Switch between Hindi and English commentary from here
LATEST UPDATE
COMMENTARY NOT AVAILABLE
The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
We now conclude our coverage of the Indian Premier League for the day. In fact - it's a new day already, and we'll be back with more of the same later in the evening as the Chennai Super Kings host the Lucknow Super Giants at their own den. Join us right here on Sportskeeda for that, and a lot more! This is Rajarshi Das, signing off on behalf of Shashwat Kumar. Good night!
The contrast within the camp of these two sides could not be broader. The Rajasthan Royals seem to get almost everything right in these first 8 matches - wickets with the new ball, stemming runs in the middle overs with spin, and death-bowling good enough to win matches. And that's just the bowling part - the sheer brilliance of some of these RR top-order batters has been nothing short of admirable. Jos Buttler has steered them through to targets on occasions - the likes of Riyan Parag and Sanju Samson have had their say in between, and the one man who was in need of runs, Yashasvi Jaiswal, rose to the occasion in a big way, and with just one defeat in eight games, the Rajasthan Royals will be hoping they didn't peak too early as they travel to Lucknow for their next assignment.
On the other hand, the problems keep mounting for the Mumbai Indians with each passing game. Some of the in-game decisions have been despicable, to say the least. Their bowling in particular - the Mumbai Indians were in dire need of a wicket at the halfway mark, and yet, Hardik stuck to his ploy of bowling spin to a well-set Jaiswal and Sanju Samson. Their top-order has been a let-down more often than not, and a loss of this manner will further hinder their campaign. A 5-day break awaits them, after which they head to the Capital city to take on the Delhi Capitals.
Sandeep Sharma has been adjudged Player Of The Match for his 5/18! Here's what he has to say: Got fit day before yesterday, my first game after fitness. Feels really good. Pitch was on the slower and lower side, so my plan was to keep bowling those variations, cutters, and it came up really nice tonight. You have to have big heart while bowling at the death, bowlers have been under the pump and going big at the death this IPL. Need to have a big heart, and keep trying to execute those variations. I'm trying to do that, and enjoying myself. 2 years back, I went unsold and came as a replacement. Any game I'm playing, I'm taking it as a bonus, and enjoying myself. (On his celebration with Hetmyer) The usual, nothing special.
Sanju Samson, Rajasthan Royals captain: Credit has to go to all the players. We started off well with the ball in the powerplay, and then in the middle, both the left-handers played unbelievably well against some quality spin in R Ashwin and Yuzi Chahal. The way they went after them was really great. The way we came back, Boulty, Sandeep and Avesh - that's where we won the game. The wicket looked a bit dry, but Jaipur is still a bit cold during the night. Looks a better wicket when the light is on, came true today. The way Jos and Yashasvi batted after the rain break, we knew we had to just re-set and go back to our momentum. People are professional enough to understand what is needed after the rain break. I don't think he (Jaiswal) needs anyone, always full of confidence. He knew it was a matter of one game, was calm and composed and knew things were under control. We knew that he's playing proper cricketing shots and is under control. We are going to Lucknow, let's see how the wicket is there, how it goes.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (Rajasthan Royals): (Point of difference between today and the previous games) I think I really enjoyed from the start and I was just trying to make sure I was watching the ball properly and playing cricket shots. I'm trying to do what I'm doing well. Some days are tough and other days are good. (On dealing with expectations) I really want to thank all my seniors who I've been to and the way they have guided me throughout these games. Especially I'd like to thank Rajasthan Royals, Sanga sir and Sanju bhai for believing me. I'm just so happy when I go out there and enjoy my innings.
Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians captain): (On the score of 179) I think we put ourselves in trouble early on but the way Tilak and Nehal batted was fantastic. I didn't think the way we lost those early wickets we'd reach 180. But at the same time we didn't finish well and I think we were 10 or 15 short. We had to keep it within the stumps. Early on in the powerplay we gave a lot of width and I don't think it was our best day on the field as well. Overall we didn't put the right foot on the path and they outplayed us. (What does he speak to the guys after a win and a loss alternately?) Everyone is professional, they know their roles. What we can do is learn from this game and the mistakes we've made and rectify it before the next game. Progression is important. (Next two games away, what's the plan?) I don't believe much in chopping and changing. I like to back my players. The focus will be on playing good cricket, sticking to the plans and the basic errors we're making, we don't make them. And that's it, cricket is simple.
