NEW DELHI: A light-hearted moment between Rohit Sharma and Shane Bond stole attention after Mumbai Indians’ emphatic 100-run win over Rajasthan Royals on Thursday.
In a video posted by Rajasthan Royals’ official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Rohit was seen joking with Bond’s kid over a video call post-match: “I just gave my bat to the old man right here. Make sure he doesn’t use it, you use it.”
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The joke came after a powerful performance from the Mumbai skipper, who scored a brisk 53 off 36 balls, setting the tone for Mumbai’s huge total of 217/2. Rohit and opening partner Ryan Rickelton (61 off 38) built a formidable 116-run stand at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.
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After their departure, Mumbai didn’t slow down. Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya smashed an unbeaten 48 each, with SKY finishing the innings with a six to set Rajasthan a steep target of 218.
The Royals crumbled early in their chase. Teen prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi fell for a duck, and Yashasvi Jaiswal was out for 13, leaving Rajasthan reeling at 20/2. The rest of the batting line-up followed suit as Jasprit Bumrah (2/15) and Karn Sharma (3/23) dismantled the middle order.
With key players like Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, and Dhruv Jurel falling cheaply, Rajasthan slumped to 117 all out in 16.1 overs. Only Jofra Archer, with a patient 30 off 27, offered brief resistance.
The loss not only ended Rajasthan Royals’ playoff hopes but also extended Mumbai’s winning streak to six matches, taking them to the top of the IPL points table.
Reflecting on the loss, Parag admitted, “190–200 would’ve been ideal… the middle order has to step up.” Meanwhile, Pandya credited Mumbai’s recent form to “simple, disciplined cricket” — and, perhaps, a lucky bat.
