Mumbai Indians (MI) scripted a dominant victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in this Indian Premier League (IPL) game. Stand-in-skipper Surya Kumar Yadav finally roared back into form and played a top-notch innings.
With this win, Mumbai extends their dominant lead over the Kolkata side to 23 wins in 32 games. It seems like Kolkata Knight Riders are Mumbai Indians’ bunny as they have been playing extremely well against their Kolkata counterparts.
Mumbai now has finally won their last 2 games and look well on course to script something dramatic and something special.
In this article, we take a look at the 3 talking points of today’s MI vs KKR game in IPL 2023 at Wankhede Stadium:
1. Venkatesh Iyer scores a century for KKR for the first time since 2008
However surprising it may sound but KKR finally have a centurion for the first time since 2008 and this is a historic moment. Venkatesh Iyer became the first player since Brendon McCullum to score a century for the Kolkata-based franchise.
But his knock went in vain as Mumbai Indians won the game eventually by 5 wickets. But Iyer now has the Orange Cap and also received a standing ovation from the crowd at the stadium in Mumbai.
In IPL 2023, Venkatesh Iyer became the 2nd player after Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) Harry Brook, to score a century.
2. KKR’s bowling woes continue
KKR’s bowlers need some major improvement in their stocks. Once again, the bowlers let their team down and they couldn’t defend a challenging total. Lockie Ferguson hasn’t been able to deliver the goods for the Purple and Gold Franchise and has looked extremely off-colour.
Shardul Thakur conceded 25 runs in 2 overs and took 1 wicket. The leading wicket-taker of KKR so far, Sunil Narine wasn’t in shape today and he ended up conceding 41 runs in 3 overs.
3. Surya Kumar Yadav finally shows his true class
If there is statement which says that “Form is temporary, but class is permanent”, then Surya Kumar Yadav is an embodiment of it.
After several cricket pundits and fans ruled him out and started questioning his presence in the team, Yadav decided to put a lid on the mouths of all these people.
Surya Kumar Yadav led the Mumbai side from the front and scored 43 runs in just 25 balls. His knock was laced with 4 fours and 3 sixes. He announced his comeback with all the pomp and grandeur in the world.
Also read: IPL 2023: Explosive Kishan, Yadav, And David Lead Mumbai Indians To Second Consecutive Win Over KKR