When life catches you off guard with a Bumrah toe-crusher! The lethal operator could well spoil Punjab's party night
All eyes will be on the grand Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad as Mumbai Indians take on Punjab Kings in a do-or-die clash in IPL 2025 Qualifier 2, which will decide who faces the Royal Challengers in the grand showdown on June 3.
The Bumrah Magic
Jasprit Bumrah’s influence on Mumbai Indians (MI) is undeniable. Since his debut in 2013, MI has clinched five IPL titles, underscoring his pivotal role. Though he began with just two games that season, Bumrah has since become the backbone of MI’s bowling attack. His performance in the IPL Eliminator — 1 for 27 — may not seem extraordinary on paper, but his dismissal of Washington Sundar with a lethal yorker was a game-changer, showcasing his ability to shift momentum with a single delivery.
Known for his calm demeanor, Bumrah’s uncharacteristic celebration against Sundar highlighted the intensity he brings in high-pressure matches. MI captain Hardik Pandya summed it up aptly, calling him a “luxury” akin to Mumbai housing prices — rare and extremely valuable. Mahela Jayawardene and Virat Kohli have echoed this sentiment, calling him a once-in-a-generation bowler and praising his consistency and composure under pressure.
MI struggled in Bumrah’s absence earlier this season, winning just one of four matches without him. Since his return, they’ve won eight of eleven, underlining his importance. In Qualifier 2, Bumrah will be a key threat to Shreyas Iyer’s team. While Punjab managed to contain him in a previous encounter, repeating that feat won’t be easy. His four overs are like gold dust — a captain’s go-to weapon when the match hangs in balance.
As MI gears up for another crucial clash, all eyes will be on Bumrah — the quiet enforcer who can turn games with just one over.
SKY just 15 runs away from surpassing ABD’s record
Mumbai Indians (MI) star batter Suryakumar Yadav is just 15 runs away from surpassing AB de Villiers to become the non-opener batter with the most runs in a single edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) will be battling for a place in the title clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during the Qualifier two at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. Suryakumar has been sensational so far in the tournament, being MI's top run-getter so far and utilising the sweep shot to perfection.
So far, Suryakumar has scored 673 runs in 15 innings at an average of 67.30, with a strike rate of 167.83. He has registered five half-centuries, with the best score of 73*.
15 more runs will take him above AB de Villiers, who had scored 673 runs in 16 innings with a century and six fifties, at an average of 52.84, a strike rate of 168.79 as a non-opener in IPL 2016 for RCB.
However, he will need 87 runs to surpass Gujarat Titans (GT) opener Sai Sudharsan, the current Orange Cap holder for most runs with 759 runs in 15 matches at an average of 54.21, with a century and six fifties.
Squads:
Punjab Kings Squad: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Josh Inglis(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Kyle Jamieson, Arshdeep Singh, Musheer Naushad Khan, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Praveen Dubey, Xavier Bartlett, Suryansh Shedge, Yuzvendra Chahal, Vishnu Vinod, Yash Thakur, Aaron Hardie, Kuldeep Sen, Mitchell Owen, Harnoor Singh, Pyla Avinash
Mumbai Indians Squad: Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Raj Bawa, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Richard Gleeson, Ashwani Kumar, Robin Minz, Raghu Sharma, Krishnan Shrijith, Reece Topley, Karn Sharma, Deepak Chahar, Charith Asalanka, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Arjun Tendulkar, Bevon Jacobs, Satyanarayana Raju. (With inputs from Agencies)