Mumbai Indians pulled off a thrilling chase of 201 against Punjab Kings in Dharamshala, with the finish delivered by Tilak Varma and Will Jacks in the closing overs. PBKS had looked firmly in control for much of their defence, but their bowling lost its shape late, allowing MI to reel in the target by smashing 54 runs off the final 17 balls.
Chase of 201: PBKS collapse in the death overs
For long stretches, Punjab Kings appeared set to protect their total, but the final phase turned into MI’s playground. As the innings reached the back end, MI’s death-hitting took over and changed the match momentum dramatically, culminating in the chase being completed in a high-pressure finish.
- Target: 201 for Mumbai Indians
- Match venue: Dharamshala
- Key turning point: MI’s late surge, including 54 runs from the last 17 deliveries
- Finishers: Tilak Varma and Will Jacks struck late to seal the win
Rohit Sharma’s slow start, Rickelton’s powerplay rescue
Things could have been smoother for MI if a couple of their top-order batters had accelerated earlier. In particular, Rohit Sharma found it difficult to get going, managing 25 off 26 balls before he departed. Even with Rohit’s experience, the innings didn’t quite click, making the chase harder to manage as balls continued to tick away.
Despite that setback, MI’s innings was steadied by their opening partner Ryan Rickelton. After Rohit struggled to break free, Rickelton took charge in the powerplay, racing to 48 off 23 balls and providing the early momentum that MI needed.
- Rohit Sharma: 25 off 26 balls (slow start)
- Ryan Rickelton: 48 off 23 balls (powerplay acceleration)
- How the innings was rescued: Rickelton’s rapid early scoring helped offset Rohit’s slower tempo
Rohit’s dressing-room jibe and his Test retirement update
Rohit recognised that he hadn’t had his best day. Rather than dwell on it, he turned it into a laugh, with MI’s social media capturing him trolling his own slow innings—something that ultimately ended with an MI victory. The opener’s light-hearted moment drew a few laughs from across the dressing room.
Speaking after the win, Rohit summed up the result with a clear message about team effort. “It was a great win. It was a complete team effort. With the bat, it was good to see everyone chip in while I was enjoying my bit of Test cricket,” he said, adding a cheeky touch to the remarks that resonated with the group.
“Rick” credited for momentum on a difficult pitch
Rohit also took the opportunity to reflect on his broader career focus. He had announced his retirement from Test cricket almost a year to the day before this match, stepping away from the longest format to concentrate on ODI cricket and T20 action for MI in the IPL. Looking ahead, he continues to work on fitness and batting as he targets a first ODI World Cup title in late 2027.
That ambition is tied neatly to the match’s opening partnership, with Rohit praising Rickelton for the flow of the innings. He credited the South Africa-based batter—whose homeland is South Africa, where the 2027 World Cup will be held—with giving MI the kind of early boost that helped blunt the impact of Rohit’s slower spell.
Rohit specifically highlighted the importance of the start, saying, “Rick, as always, he's been doing. It was great to watch because that start to us was important.” He added: “It was not an easy pitch but the way we played, I think that start gave us that momentum to take the innings forward.”
