Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Punjab Kings had already secured their playoff spots. Now, Mumbai Indians—the most successful team in IPL history—have claimed the fourth and final ticket to the last four. Their emphatic 59-run win eliminated Mustafizur Rahman’s Delhi Capitals with a game still remaining.
Last season, Mumbai failed to make the playoffs amid leadership instability. They also haven’t lifted the trophy in the past four editions. But this year, the title is once again within reach. In contrast, a Delhi side lacking star power saw their playoff hopes fade away.
At the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai were invited to bat first after losing the toss. They posted a competitive 180 for 5, thanks largely to Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 73 off 43 balls. In reply, Delhi folded for just 121 runs.
The crowd at Wankhede was electric, celebrating their ‘homeboy’ Rohit Sharma. It was his first game after announcing retirement from Test cricket, and the fans came adorned in special jerseys and Rohit masks. However, he couldn’t make an impact with the bat, scoring only 5 runs off 5 balls before being caught behind off Mustafizur’s bowling.
Mumbai had a shaky start on the sluggish Wankhede pitch, losing three wickets for 58 runs within the first seven overs. But Suryakumar anchored the innings brilliantly, supported by Tilak Varma (27) and Naman Dhir (24). Powered by Surya’s knock, Mumbai reached 180 in their allotted 20 overs. Delhi’s bowling attack missed the presence of their captain Axar Patel, who was unavailable due to illness—something that proved costly on a slow surface.
Chasing 180 on such a pitch was always going to be a tough task, and KL Rahul’s team crumbled under pressure. The top order failed miserably—Rahul (11), Faf du Plessis (6), and Abishek Porel (6) all fell cheaply. Sameer Rizvi was the top scorer with 39, but it wasn’t enough to keep Delhi in the contest. The innings ended at 121.
Though Delhi began the season as strong playoff contenders, their campaign has ended in disappointment. Their dream of winning the IPL title remains unfulfilled once again.
UA / TDS
