Ashutosh Sharma is a six-hitting sensation. In just 18 T20 innings, he has smashed an incredible 43 sixes, averaging 2.38 sixes per game. On Thursday, he blasted seven sixes to revive Punjab Kings‘ chase of 193 runs against Mumbai Indians, almost leading them to an unlikely victory.

However, it was his six off the penultimate ball of the 13th over against Jasprit Bumrah that stood out. Though his aggressive innings ultimately ended in defeat, his fearless shot against Bumrah, the IPL’s top wicket-taker, left a lasting impression.

“It was a dream to hit Bumrah for a six, and it happened today. I’ve been practicing these shots, and I played it against one of the best bowlers in the world,” Ashutosh said after the match.

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Ashutosh Sharma has made a significant impact in his four IPL appearances. He’s often come to bat when Punjab Kings were in trouble and has managed to turn the tables on several occasions.

His rise to prominence is even more remarkable considering the challenges he faced in the past. Hailing from Ratlam, he moved to Indore at a young age to pursue cricket, facing financial difficulties along the way. However, joining the MPCA academy under the guidance of former India cricketer Amay Khurasiya changed his life.

After being dropped by Madhya Pradesh without explanation, Ashutosh found a new home at Railways, where he flourished. His impressive performances caught the attention of Punjab Kings, who picked him up at the IPL auction.

Ashutosh credits the support and guidance of Sanjay Bangar and Shikhar Dhawan at Punjab Kings for his success in the IPL.

Despite missing out on top-level cricket for several years, Ashutosh is now making up for lost time in style on the biggest T20 stage.

In the 32nd match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Punjab Kings (PBKS) will face Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Mohali on April 18, starting at 7:30 pm IST.

Mumbai and Punjab have a history of producing exciting matches, and their head-to-head battle reflects this. Both teams have fought fiercely for dominance in the North-West showdown. Currently, they are both on four points and sit in the lower half of the points table. A victory is crucial for them to turn their luck around.

PBKS vs MI Head to head in IPL history

In their previous encounters, Mumbai has won 16 times, while Punjab has claimed victory 15 times, making it a close competition. Punjab will be eager to level the score this time.

Total matches played: 31

Mumbai Indians won: 16

Punjab Kings won: 15

No result: 0
Abandoned: 0 

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PBKS vs MI head-to-head in Mullanpur, Mohali

This will be the first time the two teams meet at Punjab’s new home ground, the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Mohali.

Punjab vs Mumbai head-to-head at different venues

Mumbai Indians faced a tough start to their batting innings, losing both Rohit Sharma and Naman Dhir in the very first over.

Former Mumbai Indians player Trent Boult proved to be a big challenge for them, taking three important wickets in quick succession. With his team struggling, Pandya came to bat, partnering with Tilak Varma.

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Hardik Pandya, an experienced all-rounder, targeted Nandre Burger, who had already dismissed Ishan Kishan. Coming in at number six, Pandya hit three boundaries off Burger’s over, scoring sixteen runs.

This happened in the sixth over of Mumbai Indians’ innings when they were struggling at 30 for four. Pandya, batting with Tilak Varma, took on the Rajasthan Royals’ bowlers, hitting consecutive fours before lofting a beautiful shot for another boundary.

Unfortunately, Pandya couldn’t turn his promising start into a big score, as he was dismissed by Yuzvendra Chahal after scoring 34 runs. Currently, Mumbai Indians are facing difficulties, with their score at 82 for five, and Pyush Chawla and Tilak Varma trying to steady the innings.

Kwena Maphaka gained attention in the cricket world by being the leading wicket-taker in the U19 World Cup, where he took 21 wickets in six matches. Because of this, Mumbai Indians brought him in as a replacement for the injured Dilshan Madushanka from Sri Lanka.

He got the chance to play against SunRisers Hyderabad instead of Luke Wood and started well, giving away only seven runs in his first over. However, things turned sour in his second over when Travis Head hit him for 22 runs on his way to scoring 62 runs off 24 balls. Later, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, and Aiden Markram also scored runs off his bowling, resulting in the 17-year-old failing to take any wickets.

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Kwena Maphaka ended up being the most costly bowler as Mumbai Indians set a record target.

Only Hardik Pandya, Piyush Chawla, and Gerald Coetzee managed to take wickets for the Mumbai Indians as the SunRisers dominated them on their home ground. In the process, they broke a record that had stood for 11 years, previously held by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

With a total of 277-3, the SunRisers surpassed RCB’s old record of 263, making it the highest-ever total in IPL history. The highest successful run chase so far was by the Rajasthan Royals, who chased down 224 runs in the 2020 edition held in the UAE. Therefore, Hardik Pandya’s team will need an outstanding effort to chase down the target of 278.

