Sunrisers Hyderabad players celebrate after dismissing Suryakumar Yadav
With names like Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shakib Al Hasan, and Siddarth Kaul, SRH often pulled off miracles with the ball. One of their most iconic performances came when they defended just 118 runs against a strong Mumbai Indians side at the Wankhede Stadium. It takes special skill, teamwork, and nerves of steel to pull off such a victory, especially against a team full of big hitters. Let’s rewind the clock to that unforgettable night and relive how SRH did the impossible.
The night was charged with anticipation at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai as the tournament’s best bowling side Sunrisers Hyderabad prepared to take on the top batting outfit Mumbai Indians. When Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to bowl first, he was making the most of a ground that often favours teams chasing a target. Out strode Sunrisers Hyderabad’s openers Kane Williamson and Shikhar Dhawan under the floodlights, and they roared into action, smashing two crisp boundaries in the very first over bowled by Mitchell McClenaghan. The crowd buzzed with excitement as Hyderabad reached twenty for no loss in just over an over.
In the second over, McClenaghan produced the breakthrough of the night, bowling Dhawan for five runs off six deliveries. Two balls later, Wriddhiman Saha misjudged a straight delivery and was bowled to leave Hyderabad reeling at twenty for two. Suddenly the match swung in Mumbai’s favour. Captain Williamson strode to the crease and joined Manish Pandey, who attacked the bowling with aggressive intent. The duo added a brisk partnership, taking the score past forty, until in the fifth over, Hardik Pandya produced a sharp catch off Pandey’s leading edge, sending him back for sixteen off eleven balls and leaving Hyderabad under pressure at forty‑five for three.
Just when it looked as if Hyderabad might steady the ship, Williamson misread a call for a quick single, and Shakib Al Hasan, eager to keep the momentum, backed up too far and was run out for two off four deliveries. The miscommunication saw Hyderabad slip further, and with three wickets down so early, they faced a steep climb to post a competitive total against Mumbai’s powerful batting line‑up.
The Sunrisers were in dire straits, but Yusuf Pathan and Mohammad Nabi kept the innings afloat with a fighting partnership. Pathan, who had been struggling in the earlier overs, managed to steady himself and played a crucial knock of 29 runs from 33 balls, hitting two boundaries and one six. Nabi supported well, adding 14 runs off 10 balls, but Mumbai’s bowlers were relentless in applying the pressure.
Rashid Khan, the star of the match, then came to the crease at number seven but was dismissed for six runs. Hyderabad’s lower order collapsed quickly, with Basil Thampi (3 runs), Siddarth Kaul (2 runs), and Sandeep Sharma (0 runs) failing to contribute significantly. The last wicket fell with Sunrisers Hyderabad at a total of 118 in 18.4 overs, leaving Mumbai Indians with a modest target of 119.
Mumbai’s bowlers had dominated the Sunrisers’ batting line-up. Jasprit Bumrah was economical, conceding just 25 runs in his four overs and picking up one crucial wicket. McClenaghan, who had a stellar opening spell, also took two wickets for 22 runs in three overs. Hardik Pandya and Mustafizur Rahman also played key roles, with Pandya taking two wickets for 20 runs and Rahman conceding only 18 runs in his three overs.
Chasing a target of 119, Mumbai’s openers, Suryakumar Yadav and Evin Lewis, began cautiously, knowing that they had the depth to chase down the modest total. However, the Sunrisers’ bowlers, led by Rashid Khan, had other plans. Suryakumar Yadav (34 runs off 38 balls) was the top scorer for Mumbai but found it tough to break free. Yadav managed to strike four boundaries but struggled to accelerate as the pressure built. Evin Lewis, who had been dismissed for just five runs off nine balls, was the first to fall in the second over when he was caught by Pandey off Sandeep Sharma’s bowling.
Mumbai soon found themselves in deeper trouble. Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma, and Krunal Pandya fell quickly in succession. Ishan was dismissed for a duck, bowled by Mohammad Nabi, while Rohit Sharma was caught for just two runs off six balls. The Sunrisers were on top, with Mumbai’s score at 21 for four in the fifth over. Kieron Pollard (9 runs off 6 balls) and Hardik Pandya (3 runs off 19 balls) tried to rebuild, but their efforts were in vain. Pollard was caught by Dhawan off Rashid Khan’s bowling, while Pandya was dismissed for a low score.
The middle order crumbled further, with Mitchell McClenaghan (0 runs), Mayank Markande (1 run), and Jasprit Bumrah (6 runs) failing to make any significant contributions. At the end of 18.5 overs, Mumbai were all out for just 87 runs, handing Sunrisers Hyderabad a 31-run victory. Rashid Khan’s brilliant spell of 2 wickets for 11 runs in four overs was the standout performance of the match, earning him the Player of the Match award. His control and accuracy proved too much for Mumbai, as he dominated the middle overs and helped squeeze the life out of their chase.
Rashid Khan’s exceptional performance was complemented by his fellow bowlers. Siddarth Kaul took three wickets for 23 runs, including two key wickets in the death overs. Sandeep Sharma, with his disciplined line and length, picked up one wicket for just 9 runs in his three overs, while Mohammad Nabi took one wicket for 23 runs in his three overs.
Sunrisers Hyderabad delivered one of their finest performances of the season, thanks to a disciplined and impactful bowling display that left Mumbai Indians struggling from the very beginning. Right from the start, Hyderabad’s bowlers were on target, building pressure and picking up crucial wickets at regular intervals. Rashid Khan was the standout performer, spinning a web around the Mumbai batters with his tight lines and clever variations.
The rest of the bowling unit supported him brilliantly, maintaining control and not allowing the opposition to settle. Captain Kane Williamson’s smart rotation of bowlers also played a key role in keeping the pressure on Mumbai. His tactical changes ensured that no batter got too comfortable at the crease. While Suryakumar Yadav showed some resistance with a valiant knock, the damage had already been done.
The early wickets had put Mumbai on the back foot, and they never really recovered. This dominant performance helped Sunrisers Hyderabad secure a well-earned victory and two crucial points. It was also one of the lowest totals posted by Mumbai Indians in the tournament, underlining just how clinical Hyderabad’s bowling was. With this win, Sunrisers proved that their bowling attack is one of the most dangerous in the competition.