Batting first after winning the toss, Rajasthan Royals put up 212/7 on the board in their 20 overs. The innings was built around opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who smashed 124 in only 62 deliveries. The brilliant knock featured 16 fours and eight sixes. He almost single-handedly lifted RR past the 200-run mark.
Jaiswal added 72 for the first wicket in Jos Buttler (18 off 19). Even as the left-handed played some terrific strokes at one end, he kept losing partners at the other. Sanju Samson (14), Devdutt Padikkal (2), Holder (11), Shimron Hetmyer (8) and Dhruv Jurel (2) all came and went. For MI, Arshad Khan claimed 3/39, while Piyush Chawla picked up 2/34.
Chasing 213, Mumbai lost birthday boy Rohit Sharma for 3 as he was bowled by Sandeep Sharma. Ishan Kishan also fell for 28 off 23. However, Cameron Green (44 off 26) and Suryakumar Yadav (55 off 29) ensured Mumbai did not fall too far behind the net run rate. David and Tilak Varma (29 not out off 21) then added an unbroken 62 for the fifth wicket to lift MI to victory. David brought up the win in style, stunning RR with three consecutive sixes.
Speaking after the win, Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma said it was very pleasing to see how the team chased. He stated, “Last game here also we came close to a similar target. We have the ability but need to back ourselves.”
On David being touted as the next Pollard, he added, “Big shoes to fill, Polly for so many years won us so many championships. But Tim has so much ability and power. In the back end, having that power keeps the bowler thinking.”
Rohit also praised Jaiswal over his stupendous hundred. He commented, “I watched him last year, this year he has taken his game to a new level. I asked him where all that power is coming from, he says he is spending time at the gym, he's timing them really well. Good for him, good for Indian cricket and good for RR as well.”
--By A Cricket Correspondent