The 2016 champions made two changes to their lineup, bringing in Travis Head instead of Marco Jansen and swapping T Natarajan for Jaydev Unadkat against Mumbai Indians. On the other hand, Mumbai Indians made just one change.

Both Mumbai Indians and SunRisers Hyderabad are looking for their first points in the tournament after suffering narrow defeats to the Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders, respectively.

Back in 2013, he guided Mumbai to their maiden IPL title and subsequently turned them into a dominant force in the league, taking them from underachievers to IPL champions. Under his leadership, Mumbai Indians achieved the milestone of winning the IPL three, four, and five times. However, ahead of the IPL 2024 season, Mumbai Indians opted for a change in leadership due to their inconsistent performances in recent years.

During the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Mumbai Indians failed to qualify for the playoffs altogether. Although they made it to the playoffs in 2023, they fell short of reaching the final. After three consecutive seasons without making it to the final or clinching the title, Mumbai Indians made the decision to remove Rohit Sharma from the captaincy role and named Hardik Pandya as his successor.

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Spencer Johnson saved Rohit Sharma:

After losing his captaincy with the Mumbai Indians, Rohit Sharma returned to the IPL field for the first time this season in a match against the Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The right-handed batsman showed good form, scoring 43 runs off 29 balls, including seven fours and a six. However, his efforts weren’t enough to lead his team to victory.

Sharma’s innings came to an end when he was dismissed by Sai Kishore, who trapped him leg-before-wicket. During his batting, Sharma narrowly avoided a potential injury thanks to Spencer Johnson’s quick thinking.

The incident occurred on the last ball of the tenth over, when Sharma faced a wide delivery from Johnson. Sharma hit the ball for a boundary and, while watching its path, inadvertently collided with Spencer Johnson, who was standing in his way. Johnson managed to prevent Sharma from falling by grabbing him.

Watch The Video Here:

Despite Sharma’s efforts, the Mumbai Indians fell short in the match, losing to the Gujarat Titans by six runs. The Titans batted first, scoring 168 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs, while the Mumbai Indians finished their innings with a total of 162 for 9 in reply.

Get all the updates, scores, and highlights from the Mumbai Indians vs. Royal Challengers Bangalore eliminator match in Delhi.

Royal Challengers Bangalore won by five runs, securing their spot in the final.

Despite not batting too well, Ellyse Perry scored 66 runs off 50 balls, leading RCB to a decent total of 135 runs in 20 overs.

On the bowling front, Shreyanka Patil took two wickets, while Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham got one each, helping RCB keep up the pressure. Asha Shobana then sealed the victory for RCB.

RCB will now face Delhi Capitals in the WPL 2024 final.

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FAQ:

Where will the Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, WPL 2024 Eliminator be played?

MI-W vs RCB-W will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

What time will the Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, WPL 2024 Eliminator begin?

MI-W vs RCB-W will start at 7:30 PM IST.

Which TV channels will broadcast the Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, WPL 2024 Eliminator?

MI-W vs RCB-W will be televised on the Sports 18 Network in India.

How do I watch Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, WPL 2024 Eliminator via live streaming?

MI-W vs RCB-W will be streamed live on the JioCinema app and website in India.

MI-W XI: Hayley Matthews, Yastika Bhatia(w), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, S Sajana, Humaira Kazi, Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque

RCB-W XI: Smriti Mandhana(c), Sophie Molineux, Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine, Richa Ghosh(w), Georgia Wareham, Disha Kasat, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Shraddha Pokharkar, Renuka Thakur Singh

That’s sports for you. In a thrilling T20 match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, the Royal Challengers Bangalore triumphed over the Mumbai Indians by just five runs in the Eliminator, securing their spot in the Women’s Premier League final for the first time. Smriti Mandhana was overwhelmed with joy, while Harmanpreet had a tough time accepting the loss, seen trying to compose herself as she congratulated the RCB players.

During the chase, Mumbai Indians seemed to have the game under control, with Harmanpreet and Amelia Kerr batting confidently. However, RCB staged a late comeback, with Shreyanka Patil and Sophie Molineux bowling brilliantly in the final overs, restricting MI’s scoring.

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Despite a valiant effort by MI, they fell short of the target. RCB’s captain, players, and fans were in disbelief at the unexpected turn of events.

