Tag: Qualifier 2

IPL Qualifier 2 PBK vs MI: Rohit Sharma’s luck runs out, Marcus Stoinis roars in celebration

Posted on By Kabir Khan No Comments on IPL Qualifier 2 PBK vs MI: Rohit Sharma’s luck runs out, Marcus Stoinis roars in celebration

Rohit Sharma’s fortune finally ran out in the IPL 2025 playoffs on Sunday, 1 June. After riding his luck to a match-winning 81 in the Eliminator against Gujarat Titans—capitalising on two dropped catches in Mullanpur—Rohit was dismissed for just eight in Qualifier 2, despite another early life at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Rohit fell in the third over, caught in the deep mid-wicket region while attempting to hit Marcus Stoinis out of the attack. Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer surprised many by handing the third over to Stoinis, a part-time medium pacer. The move, however, turned out to be a tactical masterstroke as the Australian all-rounder delivered the breakthrough with his very first over. | IPL Qualifier 2 PBKS vs MI Coverage | It was a short-pitched delivery that begged to be put away, and Rohit obliged—but failed to middle it. Stoinis was visibly ecstatic after claiming the prized wicket. The Australian celebrated in animated fashion, roaring in Rohit’s direction on his follow-through. He was quickly joined by his teammates, who recognised the significance of the early breakthrough. Just two days prior, Rohit had been dropped twice by Gujarat in the Eliminator and went on to score a 50-ball 81 that propelled Mumbai Indians to a commanding total of 228. This time, however, the opener couldn’t ride his luck any further. Shreyas Iyer’s decision to introduce Stoinis early was a calculated risk, given Punjab were missing key pacer Marco Jansen for the playoffs. With only Arshdeep Singh and Kyle Jamieson as frontline seamers, the skipper was forced to explore alternative options—and it paid off handsomely. Despite Rohit’s early dismissal, Mumbai maintained an aggressive approach. Jonny Bairstow and Tilak Varma ensured the momentum didn’t drop, powering MI to 65 runs in the powerplay. Notably, the start of Qualifier 2 between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians was delayed by two hours and 15 minutes due to rain. Punjab won the toss and elected to field at 7:00 pm IST, only for the skies to open soon after. Fortunately, the game eventually began at 9:45 pm without any reduction in overs. Published By: Akshay Ramesh Published On: Jun 1, 2025 Tune In Source link

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How Rohit Sharma’s ‘luck’ powered Mumbai Indians into IPL Qualifier 2 | Cricket News

Posted on By Kabir Khan No Comments on How Rohit Sharma’s ‘luck’ powered Mumbai Indians into IPL Qualifier 2 | Cricket News

Rohit Sharma (image credit: BCCI/IPL) NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians held their nerve better in a pressure-cooker Eliminator to outclass Gujarat Titans by 20 runs in a high-scoring IPL 2025 clash on Friday. Rohit Sharma (81 off 50) capitalised on early chances to play a pivotal knock, while Jonny Bairstow (47 off 22) made an instant impact on debut, powering MI to a commanding 228 for five in their 20 overs.After sealing a place in Qualifier 2, Player of the Match Rohit Sharma expressed pride in his side’s all-round effort.“I have got only four fifties. Would have loved to score more fifties. Good day for us as a team. I do understand the importance of playing this Eliminator and going through this and taking the next step forward. Really proud of a complete team effort,” Rohit said at the post-match presentation.“When I play the game, I try to do my best keeping everything aside. Making sure how I can do the job for the team. I had to make the most of the luck. I am glad I could do that. Get the team into a good position. It was going to be challenging with the dew coming. The bowlers held their nerves really well. To be honest, I have played those shots before in the tournament and found fielders. ‘I don’t want to be a one-season wonder’: Punjab Kings’ Shashank Singh “Somewhere down the line you got to be lucky and today was that day for me. I got lucky as those catches were dropped. But even after that you got to play. I was focussing on keeping the momentum and tempo going. Was a good bowling effort. Jonny I have watched him over the years from the other side. We know the quality he has. Lot of experience playing in this format. Never looked like he was playing the first game. We got the start and capitalized on it,” Rohit said.Mumbai Indians will now face Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2 in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The winner will meet Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025 final on June 3.Gujarat Titans, despite being erratic in the field and with the ball, managed to stay in the hunt thanks to a masterful knock from Sai Sudharsan (80 off 49), but eventually fell short at 208 for six, bowing out of the tournament.Ultimately, it was Mumbai who won the crucial moments to stay alive in the playoffs. Despite the heavy dew, chasing down such a mammoth total in a knockout match demanded something extraordinary — and Sudharsan nearly delivered just that before his dismissal in the 16th over tilted the contest.Bumrah’s trademark yorker accounted for Washington Sundar (48 off 24), and Richard Gleeson struck the decisive blow by dismantling Sudharsan’s stumps when the left-hander missed a scoop, turning the tide in MI’s favour. Why no Shreyas Iyer for England tour? Coach Gautam Gambhir opens up While he was at the crease, Sudharsan’s strokeplay was a sight to behold. In a match dominated by brute power, the elegant left-hander stood out, threading gaps with surgical precision and timing.With the equation down to 36 off 12 balls, and left-handers Rahul Tewatia and Sherfane Rutherford at the crease, MI debutant Gleeson was handed the final over with 24 runs needed. He held his nerve to deliver three clinical deliveries, effectively sealing the win before walking off with an apparent hamstring issue. Source link

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