Match summary:
Rajasthan Royals win by 9 wickets with 8 balls to spare
The Mumbai Indians went hard at the Rajasthan Royals openers with their new-ball bowlers, rotating them frequently in the powerplay, but Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler saw off a turbulent period, and in some cases, fought fire with fire and came out with results.
The fourth over from Gerald Coetzee was an example - Coetzee, having been thumped for six over his head off Jaiswal, steamed in with an extra yard of pace, had Jaiswal hopping about a bit, but the young left-hander reacted impeccably, ending the over with a confident back-foot punch through cover.
Jaiswal and Buttler kept motoring along - rather effortlessly in fact, as the Royals racked up 61 in the powerplay. A passing shower delayed proceedings by half an hour, post which the Mumbai Indians managed to keep things tight with spin. The odd ball seemed to turn sharply, kept low as well at times, and one such delivery from Chawla ensured the end of Buttler and the opening stand.
However, there was to be no further joy for the Mumbai Indians - there were catching opportunities on offer soon after, but they weren't latched on to. Hardik relied more on his spinners and himself than his pace trio of Bumrah, Coetzee and Nuwan Thushara, and the going seemed all the more easier for Jaiswal, who, along with Samson, kept going with minimal fuss, dispatching the frequent boundary-ball in between with ease.
With the required rate touching seven, Jasprit Bumrah was brought back, but a front-foot no ball gave the Royals further momentum, and Jaiswal proceeded to get the better of Bumrah with a towering six and then a boundary. Sanju Samson played the perfect second-fiddle role to Jaiswal all this while - fetching the singles at will and producing some of his clean-strikes in between.
Jaiswal coasted along to a memorable, much-needed hundred of his own. The Rajasthan Royals had ample time to seal the deal, and they got there with utmost comfort in the end. Fittingly, it was Jaiswal who smashed the winning runs, and in the process, helped the Rajasthan Royals get closer to a playoff spot. Presentations to follow...
Jaiswal exults for the second time in the over, and in similar fashion! He and the Rajasthan Royals have all the more reason to do so - the team in pink extend their stay at the top of the table with a comfortable win over the Mumbai Indians!
18.4 Tilak Varma to Yashasvi Jaiswal, THERE IT IS, THE WINNING RUNS, HIT FITTINGLY BY JAISWAL! Short, wide and asking to be hit. Jaiswal sits back in his crease and knifes it past backward point. Embraces his captain soon after and he is all smiles. He has produced a superb knock in a run-chase, and the Royals, to be completely honest, have done it at a canter against the five-time champions!
18.3 Tilak Varma to Sanju Samson, shortish on the pads. Samson pushes it to long on and hands it over to Jaiswal to hit the winning runs
18.2 Tilak Varma to Sanju Samson, back of a length on off. Samson waits in his crease and eases it to long off for a couple of runs
Well, there's the hundred! Yashasvi Jaiswal is absolutely elated - he was in dire need for runs, he's gotten a 100 of them today! That'll do the young man a whole world of good going into the second half of the IPL and beyond!
18.1 Tilak Varma to Yashasvi Jaiswal, HUNDRED FOR JAISWAL! AN INNINGS TO SAVOUR! Short and wide outside off. Jaiswal gets onto the back foot and cuts it towards deep cover point. Saunters across to the other end and then takes off his helmet before soaking in all the applause. Some way to get back into form!
Tilak Varma, right-arm off-break, comes into the attack
Ahhh, Jaiswal was early onto the slower one. He retains strike, though - 5 runs remain, and Jaiswal's one away from a three-figure score.
18
overs
175/1score
1
1
1
0
1
1
runs
Yashasvi Jaiswal*
99(58)
Sanju Samson
35(26)
Nuwan Thushara
0/28
17.6 Nuwan Thushara to Yashasvi Jaiswal, cutter hung up on a length outside off. Jaiswal reaches out for it and slaps it towards long off. Moves to 99
6 to win. One ball remains in the over. Jaiswal has the opportunity to deliver the perfect finish here...
17.5 Nuwan Thushara to Sanju Samson, angled into the stumps. Samson knocks it down the ground and trudges across to the other end
17.4 Nuwan Thushara to Sanju Samson, fullish outside off. Samson gets onto the front foot and pushes it towards extra cover