Mandhana expressed her happiness, praising her team’s bowling and fielding efforts, especially highlighting Asha Sobhana’s exceptional last over. RCB will now face Delhi Capitals in the WPL 2024 final at the same venue on Sunday.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had a great game thanks to Ellyse Perry. They beat Mumbai Indians (MI) by seven wickets, which guaranteed their spot in the playoffs of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024. This win also knocked out UP Warriorz and Gujarat Giants from playoff contention.

Before this game, only Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals had secured their spots in the playoffs. RCB needed a win to join them, while UPW and GG hoped for Mumbai Indians to lose heavily for a chance.

Bangalore, coming off a close loss to Delhi Capitals in their last game, didn’t leave anything to chance this time. They performed excellently to secure their spot in the knockout stage. Mumbai Indians chose to bat first, but Ellyse Perry’s superb bowling limited them to a modest score of 113. Perry also played a key role with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 40 runs and partnering with Richa Ghosh (36 not out) for a crucial 76-run partnership, helping RCB chase down the target of 115 in just 15 overs.

Although Mumbai Indians had a good start with their openers adding 43 runs, Ellyse Perry’s outstanding bowling turned the game around. She took six wickets in her last three overs, with MI losing their last nine wickets for only 48 runs.

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Perry’s performance was exceptional, especially after not taking any wickets in her previous four WPL matches. She bowled brilliantly, getting key wickets including those of Sajana, captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Amanjot Kaur, and Pooja Vastrakar, while also dismissing Kerr and Sciver-Brunt.

Bangalore’s team didn’t start well when their first batters, Mandhana and Sophie Molineux, got out early in the game. Then, Sophie Devine followed suit not long after the powerplay. Even though Mumbai tried hard to put pressure on them, Perry and Ghosh stood their ground and steadily increased the score. They hit nine fours and three sixes together, securing RCB’s spot in the Eliminator match.

Moving on, the Delhi Capitals are set to play against the Gujarat Giants in their last league stage match on Wednesday at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Winning this match means they go straight to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 final. DC is also gearing up to face the Gujarat Giants in their last WPL game and has already made it to the playoffs. With five wins, two losses, and a total of 10 points, DC is leading the pack.

In a thrilling showdown, Harmanpreet Kaur stole the spotlight with an outstanding performance in Delhi. Her unbeaten 95 runs propelled the Mumbai Indians to a remarkable seven-wicket victory over the Gujarat Giants on Saturday. MI successfully chased down a challenging target of 191 runs in just 19.5 overs, securing their fifth win of the WPL 2024 season and claiming the top spot on the points table.

Don’t miss out on the excitement as we bring you all the match highlights, live scorecard updates, and key statistics from this epic encounter between MI and GG.

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MI vs GG Playing XIs:

Mumbai Indians: Yastika Bhatia (WK), Hayley Matthews, Natalie Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Sajeevan Sajana, Pooja Vastrakar, Humairaa Kaazi, Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque

Gujarat Giants: Laura Wolvaardt, Beth Mooney (C)(WK), Tanuja Kanwer, Phoebe Litchfield, Ashleigh Gardner, Kathryn Bryce, Dayalan Hemalatha, Bharati Fulmali, Meghna Singh, Shabnam Shakil, Sneh Rana

FAQ

Where will the MI vs GG WPL 2024 match be played?

The MI vs GG match on Saturday will take place at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in New Delhi.

Where can you watch the live telecast of the MI vs GG WPL 2024 match in India?

The live broadcast of the Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants WPL 2024 match can be followed on the Sports 18 network.

Where to watch the live streaming of the MI vs GG WPL match?

The match will be live-streamed on the JioCinema app

Despite late resistance from Rishad Hossain and Taskin Ahmed, who scored 53 and 31 runs respectively, Bangladesh could only muster a total of 146 runs before being bowled out in the final over in Sylhet.

Nuwan Thushara’s spell was highlighted by his hat-trick, where he clean bowled Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain and Towhid Hridoy off the second and third deliveries of his first over, completing the feat by dismissing Mahmudullah Riyad lbw on the next ball. Reflecting on his achievement, Thushara expressed his joy, stating, “I’m really happy, it was the first hat-trick in my life. In a match like this, I’m just pleased to be able to help the team.”

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Nuwan Thushara’s stellar performance earned him the Man of the Match award, completing his maiden five-wicket haul by claiming the wicket of Shoriful Islam.

Bangladesh captain Najmul acknowledged Thushara’s brilliance, crediting him for his exceptional bowling. Besides Thushara, the Mumbai Indians also secured the services of Dilshan Madushanka for Rs 4.6 crore and South African speedster Gerald Coetzee for Rs 5 crore, further strengthening their pace attack for the upcoming IPL season.