IPL 2024: 3 players who starred and 2 who flopped in the MI vs RR match ft. Rohit Sharma & Riyan Parag
The Mumbai Indians (MI) suffered their third consecutive defeat in IPL 2024, as the Rajasthan Royals (RR) piled on their misery at the Wankhede on Monday, April 1.
With a six-wicket win, the Royals moved to the top of the table and have three wins in three. Mumbai have suffered the exact opposite fate and are rooted to the bottom, with zero points from three gaames.
It was a mixed bag from both teams at the Wankhede. While many players dished out standout performances, others who were expected to deliver came up short. On that note, here are three players who starred and two who flopped in the MI vs RR IPL 2024 clash.
#5 Star - Akash Madhwal (MI)
Making his IPL 2024 debut in a pace-heavy attack, Akash Madhwal didn't have runs on the board to do enough for an MI win. However, the fast bowler turned in an excellent display that should hold him in good stead going forward.
Madhwal prised out Sanju Samson with some tight lines just outside the off-stump and even bounced out Jos Buttler. Using the conditions on offer in a tight spell, he came back to pick up his third by having R Ashwin caught.
Madhwal has picked up 17 wickets in nine games for MI.
#4 Flop - Rohit Sharma (MI)
Cheered on by all sections of the Wankhede, Rohit Sharma was expected to have a big say in the contest. However, the former MI captain came a cropper after being asked to bat first.
Rohit lasted just one ball as an excellent delivery from Trent Boult found his outside edge and sent him packing, with Samson taking an excellent catch behind the stumps.
The opening batter suffered the ignominy of equaling the record for most ducks in IPL history (17).
#3 Star - Trent Boult (RR)
It wouldn't be right to not talk about Trent Boult, who was the prime architect of RR's victory. The left-armer breathed fire in the powerplay, as he often does, and killed the game with his three-wicket burst.
Boult dismissed three MI batters for golden ducks. He followed up his scalp of Rohit by trapping Naman Dhir in front of the stumps and had Dewald Brevis caught at gully in the very next over.
The Kiwi spearhead was rightfully adjudged the Player of the Match.
#2 Flop - Gerald Coetzee
Gerald Coetzee had a lot going for him at the Wankhede, even if batting became a bit easier in the second innings. However, the South African quick leaked runs at an economy rate of 14.4 and failed to support Akash Madhwal in the post-powerplay phase.
Coetzee was taken for five fours and two sixes in his spell, which cost 36 runs in just 2.3 overs. The man who inflicted the most damage? More on him to follow...
#1 Star - Riyan Parag
Confronted by a situation that he has often faced in domestic cricket for Assam, Riyan Parag came in when two wickets had fallen and calmed RR's nerves.
Parag was cautious in defense and was solid through a testing opening period that saw MI's fast bowlers hit the right areas and get appreciable movement. He was intent on finishing the game off and stayed right until the end, striking the perfect balance between strike rotation and aggression.
Parag, the owner of the Orange Cap, is finally living up to his obvious and immense ability.