who chipped in with a crucial 22 runs. The duo stabilized the innings and steered Rajasthan Royals home with 4.3 overs to spare.
Rajasthan Royals on Top, Mumbai Seek Redemption
With this convincing victory, the Rajasthan Royals have established themselves as early contenders for the IPL 2024 title, having taken the top spot in the IPL 2024 Points Table. Their well-rounded bowling attack, led by the impressive Trent Boult and Yuzvendra Chahal, has been a key factor in their success. The emergence of Riyan Parag as a reliable middle-order batsman adds further depth to their batting lineup.
Meanwhile, the Mumbai Indians find themselves in a precarious position at the bottom of the IPL 2024 Points Table. Their batting frailties and lack of bowling firepower have been exposed in their opening matches. Hardik Pandya’s return to captaincy hasn’t yielded the desired results, and the team desperately needs a turnaround in fortunes.
IPL 2024 Points Table: Updated After MI vs RR Match 14
| Rank | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | NRR |
| 1 | Rajasthan Royals | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | +1.249 |
| 2 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +1.047 |
| 3 | Chennai Super Kings | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | +0.976 |
| 4 | Gujarat Titans | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -0.738 |
| 5 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | +0.204 |
| 6 | Lucknow Super Giants | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +0.025 |
| 7 | Delhi Capitals | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.016 |
| 8 | Punjab Kings | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.337 |
| 9 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.711 |
| 10 | Mumbai Indians | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -1.423 |
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